The latter hellraisers I have seen I didn't mind too much because they really took something totally different, they really can't be put in the same wave length. They don't masquerade as the first one beyond Hellraiser IV. The last two films are twin peaksy style weird indy horror movies, with a small use of the cenebites.
To that end, I really don't think they effect the franchise in the same way that Alien 4 did to Alien, by screwing up the character the previous sequels treated with respect. Similarly, the cenebites are pretty consistant over the titles, so they don't get as f*cked up, to use the similar analogy, as the latter alien films.
I think the 'harm' was done by the IVth sequel, and the V and VIth title do little. So I don't quite agree here that they disgrace the original, given that they can't possibly be any further away, and there's not much about the cenebites at all really. Almost a different franchise. I can't remember much about them though, but I think the 6th one has the lass from the first one back in it for a whille?
dinky seems to be describing the third one, was it the sexy Terry Farrel from DS9?
I would like to see number VII and VIII anyway, the 8th one sounds poor, but it does have lance henrikson.
Oh speaking of which, anyone seen Mimic 3? Wow, talk about superior sequels, thats better than the first, and second by so far its unreal. Okay it starts out as a Rear Window rip off, but its still cool
That movie impressed me.