Hellraiser on Ice

The three couples Tom, Jeannie, Karen, Chris, Ron and Lissa are on the road in Wisconsin with their snowmobiles when they learn about the remote Black Friar Lake while visiting a bar. Tom and Chris decide to race there and Tom has a bad accident. As night falls and Tom's transportation is hampered, the group decides to seek refuge in an abandoned camp. While Ron leaves to get help, the rest of the group passes the time with a Ouija board. The supposed game awakens a sinister force that finds refuge in Tom. Little by little, the group is decimated until only Jeannie remains. When she understands what has happened to Tom, it is almost too late for her...

Producer Christopher Webster has made a name for himself especially with Hellraiser and Hellbound - Hellraiser 2. For Demon Possessed aka. The Chill Factor, he himself sat in the director's chair for the first and only time. It was shot in the late 80s, but the film didn't have its video premiere in the US until 1993. Basically, we're dealing with a typical 80s slasher, where a group of teenagers end up in a remote camp and are decimated in turn in sometimes bloody ways. Through a voice-over by Jeannie, who tells her story, it was tried to make the film a bit more coherent, which only succeeds to some extent. In the end, too many questions remain unanswered. The background of the cursed camp is only poorly explained, as well as the somewhat dubious motivation of individual characters. Jeannie, for example, has no problem spending a little time with Tom, who has miraculously recovered. Most curious is the wintry plot setting that mixes snowmobiles with demonic possession.

Workprint on Arrow Blu-ray

Arrow Video, who seem to have a soft spot for 80s slashers (Blood Rage, The Slayer or The Prey come to mind) rescue The Chill Factor from oblivion with a Blu-ray release. The film has been given a first-rate restoration and shines in never-before-seen glory. The bonus material includes a VHS workprint version from the archives of Hank Carlson. This is remarkable that Arrow restores such an unknown film and then even finds a workprint of it.
The workprint is an earlier cut of the film that looks a bit unfinished compared to the final Theatrical Version. There are a lot of scene shortenings or extensions that don't really matter in terms of content. Most of the adaptations of the Theatrical Version make sense, as they round out the film better. Scenes that are too long have been shortened and scenes that are too short have been suitably extended. Occasional alternate footage is included. Following are the main differences.

• The opening scene, which already shows Tom's accident, is missing in the workprint.
• The commentary by the aged Jeannie, who narrates the story, is missing in the workprint. This was apparently added for the Theatrical Version to make the plot more comprehensible.
• The workprint has no music.
• Presumably during the reel changes, the workprint keeps fading in a countdown.
• When Jeannie talks to the Ouija board towards the end of the film, the needle does not move in the workprint at first. In the Theatrical Version, it turns immediately.

The Theatrical Version is clearly the better cut and the Workprint is interesting mainly as a comparison version that can be used to understand how to better round out a film. Kudos to Arrow for putting a lot of effort into the release. Anyone interested in an icy slasher can grab this without hesitation.

Picture comparison:

Workprint:

Theatrical Version:

Runtimes:

Workprint: 83:55 min.
Theatrical Version: 85:30 min.

Comparison between the Theatrical Version and the Workprint.

[00:00:00][00:00:00]

The workprint starts with a counter. After that you can see the trees much earlier. Seemingly at this point should come the credits.

Theatrical Version begins with the opening credits.

An old woman tells about how her nightmares turned into something terrible. Just before the year 2000, she was in love with a boy.

WP: 46 sec
Theatrical Version: 2:31 min.


[00:00:53][00:02:38]

In the workprint, you can see the people on the sleds earlier in the second shot.

In the Theatrical Version, the first shot is longer instead.

WP: 2 sec
Theatrical Version: 2 sec.


[00:01:22][00:03:07]

The last snowmobile can be seen longer.

WP: 2 sec


[00:01:38][00:03:20]

The POV shot on the snowmobile starts earlier in the workprint.

WP: 3 sec


[00:01:53][00:03:32]

POV shot is longer, next shot starts earlier.

WP: 1 sec


[00:02:10][00:03:48]

The two snowmobiles can be seen earlier in the workprint.

WP: 4 sec


[00:02:30][00:04:04]

The snowmobiles can be seen longer in the workprint.

WP: 1 sec


[00:02:36][00:04:09]

The workprint briefly cuts to another snowmobile.

Theatrical Version continues to show the group of snowmobiles.

WP: 2 sec
Theatrical Version: 1 sec.


