Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 10-10-2022 — Jose Chung’s From Outer Space

10th October, 2022.

Yep: it’s Monday.

And … ?

I’ve a phone call from a physiotherapist this morning — at 8:50, in case the Teaser’s delayed — and a meeting with my job centre case worker, this afternoon … and I’ve got my nephew, Jude, over, after that.

So … ?

Busy … ?

Yes: and possibly noisy … !

~≈®≈~

As I write?

As I write, highly civilized human beings are flying over the Ukraine: trying to kill people.

Literally.

The bombing started around six AM, UK time: and is felt to be in response to the bombing of the bombing of a bridge from Russia to the Crimea.

I can only hope those bombings haven’t killed President Zelenskyy.

That would be one hell of a blow to Ukraine.

~≈®≈~

Just as a final thought … ?

You’ll remember I’ve recently seen the 2022 version of Hellraiser.

Last night, something struck me as being deep … but could just me reading to much into the text.

At one point?   Riley, the main character, turns around to Pinhead/The Priest, and refuses to have anything more to do with events: says “I’ve done enough.”

To which the Priest replies “Enough is a myth.”

Riley’s a recovering addict, and been through a twelve step programme … and would be very familiar with the old saying read out at meetings: “One’s too many, two’s never enough.”

Something reiterated in many of AA’s publications.

Was that deliberate?   I don’t know.

But, lord … it struck me as subtle.

~≈®≈~

Hellraiser (2022) — A Review

7th October, 2022.

It’s Friday: and normally?

I’d be eating dinner: and getting ready to eat another episode of Star Trek Strange New Worlds.

You’ve probably worked that out, by now.

Today?

I’m going to be doing something different: watching a movie.

Watching the 2022 version of Hellraiser, released, today.

Unlike every episode of the franchise since the late 90s?

This has feature some involvement from Clive Barker: the man who created the original movie, and wrote the story it’s based on.

I’ll have my written and video review up, tomorrow night.

I’ll see you then.

~≈🧟‍♂️≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 5-10-2019: Clive Barker.

5th October, 2019.

Yes.

It’s officially officially.

I’ve bought more stuff from Amazon.

Mad fool that I am.

Mostly DVDs and blu-rays, since you ask.

Including Deep Six: written by Old Peculiar regular, Debbi Mack.

She’s been commenting here for many years, after all.

The only issue, there … ?

Is Amazon have no idea when it’ll be despatched.

I’m assuming that’s because it’s print on demand: only printed when a copy’s ordered.

That?   With the costs involved?

Is understandable.

But also a touch frustrating … 

Especially when yo look at the US delivery dates* … 

~≈𐩕≈~

Hellraiser: A Box of Delights …

22nd June, 2012.

You know, if you see yourself as vaguely patriotic — but NOT a fan of the world’s most popular sport — those times when England’s playing — and, it seems, winning — can be a real pain.

Hmmm …

Mind you, by the sound of it, the Ukrainian hosts aren’t going to shut up about that debatable Marko Devic goal.

Score another point for the Goal-line Technology argument …

At ANY rate … ?

At ANY rate, it sounds like England are through to the quarter finals: which means I’m personally going to be seeing what ELSE I have in my movie collection.

Because, as you might have guessed … ?

I spent today in the company of an old favourite, the original — and some would argue, best — entry in the franchise, Hellraiser.

☕☕☕☕☕

Hellraiser: Demons to some, angels, to others …

21st February, 2009.

Yep, I know it’s another old movie.

But one that’s interesting to watch, I always think …

And you’ve probably worked out that a Saturday night movie is getting to be something of a habit, by now, with Hellraiser being a bit of a special request from an old friend.

Honestly, Adrian, I’d’ve baked a cake, if I’d known …

Either way, myself, Adrian, and Allison were all in for this one.

I’ve tied the IMDb page into the title, as usual, but to summarise, it’s the story of what happens when Larry Cotton (Andrew Robinson – Garak, from Star Trek: Deep Space 9) and his wife, Julia (Clare Higgins – recently on stage as Jocasta, in the National’s production of Oedipus) move into the unused family home in England. With unexpected results, as Larry brother, Frank, is … around …

Well, I’ll try not to say too much, except to say that an entirely theoretically H.P Lovecraft title, The Horrible Thing In The Attic got a mention.

Now, I’ll admit to liking this one.

And, although it’s showing its age*, it’s worth watching as I personally think its got things to offer.

First off?   Is a simple question: what exactly do we call Hell?

Pinhead – one of the more striking characters in the film and an iconic figure to horror fans – the apparent leader of the Cenobites pursuing Larry’s brother, Frank, says of them that they are “ … demons to some, angels to others.”

Ambiguous?

Certainly.

But the Cenobites are summoned by Frank at the start of the film and offer him experiences “… beyond limits.”

The way the film seems to set up the back-story implies that one has to call the Cenobites; the opening scenes show Frank buying the puzzle box used for this purpose.

Which, to me, begs a simple question.

Can hell be hell if you have gone there willingly?

Indeed, are looking forward to the trip?

There’s probably a lot to be said there, on that; probably Googling for it would be an idea, it occurs to me that many philosophers, theologians and psychologists – certainly a lot of people more educated or eloquent than me – have written a lot, about punishment and the extent of personal responsibility.

But it does show, I think, that there are times that we must accept responsibility for things we have done.

Trying to get away from the choices we make, in the way that Frank tries escaping the Cenobites is something that could back-fire.

Julia, incidentally, seems much more accepting of what happens and of the consequences of her actions.

However, it’s where we have innocence on our side, or ignorance – I have Larry’s daughter, Kirsty, in mind, here – that we find a different situation.

The scene I’m thinking of, here, is where Kirsty opens the box. She knows only that it’s got something to do with her situation, but not what, and wishes to find out.

And is introduced to the Cenobites chasing Frank.

Now her position is different, it seems to me: she is, effectively, an innocent in events.

And as such, it seems to me that she is granted some degree of leeway by Pinhead, and the other Cenobites: they seem to realise they are dealing with someone who’s called them accidentally, and are prepared to negotiate for something they want.

Which is the crux of the movie, it seems. Not just personal choice, but knowledge of what the choice means, for oneself and others.

Someone I knew once explained three words of importance to those on the fetish/BDSM scene: Safe, Sane, Consensual.

They also emphasised that, while these were important, so was knowledge of the lifestyle: knowledge of what was going on was and is important for truly informed consent.

Otherwise things could go bad, rather than be enjoyable.

I’ll leave it there, for now; it is getting late.

* Reminds me, you can read about the remake, here.