I always get a kick out of watching HELLRAISER III: HELL ON EARTH, which remains an oddly enjoyable movie even though it isn't a patch on the first two in the series. Those were dark, gritty, and thoroughly terrifying horror films, whereas HELLRAISER III is a slick and superficial gore-fest typical of early 1990s Hollywood horror film-making. It's very similar in look and feel to WARLOCK: THE Armageddon and WAXWORK II: LOST IN TIME, other sequels that director Anthony Hickox made during the era. It's lost the disturbing independent vibe but replaced it with superficiality and style.

The story this time around sees Pinhead trapped inside a weird statue which ends up being purchased by a sleazy womaniser who runs a nightclub. Before too long, the hellish demon is free to cause havoc once more, this time wandering Earth to claim more victims. The only person who can stop him is Terry Farrell's random protagonist, who just so happens to have possession of the powerful puzzle box.

HELLRAISER III most noticeably features plenty of black humour which was missing in the gruelling first two films. My favourite part of the film is the way in which the human characters are turned into Cenobites, each with their own look and special power. The guy who shoots CDs is hilarious as is the cameraman with a literal camera in his head. There's plenty of sloppy gore on offer here and the special effects are pretty good, although Pinhead's "look" is a bit off and he lacks the menace he had in the first two movies. Doug Bradley just doesn't cut it as he did previously.

The rest of the cast are little better, with Farrell out of her depth and the others giving occasionally laughable performances, although Paula Marshall is surprisingly effective in her smaller part. Kudos to the special effects team who create all manner of nasty mayhem involving hooks, chains, and other body-flaying scenes of carnage, with the nightclub massacre a particular highlight.

Despite appreciating horror very much (with a lot of classic ones out there, such as 'Halloween', 'Nightmare on Elm Street', 'The Texas Chainsaw Massacre', 'Night of the Living Dead' and 'The Exorcist', plus the best of Hammer House of Horror),even if not my favourite genre, it took me a while to get round to watching the 'Hellraiser' franchise. Due to having so much to watch and review, and the list keeps getting longer and longer.

The film that started the franchise off is not only for me by far the best of the 'Hellraiser' films it also for me, and quite a few others it seems, is one of the stronger horror films of the 80s, though not quite of all time. What is meant by being by far the best of the 'Hellraiser' films is that it is the only one to be above very good, the nine sequels were very variable (leaning towards the disappointing) and the latter films particularly are suggestive of the franchise having run its course.

From personal opinion, while a bit of a disappointment 'Hellraiser III: Hell on Earth' is still watchable and one of the better sequels in the series. Would say actually it is second best after 'Hellbound: Hellraiser II'.

Quite a fair few good things here in 'Hellraiser III: Hell on Earth'. The production were fine, do prefer the nightmarishly Gothic look of the first two films but the film looks very stylish and atmosphere with visual effects that aren't overused or abused and actually a little more polished than 'Hellbound: Hellraiser II'. The theme song is quite memorable, while there are some imaginative and disturbing kills and Pinhead's scene in the church is one of the best in the series, hair-raising and wickedly funny.

Did like the effort to give development to Pinhead and his story is interesting, regardless of whether it fitted within the rest of the film or not. Doug Bradley is genuinely intimidating and Terry Farrell does a decent job.

It is hard however to ignore the drawbacks. 'Hellraiser III: Hell on Earth' lacks the creepiness and ambition of the previous two films, there is a lot of silliness and camp humour and it does undermine any creepiness or suspense and it just feels completely different tonally compared to its predecessors. The dialogue is toe-curling this time and didn't really see any need for some of the gore, which didn't unnerve that much and came over as cheap and gratuitous instead.

Also thought the story, while slightly more coherent than parts of 'Hellbound: Hellraiser II', made little sense and was muddled. The rest of the acting is laughable and the Cebonites are nowhere near as creepy or mysterious. Worst of all is the ridiculously over-the-top and far-fetched ending, that was even more of an incomprehensible parody as the one in the previous film.

Overall, watched and one of the better 'Hellraiser' sequels but could have been better. 5/10 Bethany Cox

In New York City, Pinhead, the puzzle box, and the other Cenobites are trapped in a pillar. J. P. Monroe buys it for his nightclub, The Boiler Room. Frustrated TV reporter Joey Summerskill (Terry Farrell) encounters Terri (Paula Marshall) at the hospital who brought in a victim of the club. She decides to investigate when her story is turned down. Terri turns out to be one of Monroe's many girlfriends and she has the box.

This is the franchise turning into a more standard horror. It has the skin-ripping fun. The characters work. I love Farrell from Star Trek and she's fine as the protagonist. I like the mind games from Pinhead. The WWI dream stuff can be better substituted with an additional character. It's trying to explain the monster when it doesn't need explaining. It does give a final solution which is very important. Honestly, Pinhead is a brilliant monster design. The new ones are pretty cheesy. The camera and the CD Cenobites can exists no other time. They even try some quippy dialogue although Pinhead is undefeated as a character.