Transformers One - The scoop and digest

Animated prequel is written by Eric Pearson, Andrew Barrer and Gabriel Ferrari and directed by Josh Cooley (who also voices Skywarp).

Chris Hemsworth - Orion Pax/Optimus Prime

Brian Tyree Henry - D-16/Megatron

Scarlett Johansson - Elita-1

Keegan-Michael Key - B-127/Bumblebee

Steve Buscemi - Starscream

Laurence Fishburne - Alpha Trion

Jon Hamm - Sentinel Prime

Summary

At the dawn of time, Primus sacrificed his life to protect the universe by transforming himself into the planet Cybertron.  From within its core, Primus birthed the first Transformers known as the Primes and to assist them, created a powerful entity called the Matrix of Leadership.

The planet's natural power resource Energon flowed in abundance, until the Matrix was lost, causing Energon to no longer flow.

In Iacon City, cogless bots Orion Pax and best friend D-16 dig for Energon, which following a cave-in, sees them reassigned by Darkwing to garbage incineration, where they meet B-127, aka "Bad-Ass-atron".

They find a chip containing an SOS message recorded by Alpha Trion (one of the Primes), inferring the Matrix's location.

After reaching the surface, Trion is reactivated inside a cave and reveals that Sentinel has been secretly supplying the Quintessons with Energon in exchange for him ruling Cybertron.

Trion provides the group with cogs and they head back to Iacon to expose the truth about crooked leader.

Frenemies

Just as D is about to kill Sentinel, Pax gets in the way.

D decides against rescuing Pax and let's him fall apparently to his death.

He rips Sentinel in two and replaces his cog with Sentinel's, dubbing himself Megatron.

The spirits of Primus and the Primes embue Pax with the Matrix.  Revived as Optimus Prime, he defeats and banishes Megatron from Iacon.

Subsequently, the Autobots and Decepticons are born.

Break some protocol

Jordan Knight's Bumblebee erased Michael Bay's sexualised atrocities.

But this was even better.

Stunning visuals are complemented by a great script, sharp visual gags, excellent voice performances and sensational set-pieces.

I just hope origin story is not left in limbo.

Terrifier 3 - The scoop and digest

The third in Damien Leone's popular series moves away from Halloween and has Art deck the halls with more gore then ever before.

David Howard Thornton - Art the Clown

Lauren LaVera - Sienna Shaw

Elliot Fullam - Jonathan Shaw

Samantha Scaffidi - Victoria Heyes

Margaret Anne Florence - Jess Shaw

Bryce Johnson - Greg Shaw

Antonella Rose - Gabbie Shaw

Jason Patric - Michael Shaw

Summary

Art murders a family inside their house shortly before Christmas.

Five years prior, Art's headless body arrives at Miles County Psychiatric Hospital, where a possessed Victoria Heyes has just given birth to his head.  After killing a few people, they flee to an abandoned house and 'sleep'.

Present day.

Sienna and Jonathan are struggling to rebuild their lives, with final girl still haunted by visions of her dead friends.

With the holiday season fast approaching, they attempt to leave the past behind, but all that unravels when Art and his bin bag returns.

Festive goregasm

It's too long, has some awful acting, drags in the middle, and many questions remain unanswered.

But sadistic brutality is consistently on top form.  Shit, even children are blown up.

The much hyped shower scene (a clear tribute to Psycho) is particularly callous, as Art dismembers and splits open Cole and Mia with a chainsaw.

Another highlight is a tube hammered down Jess's throat, with a blowtorch forcing rats to scurry inside.

However, the most disturbing part isn't a kill.

As she watches Art murder somebody, Victoria masturbates with a shard of glass.  Her 'waters' breaking (as blood); completes a fucked up sequence.

Upon Sienna decapitating Art's partner in crime with father's sword, her blood burns through the floor and creates a portal to Hell.

Gabbie falls into the abyss, along with pointy stick.  As Art escapes, Sienna vows to find and rescue the girl who idolizes her.

Does that mean the next will leave Miles County?

Probably.

'Probably' everything that ripped off Hellraiser

Trilogy of yesteryear opened doors to the pleasures of Heaven or Hell.

http://nukesandknives.blogspot.com/2018/02/i-have-such-sights-to-show-you.html

https://nukesandknives.blogspot.com/2020/05/demons-to-some-angels-to-others.html

http://nukesandknives.blogspot.com/2020/06/ill-tear-your-soul-apart.html

Welcome to a new experience beyond the limits.

