The Hellraiser series is cult. Over a period of 31 years, the story created by Clive Barker grew into a 10-film franchise. These delighted fans with a dark mythology, gore scenes, terrifying torturers called cenobites and last but not least, the horror icon Pinhead.
Last year, director David Bruckner (The Ritual and The House at Night) relaunched the Hellraiser series. After the reboot Hellraiser: The Castle of Hell has been on Hulu in the USA since autumn 2022, German horror fans can finally experience this hellish nightmare first-hand. Hellraiser is now on the streaming service Paramount+ to see.
That’s what Hellraiser’s horror reboot is all about
The plot of Hellraiser: The Castle of Hell begins with a cruel ritual. A young sex worker accepts a millionaire’s invitation. However, he should not provide him with any sexual services, but solve a puzzle for him – with terrible consequences. The mysterious structure opens namely Portal to a hellish dimension. Metal chains guided by an unseen force suddenly cut into the young man’s flesh, leaving him in agony.
Check out the German trailer for the Hellraiser reboot:
Hellraiser: The Castle of Hell – Trailer (German) HD
The actual story begins six years later, when the drug addict Riley (Odessa A’zion) also comes into possession of the strange mystery box. Out of curiosity, she solves the puzzle, setting in motion a gruesome game that she can’t finish and that will claim the lives of those around her (including Dead Girls Don’t Lie star Brandon Flynn).
The new Hellraiser film is not a remake of the original Hellraiser – The Gates of Hell or an adaptation of Clive Barker’s original novel The Hellbound Heart, but sets a new story. Fans of the horror series can expect this an exciting expansion or reinvention of mythology.
In this version, the mysterious cube consists of six different puzzles or configurations. Each of these requires a human sacrifice to proceed. Whoever holds the relic alive at the end receives a gift from the hell entity called Leviathan.
Hellraiser unleashes disturbing horror creatures from hell
Of course, a Hellraiser film wouldn’t be complete without the appearance of the horrid cenobites and their leader, the torturer Pinhead – who is simply referred to as a priest in the reboot. Each of these beings lives on the border between pain and pleasure.
This is also reflected in the macabre creature design, which at the same time horrid and nauseating, but also grotesquely beautiful seems. In contrast to the original series, the focus is less on a punk leather look and more on the disturbing body modifications of the cenobites.
Paramount Pictures
Hellraiser introduces a new Pinhead
The highlight of the film, however, is the reinvention of horror legend Pinhead. This is embodied for the first time by a woman – the trans actress Jamie Clayton, known from Netflix’ Sense8 – and thus corresponds to Clive Barker’s original vision of a genderless entity. The terrifying presence of Clayton’s torture priest captivates with an unexpected elegance and grandeur.
Even if Hellraiser with a Running time of over 2 hours seems too long-winded in places, this horror film convinces with its fantastic creature design, the opulent sets and some bloody kills. But don’t expect a splatter spectacle full of pain and suffering.
Rather, David Bruckner’s vision impresses with its even (and sometimes too dark) atmosphere and the mysteries that are gradually revealed. Hellraiser’s striking style and interesting world building will definitely unleash a “lust” for more. Unfortunately until now no sequel to the reboot announced yet.
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