Good idea, good cast, but didn't grab me

Straight-to-video fifth installment of the Hellraiser franchise, and Scott Derrickson's feature-length directorial debut. Stars Craig Sheffer as lead character Detective Joseph Thorne, with Nicholas Turturro, James Remar, and Doug Bradley as Pinhead.

Thorne and his partner investigate what appears to be a ritual killing, soon realising that the world they're dipping into is more bizarre and dangerous than they could have ever imagined. Derrickson does a pretty good job. The cast are fine (although Sheffer - looking distractingly like David Boreanaz - overacts at times). The total budget was only $2 million, with apparently just $20,000 for make-up effects (which nevertheless look good). The story (co-written by Derrickson) is a bit of a horror/folktale staple that we've seen before, but it's one that usually entertains. The Cenobites are suitably creepy. Unfortunately, two things hold it back. One, some of the dialogue just doesn't work. In fact, at times it's corny. And two, many characters are really unlikeable - not least Sheffer's Detective Thorne - which makes it hard to care what happens to them. The result was I just couldn't get lost in it, my attention kept wandering. I give this credit for aiming high (or as high as it could on the budget), but it didn't work for me. 5/10