Yet another horror movie franchise gets the reboot treatment this Fall when “Hellraiser” hits Hulu in October. And for anyone who’s not a diehard fan of Clive Barker‘s Cenobites, the response to this news is, “why bother?” Despite ten films, the “Hellraiser” franchise has never been known for its quality. Its stories of puzzle boxes and pain-obsessed, interdimensional entities are also an acquired taste, even among diehard horror fans. So, what’s Hulu up to with this movie, and why should anyone care?
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For most moviegoers, the answer is simple: David Bruckner, director of 2020’s “The Night House.” Bruckner directs the new “Hellraiser” from a script by his frequent collaborators Ben Collins and Luke Piotrowski, with story help by veteran screenwriter David Goyer. For those in the know, “The Night House” features a story with similar dynamics to Barker’s “Hellraiser” tales, so Bruckner is an excellent choice to take over the franchise.
But don’t tell Bruckner his new film is a remake of Clive Barker’s 1987 original, even if it, like that film, closely follows Barker’s source novella “The Hellbound Heart.” “This is not a remake,” the filmmaker told EW in a new interview. “I just didn’t think you could ever remake the original Hellraiser. It’s too much its own thing and it would be, I think, perilous territory for filmmakers, because how do you top that? This is a new story in the Hellraiser universe.” So, “Hellraiser” is a new story that’s much like the original one, making it less a reboot than a reimagining. Fair enough.
For those unfamiliar with “Hellraiser,” the film follows a troubled young woman who stumbles upon sadistic, supernatural forces connected to a puzzle box called the Lament Configuration responsible for her brother’s disappearance. Those supernatural forces are Cenobites, led by the iconic Pinhead: interdimensional beings who savor any instance to inflict pain. Bruckner’s film stars Odessa A’zion as Riley, who searches for her brother, while Jamie Clayton takes over the role of Pinhead. The film also stars Brandon Flynn, Goran Višnjić, Drew Starkey, Adam Faison, and Aoife Hinds.
Some “Hellraiser” fans may dismay that Clayton replaces Doug Bradley as Pinhead in the new movie, but Bruckner thought it necessary to recast the iconic role. But casting Clayton, a trans woman, as the character is a bold move on Bruckner’s part. “We felt a kind of anticipation around the fans to reimagine the character,” Bruckner said. “We knew we wanted Pinhead to be a woman. Jamie was just the right person for the role. A person’s identity can be really exciting for a role in many ways, but I have to emphasize that Jamie absolutely killed, that’s how we got there.”
There are some other big lore differences in the new “Hellraiser,” too, like a brand-new Cenobite. “We call him The Masque,” Bruckner said about the character. “The Masque is one of my favorite Cenobites and it’s just a tease of really what’s to come as far as the Cenobites are concerned.” But will there be even more new Cenobites in Bruckner’s film? “I think that’s safe to say,” Bruckner said, so expect The Masque to be just one of several new additions to Pinhead’s band of cohorts.
And what about Clive Barker’s involvement in the new movie? “Clive’s been very involved,” Bruckner said about Barker, who co-produces the upcoming film. “Clive came on before the shoot, when we were in prep, and was really just a wonderful resource for me. He was really generous with his time, and very welcoming of the idea that this was a new group of artists, and that they were going to run with this and land in different places with it. He was very supportive of that.” With Barker on board, “Hellraiser” fans may rest assured that this new take on the story will be faithful to its roots.
A new “Hellraiser” may already appeal to the franchise’s fans, but will Bruckner’s movie attract enough of a new fanbase to kickstart further sequels? Bruckner & co. are hopeful. “Should the fans and the movie gods allow, I would love that idea [of more movies],” said Bruckner.
“Hellraiser” premieres on Hulu on October 7. Check out first-look photos for the film below.