[00:02:39][00:04:11]

The workprint shows more scenes of the people on the snowmobiles. One of the riders falls, but gets back on and continues in the group.

Theatrical Version shows a POV shot instead.

WP: 34 sec
Theatrical Version: 6 sec.


[00:04:07][00:05:11]

The man at the counter is seen longer in the workprint. In the next shot, the people in the bar are seen earlier.

WP: 18 sec


[00:04:59][00:05:46]

The workprint continues to show Ron.

The Theatrical Version cuts briefly to the guy from the counter instead.

WP: 3 sec
Theatrical Version: 1 sec.


[00:05:06][00:05:51]

The workprint continues to see Ron.

The Theatrical Version cuts to the guy earlier as he says that he hates football.

WP: 3 sec
Theatrical Version: 1 sec.


[00:05:10][00:05:53]

The guy can be seen longer in the workprint.

Theatrical Version shows Ron earlier instead.

WP: 2 sec
Theatrical Version: 1 sec.


[00:05:24][00:06:06]

The workprint shows the same shot in which the guy goes to hit.

Theatrical Version shows a different shot. Ron is pushing his arm down.

WP: 3 sec
Theatrical Version: 4 sec.


[00:05:29][00:06:12]

In the workprint, the guy staggers back longer after being punched in the face.

Theatrical Version cuts to Ron briefly instead.

WP: 1 sec
Theatrical Version: 1 sec.


[00:05:42][00:06:24]

Ron and Lissa are seen longer before they sit down at the table. Lissa is concerned about Ron's hand.

WP: 11 sec


[00:06:01][00:06:33]

As waitress Bessy thanks Ron for kicking the guys out, the workprint shows Bessy standing in front of the table.

Theatrical Version cuts to Bessy instead, and then to the table.

WP: 7 sec
Theatrical Version: 6 sec.


[00:06:32][00:07:03]

As Tom introduces his sister, the workprint cuts to Lissa and Karen.

Tom continues to be seen in the Theatrical Version.

WP: 1 sec
Theatrical Version: 1 sec.


[00:06:35][00:07:05]

At the end of the shot as Tom introduces his sister, the workprint continues to show Tom.

Theatrical Version cuts to Lissa and Karen here.

WP: 1 sec
Theatrical Version: 2 sec.


[00:08:06][00:08:36]

When Bessy made the suggestion about the race track, you see it longer in the workprint, then Tom and Chris earlier.

Theatrical Version shows Jeannie having a vision of the race instead.

WP: 3 sec
Theatrical Version: 7 sec.
[00:08:17][00:08:51]

After Tom says they should race, the workprint cuts to Bessy.

Theatrical Version continues to show the group.

WP: 3 sec
Theatrical Version: 3 sec.


[00:08:23][00:08:58]

After Tom says to Jeannie not to be a coward, the Theatrical Version cuts to Bessy.

Theatrical Version: 2 sec


[00:08:48][00:09:25]

Karen is seen longer in the workprint before walking to the bar. In the next shot, Bessy is seen a little earlier.

WP: 2 sec


[00:08:55][00:09:30]

In the workprint, Karen can be seen at Bessy's counter for longer.

WP: 2 sec


[00:09:13][00:09:46]

As Bessy explains the route, the workprint shows her and Karen at the bar.

Theatrical Version shows Bessy instead.

WP: 3 sec
Theatrical Version: 2 sec.


[00:09:32][00:10:04]

When Karen asks what the lake is called, the workprint shows Bessy earlier.

In the Theatrical Version, Karen is seen longer.

WP: 3 sec
Theatrical Version: 2 sec.


[00:09:38][00:10:08]

In the workprint, Karen asks if the route is marked. Bessy agrees.

In the Theatrical Version, Karen is seen a little earlier asking why the lake is called that.

WP: 4 sec.
Theatrical Version: 1 sec.


[00:10:09][00:10:37]

Tom and Karen are seen a little longer in the workprint before he puts his hand on her butt.

WP: 1 sec


[00:10:22][00:10:49]

In the workprint, Karen and Tom are seen earlier at the counter.

In the Theatrical Version, their dialogue was simply superimposed over the previous shots.

WP: 2 sec


[00:10:27][00:10:51]

In the workprint, Tom drops Karen backwards, then gives her a kiss.

In the Theatrical Version, you can see his hand on her butt.

WP: 5 sec
Theatrical Version: 2 sec.