Screen Drafts (based on the popular podcast) is a draft between players (I, my wife Vanessa and our friends Nick and Scott) to rank a list of films. Scott chose this topic. There were 17 total options: 6 Exorcist films and 11 Hellraiser films. We each had four numbered picks, determined by trivia provided by our friend Mario and the person who had two also picked number one. Everyone had the same amount of arsenal: 2 vetoes and one override of a veto. The next game will be a top 18 and will have a pool of fifty films based on the scariest movies, as decided by the folks at The Science of Scream. Nick brought his big puppy Sheba. She was awesome.
17. The Exorcist Believer (2023)
I came in second during trivia and wanted the very bottom pick. My picks were (17, 13,9 and 5). I wanted it because my favorite Hellraiser film was Judgement and I knew some cruel person would play that low, and I could not live with Hellraiser (2022) being above Judgement. I found the Hulu production to be Hellraiser by Disney, very mainstream, when I appreciated more the kinky Hellraiser films. Scott was taken with 2022 and decided to use his veto so I picked the second newest film on the list, Believer. I did not like the way it disrespected the original's lead character or the way that its sense of community was similar to Abby (1974) a blaxploitation version of The Exorcist that was buried by litigation. No one loved this film. It was described as poorly structured and poorly acted. The trick at the end did get some praise but no vetoes were offered.
16. Hellraiser: Judgement (2018)
Nick was next. He played Judgement. He did not like the angel. He found the cop story to be a poor man's S7ven. He did not care for the killer's motivations. It was too edgy for him. He struggled to finish it. I found this one aesthetically pleasing and great fun. Nick was shocked to learn we all had this a good deal higher. Vanessa liked the true crime of it. Scott liked the expansion of the universe. No veto was offered though.
15. Hellraiser Revelations (2011)
We all enjoyed parts of this. We all actually enjoyed the domestic drama of it, but Scott hated the makeup so much and felt Pinhead was superfluous. No vetoes were offered here. But we all found some of the sillier aspects entertaining.
14. Hellraiser: Inferno (2000)
Vanessa played Inferno here. We all talked about how odd it was that Pinhead pretended to be someone else in this. Vanessa took issue with Craig Sheffer's performance and his character's issues with sex criminals while befriending his informant. Nick had an issue with the reliance on flashbacks inherent in these direct to video sequels. No vetoes were offered here.
13. Exorcist: The Beginning (2004)
I was again vetoed (this time by Nick) for playing Hellraiser (2022) so I went with this Renny Harlin prequel because of the Indiana Jones of it all and the drop in quality compared to Dominion. No veto was offered.
12. Hellraiser: Hellworld (2005)
Nick felt this had no tangible connection to the other films and had confused mythology. V liked the reveal at the end. The video game idea was decent but not enough was done with it. No one cared too much about this one and no veto was offered.
11. Hellraiser: Deader (2005)
We all loved the train sequence. Scott felt the performances did not quite work. Nick saw the bleeding wound as a metaphor. But no one really liked this film and we had no issues with it at eleven. We paused for a moment to ask the bartender what the worst drink in the place was. Hellraiser is about pain and pleasure. The food and the previous libations were pleasure and the pickle margaritas we all chocked down were pain.
10. Hellraiser: Bloodline (1996)
Vanessa found this one confusing and did not like that Pinhead is easily fooled. I felt the film was too mainstream. Scott and Nick reacted favorably to the 17th century section. Also both found the cenobites were great and enjoyed Adam Scott. No veto was offered though.
09. Hellbound: Hellraiser 2 (1988)
I again tried to play Hellraiser (2022) and Scott spend his last veto on it. I went with Hellbound because I found the use of stop motion to be a major distraction. I never got into Kirstie, and even though I found Julia lovely, I had this one at nine so played it here. There was too much of Kirstie in the hospital for the rest of the group. Scott felt this was a bit of a mess especially once Channard becomes the main villain. Nick liked the villain and the stop motion but not enough to veto.
08. Hellraiser: Hellseeker (2002)
Nick tried to play Dominion, but I vetoed. Nick enjoyed the return of Kristie with his ultimate pick. It felt closer to old Pinhead to him. He liked the futility of Kristie's fight. Everyone else felt this should have been played already so no one vetoed.
07. Hellraiser (2022)
Scott mercifully let (2022) finally be played. He liked the genderless version of Pinhead. He did not give a shit about the characters. He loved the configuration stuff. Everyone else agreed but were all happy it made it to seven.
06. Exorcist 2: The Heretic (1977)
V tried to play Hell on Earth but was vetoed by Nick. We all loved aspects of Exorcist 2. V loved the rooftop sequence. She took issue with the heresy charges in the plot, felt it was an insult to the original as was the way the mom was treated or left out entirely. She also did not love Richard Burton. I felt that Blair was too sexual in the role, and it took some of the devotional aspects in a weird direction. Her in that hotel room with Burton had creep vibes. Scott singled out the tap dance scene and the locusts fever dream. We all discussed the Martin Scorsese comments on the film and agreed to some degree.
05. Hellraiser (1987)
I like this movie but was fine with it at 5. It is creative to start but becomes repetitive when Julia is beholden to Frank. I also don't seem to enjoy stop motion in 80's films. Nick and Scott loved Frank's resurrection. Nick was into all the nerve ending grossness. We all kind of liked the kink of Frank and his niece.
04. Dominion: Prequel to the Exorcist (2005)
Nick played Dominion. He enjoyed the conflicts of Merrin and how his ideals are challenged. He loved the change of scenery. We talked about the title meaning, the Nazi as well. We also talked about how there is not much info on Merrin in the first film to warrant a prequel but the moral conflict is great nevertheless. I did veto it and it was overridden by Scott. Scott found the graphics terrible (which is fair).
03. The Exorcist 3 (1990)
We loved the friendship on display in part 3. This was played here by Scott who really found George C Scott (no relation) an upgrade over Lee J Cobb as the detective. We all pointed out how silly the reverse engineering is to make Karras friends with Kinderman. But there is so much good stuff in 3 from the scissor scene to Brad Dourif. I could have lived with this at number one, but Scott has a big thing for Hell on Earth.
02. Hellraiser III: Hell on Earth (1992)
Vanessa was not a huge fan of this one. I had it around number six. Paula Marshall is so great in this even if her partnership with the reporter is a bit unlikely. The cenobites are all great. V did enjoy Pinhead at the club. Nick liked how the character of the reporter's father tied in with Pinhead as a solider in flashback. We all responded to the attempt to Freddyize the Hellraiser franchise. Scott compared the Pinhead in Scarlet Gospels to this Pinhead. Both are jocular. Nick loved the pillar and the sex scene around. He also liked the relationship dynamics in the film.
01. The Exorcist (1973)
This is the classic that was destined for number one. It has so many great lines, so many spot on performances. Scott admitted he does not find it scary but thinks that it is so well done. I talked about some of the immortal lines and how perfectly it captures unclear diagnosis. We are all at least mostly happy with this at one.
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