Hellraiser is a 2022 American film reimaging of Clive Barker’s novella about the sadistic supernatural forces unleashed by an enigmatic puzzle. The new movie will be released on Hulu on October 7, 2022.
Previously, it was revealed that Spyglass Media Group and Hulu had confirmed that transgender actor Jamie Clayton will play Pinhead, while Clive Barker signed on as a producer.
Odessa A’zion stars in the movie alongside Brandon Flynn, Goran Visnjic, Drew Starkey, Adam Faison, Aoife Hinds, Selina Lo and Hiam Abbass.
Directed by David Bruckner (The Night House; The Ritual; Southbound; V/H/S) with his regular co-writers Ben Collins and Luke Piotrowski based on a David S. Goyer story.
The new interpretation of Hellraiser has been described by Spyglass as a “loyal, yet evolved reimagining” of the original. Most famous for writing Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and Man of Steel, Goyer is no stranger to horror having written Blade and its sequels, The Unborn and the Full Moon movie Demonic Toys.
“Clive and I go back more than thirty years together,” said Spyglass CEO Gary Barber. “For generations, his brilliantly twisted and imaginative Hellraiser haunted the minds of moviegoers with its searing imagery of Pinhead. David is the perfect storyteller to continue Clive’s vision for a new theatrical version of Hellraiser.”
“I’ve been a fan of Clive’s work since the original Books of Blood paperbacks and The Hellbound Heart novella,” said Goyer. “Having the chance to reimagine Pinhead and the Cenobites for a new audience is a nightmare come true. Gary is a true fan as well and we’re committed to making something dark and visceral.”
Reviews:
“There have been slight changes to the character that allows Clayton to step out of Bradley’s shadow. […] Overall, the new design looks great […] The new Hellraiser is a much-needed breath of fresh air to the long-suffering franchise. Bruckner is amazing behind the camera while Clayton’s performance has her poised to be the new face of horror.” AIPT
“Hellraiser doesn’t always connect, dealing with a bland lead performance from A’zion and atrocious dialogue that’s loaded with superfluous cursing, fighting to verbally convey panic instead of trusting visual power, including outstanding makeup effects. Parts of the picture don’t work, but most of the endeavor does…” 7/10, Blu-ray.com
” …this Hellraiser is worth every minute of its two-hour run time. Bringing together slasher stalking, supernatural fever dreams, and loads of body horror, it fits the world it’s set in and stands out as Bruckner intended […] It’s an original story at home in its franchise’s universe. Hellraiser is utterly exquisite and exactly how you bring a franchise back.” 9/10, But Why Tho?
“The Lament Configuration isn’t treated like the mystery it’s supposed to be in this. The box should be like a drug to everyone that encounters it. Unfortunately, the leads are written as dunces, incapable of being rational. They yell, fumble, and tumble about that it borders on slapstick comedy. The only thing about this reboot that feels new is Clayton, who is incredible as The Priest/Pinhead.” Deadline
“Fans who have remained patient, watching poor sequel after poor sequel, will finally be rewarded with an entry that takes the franchise back to its roots and reinvigorates it for modern audiences. This new iteration of Pinhead is just as terrifying as the original, and will likely carve her own legacy across the horror landscape in the years to come.” Discussing Film
“Hellraiser was in bad shape, and what Bruckner has done here is lift the series out of the gutter to give it a touch of old-school charm. But I know he can do better, and I just wish this revival was more of an icky, gooey success rather than a moderately okay horror pic.” 6.5/10, /Film
“CG hooks and chains aren’t particularly appealing, but the practical makeup effects are generally convincing. Still, the creativity is surprisingly limited; even with greater resources, advanced moviemaking magic, and fewer restrictions concerning visual censorship, the writers couldn’t come up with something more absorbing and less plodding.” 4/10, Gone with the Twins
“As a person who has seen the countless straight-to-DVD sequels, this one felt no different […] The story was so rushed and clumsy that it never got me to embrace the elegance of Hellraiser like the original did. This has throwaway written all over it which is such a shame with how beautiful the effects and characters were on the screen.” 2.5/5 Horror Movies Uncut
“It’s cleverly calculated by saving gore for maximum impact and valuing the psychological edginess inherent in Cenobite storytelling, never getting lost in gooier intentions just for masochistic midnighter distractions. There are developments that feel slighter and less explored even at almost two hours, but that doesn’t stop Bruckner from delivering one of the best Hellraiser films since the original.” 8/10, IGN
“Jamie Clayton firmly positions herself in the annals of horror history as one of the very few to successfully take over the role from their predecessor. Bruckner’s assured style, the script’s operatic sensibilities, a notably queer approach, and a tastefully horrific take on the world of Leviathan makes this Hellraiser well worth the “great delights” that await the viewer.” Josh at the Movies
“Hellraiser might not be perfect, but for those who love the franchise, or just horror in general, this one is definitely worth checking out. The Cenobites are constantly one-upping each other when it comes to their looks. The deaths get more and more crazy (and bloody). The effects are spot on and the score and sound elevate the film to a whole new level.” 3.5/5, Mama’s Geeky
” …the plot is akin to a scavenger hunt for exposition, the characters don’t have much to do, and the Cenobites are little more than monsters with an indifferent attitude. Superficially, Hellraiser fixes some of the problems that sank other sequels in this series, but too many of the central ones remain.” 2/4, Mark Reviews Movies
“Beautiful. Visceral. Uneasy. Cruel. So many words can be used to describe this new take on Hellraiser (2022). Its grasp of addiction in its various forms is well-done, and the team is unafraid to explore the multi-faceted complexities and ugliness that can erupt in recovery. There could have been a slight push to add more blood, more sex, the things that originally drew viewers into the realm of the Hellraiser franchise.” Nightmarish Conjurings
“Some of Riley and Trevor’s exposition-heavy investigations create lulls in the pacing for those who are already familiar with the franchise, but it allows newcomers the opportunity to jump into the story without skipping a beat. It engages some fairly straightforward slasher elements and doesn’t engage much past that, but it’s a very solid entry in the franchise.” 3.5/5, Showbiz Cheat Sheet
“Hellraiser trudges through its interminable two-hour runtime until the remaining protagonists finally confront the wealthy prior owner of the puzzle box […] Pinhead and the Cenobites wreak some havoc in this final stretch, yet Bruckner shoots in such a murky aesthetic that it’s sometimes hard to make out, let alone get excited by, the ensuing carnage. By the time Voight spews some more world-building exposition, it’s impossible to see this Hellraiser reboot as anything more than craven brand extension.” Slant
“One of my favorite things about this version of Hellraiser was how visible a part of the narrative the Cenobites were. As Pinhead (aka The Priest), Jamie Clayton is a striking presence, creating an ominous air whenever she’s onscreen, and helping us see what is to fear on the other side of the puzzle box. There were also some good visual effects in the film, and a score by Ben Lovett that doesn’t forget Christopher Young’s iconic score.” B+ Sonic Cinema
“Hellraiser does take a bit of time to get going – much of the film’s first half is establishing the universe again, and for fans of the franchise, they will be ahead of where the film is going for much of that time […] while the makeup work is top notch, many of the “kills” we’ve seen before. Bruckner is playing with the iconic imagery of the first two films, so that’s understandable, but I was hoping for a little more variety.” 7.5/10, Vital Thrills
“The film is a balancing act that rides the fine line between sparking an audience’s imagination with the unknown and satisfying literal-minded questions like, “How does that puzzle box do all that stuff, and where do the Cenobites come from?” In Bruckner’s directorial hands and David Marks’ editing, more information is delivered than ever before, but no plot point is over-explained.” The Wrap
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