Titbits

While strongly influenced, Paul W. S. Anderson's cult 1997 hit Event Horizon is cleared of any foul play for the following reasons.

The Gravity Drive was redesigned with three interlocking rings as a tribute to the Lament Configuration and Clive Barker consulted on project during pre-production.

The Pumpkinhead series has a few interesting connections.

Andrew Robinson played Sheriff Sean Braddock in 1994 sequel Blood Wings and Doug Bradley portrays Doc Fraser in third and penultimate entry Ashes to Ashes (2006).

I'm well aware that creator hates the name 'Pinhead', but for the purposes of convenience...

In the films, character was first referred openly as Pinhead by Joey in Hell on Earth (1992).

Warlock: The Armageddon (1993) vs Poster

This may be paying homage, but whatever.

Faces of Evil: Prometheus (January 2009)

Chatterer

Nemesis - Resident Evil 3: Nemesis (1999)

The Creature - Painted in Blood (2022)

Eligos - Ash vs. Evil Dead - S1 E3 (2015)

Shrieker (1998)

Wishmaster (1997)

Piano wire victim¹ vs Barbie - Hellraiser III: Hell on Earth

¹Cameo by director Robert Kurtzman.

Wishmaster 2: Evil Never Dies (1999)

Djinn reborn vs The Engineer

Wishmaster 3: Beyond the Gates of Hell (2001)

Djinn box vs The Box

Peter Atkins penned screenplay for Wishmaster, and previously did the same in Hellbound, Hell on Earth and Bloodline, but wasn't involved with special effects.

Hellinger (1997)

Never heard of ultra low budget effort?

Don't worry, you're not missing much.

After trusted clergyman Father Thomas Donaldson began to question his faith, he became obsessed with seeing heaven.  To fulfil his earthly desire, he made a deal with Satan, transforming him into unstoppable demon Hellinger.

Hellinger vs Pinhead

Hooks and chains

Behind you

HA HA HA!

Star Trek: First Contact (1996)

Yeah, I'm not joking.

The Borg were redesigned from TV series The Next Generation to seemingly appear as machines.

Or biomechanical Cenobites.

Borg Cube ship vs The Box

Borg Queen² vs Angelique³ - Bloodline

²Sexy and dangerous.

³Seductive and evil.

However, Alice Krige's villain is immediately comparable to:

Dreamer - Hellraiser III: Hell on Earth

The Box

Hellbox (2021)

Wish Upon (2017)

Silent Hill: Origins (2007)

Protagonist Travis Grady pieces together the Flauros and ultimately frees Alessa's Dream.

That puzzle was such a pain in the ass.

(Laughs).

Unofficial film remakes have been around for years, but there is nothing more obscure than this effort from Indonesia.

Spirit (1989)

As shit is shot-for-shot, you're looking at the abridged version.

Miscellany

The Engineer

WHAT?

Chatterer

Pinhead

Butterball

Female Cenobite

The Missionary - Silent Hill: Revelation (2012) vs CD and Chatterer

I remain confused.

Professor Jones - Hellmaster (1992) vs Pinhead

Julie Walker - Return of the Living Dead 3

Hmmm.

The Devil's Chair (2007)

Personal best

Autopsy - Severed Survival (1989) vs Frank

Jesus wept!

Samael - Silent Hill (1999) vs Guardian - Clive Barker's Hellraiser Spring Slaughter Razing Hell, Part II: No One Ever Dies in Hell (March 1994)

In 2001, McFarlane Toys distributed Tortured Souls, a series of six action figures, each accompanied by a novelette, written by Barker.

Amalgam Core - The Evil Within (2014) vs Agonistes

WOW!

Reza Ricker - Dark Escape 4D (2012) vs The Engineer

From lighting, to tension and design, everything is IDENTICAL.

Death Chamber regular during gameplay.

Wrapping shit up.

Rolan's Curse 2 (1992) vs Hellraiser, Epic Comics #1 (March 1989)

As King Barius and Pinhead are so similar, it's entirely possible that British artist John Bolton was responsible for both.

However, I'm unable to confirm.

To whet insatiable appetites, reverse fixture will tear your soul apart.