BlackTaterTotallyBlue

I understand it doesn't immediately deliver on the promise of the trailers but it is a great slow burn dramedy that centres around the web of lies spun by a character determined to do the right thing using all the wrong methods. I'm on episode 5 or 6 now and the stakes are climbing as tension is building beautifully - I've enjoyed every unhurried minute of it so far. It's a feast for the eyes, but that's not where the meal is. Come for the view, stay for the drama. Billy Crudup puts in a nuanced, enigmatic performance that holds your sympathies while keeping you guessing at his motives. It's not finished yet but I've got faith that viewers' patience will be rewarded. MSM reviews have called time too early on this one - unfortunately that probably means the show's future is as unlikely as the one it depicts - I hope not.

There are fascinating new ideas in this that perhaps don't fully coalesce into one cohesive whole but do give a tantalising hint at the possibilities for future films. Performances are mostly strong and the cénobites have never looked more nightmarishly other-worldly. Pinhead looks amazing but their voice lacks Doug Bradley's power and strength. The narrative manages to avoid most all potential genre pitfalls despite employing a new Ring/VHS/Final DesTination type device that allows the puzzle box to 'mark' a victim. It's a device that might have been the undoing of the script but in fact Goyer and co manage to hold on to most of Barker's trappings that made Hellraiser so unique in the first place. The iconic score makes a welcome return too. All in all, it's a promising reboot for a franchise that has been wading in rotting flesh in the search for its original elegance over the best part of three decades.