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Hellraiser III: Hell on Earth

Play trailer Poster for Hellraiser III: Hell on Earth R Released Sep 11, 1992 1h 33m Horror Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
41% Tomatometer 22 Reviews 35% Popcornmeter 25,000+ Ratings
After learning in Hellraiser II that he used to be British air force Capt. Elliot Spencer (Doug Bradley) -- before he was sucked into another dimension and turned into the pain-craving creature known as Pinhead -- Spencer's soul ends up in limbo. Meanwhile, Pinhead is sealed in a column, which is bought by J.P. Monroe (Kevin Bernhardt). In a dream, reporter Joey Summerskill (Terry Farrell) learns from Spencer she must reunite his two halves to send the murderous Pinhead back to his world.
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Hellraiser III: Hell on Earth

Critics Reviews

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Anton Bitel Little White Lies The ensuing pandemonium, lacking the bite of the previous two films, just goes through the mythic motions. Also, while Bradley is probably the best performer here, it’s tempting fate to have him utter the line: “I cannot act in your world.” Oct 18, 2023 Full Review Jack Yeovil Empire Magazine Gone is the confusion of the earlier films and mercifully gone is the waffling metaphysics of the second film; instead there are surprisingly careful characterisations and good, creepy, squishy horror stuff. Rated: 3/5 Nov 13, 2017 Full Review Nigel Floyd Time Out Forget the disastrous Hellbound: Hellraiser II; this is adult horror to die for. Nov 7, 2017 Full Review Keith Richmond Sunday Mirror (UK) The script is daft, but the Hell On Earth special effects are stunning. Rated: 3/5 Jul 15, 2025 Full Review David Nusair Reel Film Reviews ...a decent-enough endeavor that opens with a fair degree of promise... Rated: 2/4 Oct 5, 2022 Full Review Trace Thurman Horror Queers Podcast It's dumb and it's goofy, but that's part of Hellraiser III's charm. It's fun, mindless entertainment and nothing more. Rated: 3.5/5 Jan 19, 2021 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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chris m balance. 'hellraiser III: hell on earth' manages to maintain the grotesque, visual, and gore essence that defines the saga, but it presents a more intriguing and striking opening compared to its predecessor. from the very first minutes, the film captures attention by skillfully balancing the disturbing atmosphere with a narrative that is not limited solely to the explicit and raw. paula marshall’s performance as terri brings a distinct personality to the character that elicits mixed reactions, whether due to intentional characterization or an acting style memorable for its peculiarity. in any case, the presence of typical elements such as female nudity and sexual scenes seems a recurring hallmark in this type of films (slashers), integrated into the story without feeling forced (though occasionally it does). one of the most notable achievements is the introduction of pinhead into the plot and the initial dynamic established with one of the main characters, which adds depth to the story and provides clearer context for the viewer—something that was missing in previous installments. and it’s not limited to pinhead alone. the film also stands out for its originality regarding the fates of the characters, avoiding the monotony of repetition. although the core plot may remind viewers of patterns seen before in the saga, the screenplay, direction, and narrative coherence are noticeably stronger than in the second installment. in terms of design and makeup, while not as extreme as in earlier entries, there is a clear and commendable effort, especially in key scenes—such as the nightclub setting—where visual work and special effects significantly contribute to the atmosphere. a recurring but still debatable point is the protagonist’s survival in critical situations, a narrative device that can feel somewhat predictable and often seems forced due to the character’s central role in the story. the new designs of the cenobites bring freshness and help dispel the feeling of repetition, while the ending provides a satisfying closure that resolves several previously raised questions. while 'hellraiser III: hell on earth' significantly reduces the focus on the duality between pleasure and pain that characterized earlier entries, this theme does not disappear entirely. it remains present in the plot, albeit more subtly and less dominantly, reflecting a narrative shift without abandoning its fundamental roots. in conclusion, 'hellraiser III: hell on earth' clearly surpasses the second part, offering a balance between horror and narrative that makes it more enjoyable and dynamic, although it still falls slightly behind the first installment in terms of impact and originality. the visual effects, while not perfect, are more appealing and enjoyable for today’s audience. overall, the film feels short and entertaining, a solid return to the saga that, without reaching the original’s excellence, provides a balanced and strong experience for fans and genre enthusiasts alike. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 08/10/25 Full Review Jude H. Hell on earth is a fun wild mess. And its messy in a good way. If you like moterhead, hellraiser and random kills and explosions happening then check this one out Rated 3 out of 5 stars 07/12/25 Full Review thiago s Filme fraco, o roteiro é fraco, as cenas de terror são fracas, a história é fraca, o elenco é fraco, e ninguém ajuda a melhorar o filme, os personagens são fracos, e o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e relevantes, para fazer o filme ser bom Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 07/02/25 Full Review Eric G Not a very good sequel. The overall plot is decent, but the acting and character design are pretty awful. Also, there's the story of the priest who eats Pinheads flesh which goes unfinished. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 05/16/25 Full Review Justin T This is very visceral like the first two which is a good thing but it’s lacking the heart and cannot compete. There is a high production quality in most areas except for the acting outside of the lead roles which is pretty weak and it’s exacerbated by bad dubbing. It is much more about action and lacks mortal fear. I did love the explosions near the end, they looked really cool. I think I have been unduly harsh on this film in the past, it’s much more entertaining than I remembered. It’s a fun ride with memorable moments and a decent budget. It can’t compare to the first two films though. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 05/10/25 Full Review Adam B Well still working with the great Pinhead character and somehow keeping its dark themes present, its impossible not to mention that Hellraiser 3 is much more of a goofy slasher. While it loses some of the prestige of the first two, it's definitely one of the most fun of this franchise. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 04/08/25 Full Review Read all reviews
Hellraiser III: Hell on Earth

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Movie Info

Synopsis After learning in Hellraiser II that he used to be British air force Capt. Elliot Spencer (Doug Bradley) -- before he was sucked into another dimension and turned into the pain-craving creature known as Pinhead -- Spencer's soul ends up in limbo. Meanwhile, Pinhead is sealed in a column, which is bought by J.P. Monroe (Kevin Bernhardt). In a dream, reporter Joey Summerskill (Terry Farrell) learns from Spencer she must reunite his two halves to send the murderous Pinhead back to his world.
Director
Anthony Hickox
Producer
Christopher Figg, Lawrence Mortorff
Screenwriter
Clive Barker, Peter Atkins, Tony Randel, Peter Atkins
Distributor
Paramount Pictures, Miramax Films
Production Co
Fifth Avenue Entertainment, Trans Atlantic Entertainment
Rating
R
Genre
Horror
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Sep 11, 1992, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Apr 19, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA)
$10.6M
Runtime
1h 33m
Sound Mix
Stereo, Dolby, Surround
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