Hellraiser Review: 6 Ups & 4 Downs
3. Odessa A'zion's Solid Lead Performance
Bruckner absolutely needed to cast a compelling actress in the role of protagonist Riley, especially considering how she's in almost every scene of the movie, and that he certainly did with Odessa A'zion.
A'zion - daughter of celebrated actress Pamela Adlon - gives a gripping performance as Riley, a young woman struggling to overcome substance abuse issues while also attempting to rescue her disappeared brother from the Cenobites.
Without A'zion's compelling performance it'd be a lot tougher to sympathise with Riley, whose decision-making throughout the story is skittish at best, if not downright frustrating.
Yet A'zion never lets us forget what she's suffering through, and in turn makes her a compelling protagonist, even if Riley's certainly no Kirsty Cotton - but who is?