A Franchise Reborn: Why Hellraiser (2022) Works
David Bruckner’s Hellraiser from 2022 is a downright magical unicorn of a movie. Development hell, no wide theatrical release, and no physical release for four years—while being the 11th entry in a franchise that had long suffered as both a direct-to-video series and kind of a joke. A joke because most of the movies were not only not great, but also barely Hellraiser in nature, often just pre-existing scripts slapped with five minutes of Pinhead or the Lament Configuration to hook audiences.
Today’s movie is a story of hope and redemption for a franchise that lost its way about six movies prior. It’s a story about a film that has gotten better over four years and reinvigorated a series that, at its heart, not only shouldn’t have been a franchise but also could be so much better. While it has divided some fans who don’t think it follows the story it was originally supposed to remake, its heart (and chains) are in the right place—while somehow landing in the top three movies in the franchise. Don’t let the box cut you as we look at why Hellraiser (2022) is so good.
Not a Remake—Something Better
Let’s get this out of the way first and foremost: this is not a remake, even if that’s what it was originally conceived as. Much like the mistaken identity of Doom 64—often thought to be a Nintendo 64 remake of the original Doom but actually more like the real Doom 3—this plainly titled Hellraiser is not a remake of the 1987 original, but very much its own thing.
While the film is credited as being based on Clive Barker’s The Hellbound Heart, that’s not entirely fair. It doesn’t feature anyone from the original story outside of the Cenobites. That, however, is one of the best parts of the movie—which we’ll get to later. How different it is, including the direction it takes with its story and themes, the casting, and the throwback to the backbone of ’80s horror, are the main reasons why it’s so effective.
This movie is also technically responsible for 2011’s Hellraiser: Revelations, as that film was made just so Dimension could keep the license—but we won’t hold that against it. The story of this Hellraiser starts all the way back in 2006.
Development Hell (Fittingly)
No less than Clive Barker himself posted online that he would return to the writer’s desk to pen a remake of Hellraiser for Dimension. That obviously didn’t happen, and the project went through a revolving door of filmmakers.
Julien Maury and Alexandre Bustillo (Inside), Marcus Dunston (Feast), Darren Lynn Bousman, Pascal Laugier, and Patrick Lussier were all attached at one point or another, with various writers cycling through as well. Casting rumors included Amber Heard in a lead role and William Fichtner as Pinhead.
Casting Pinhead as anyone other than Doug Bradley was always going to be a herculean—and controversial—task (see the previous two films), but none of these versions ever came to fruition.
The Right Creative Team at the Right Time
Instead, Clive Barker became more involved than he had been since Bloodline, having secured the rights again. David S. Goyer developed the story, with the screenplay written by Ben Collins and Luke Piotrowski (Siren, Super Dark Times, The Night House).
That last credit is especially relevant, as The Night House director David Bruckner was chosen to helm this reboot/reimagining. His work on The Ritual, V/H/S, Southbound, and Creepshow made him an ideal fit.
The cast includes Odessa A’zion, Adam Faison, Drew Starkey, Brandon Flynn, and Goran Višnjić. The team tried to bring Doug Bradley back for a cameo, but due to COVID-related health concerns, he couldn’t participate.
A New Pinhead That Honors the Source
It’s his replacement that makes all the difference. Many people forget that in The Hellbound Heart, there is no “Pinhead” as we know it. The character is simply the Lead Cenobite—described as androgynous, with a feminine voice.
Enter trans actress Jamie Clayton as Pinhead in the 2022 version. It’s a perfect thematic fit, and she truly makes the role her own. She doesn’t play the character with vengeance or emotion, but rather as an entity bound by rules—serving Leviathan and the box itself.
She offers choices but never hides the consequences, even commenting on Riley’s fate and the suffering she will endure, with or without the Cenobites’ help.
Addiction as the Core Theme
It’s not just Clayton—everyone delivers solid performances. But what really elevates the film is its thematic depth.
Some critics argue the movie strays from the original’s focus on pleasure and pain, but it actually explores an adjacent idea: addiction.
In the original, Frank is addicted to sensation, and Julia becomes addicted to her affair with him. Here, Riley is a recovering addict, constantly battling urges and often losing—through pills, alcohol, and self-destructive behavior.
Other characters reflect this theme too:
Serena is driven by money
Trevor is revealed to be opportunistic
Voight represents unchecked hedonism
Voight, played by Višnjić, is the closest analogue to Frank—a man obsessed with experiencing the forbidden.
The Box as a Metaphor
The film reinforces its themes through the mechanics of the box itself. Victims are rarely willing participants—they’re stabbed accidentally or manipulated into it.
Riley’s brother dying alone in a bathroom is a particularly grounded, terrifying moment. The box even acts like a drug, with its effects tied to blood loss and altered perception.
For anyone who has experienced addiction or loss, the metaphor hits hard. The idea that the box looks different to everyone who touches it reinforces how personal that struggle is.
Delivering the Horror Goods
Despite its thematic ambitions, Hellraiser doesn’t forget what kind of movie it is.
The sound design is excellent, with the bells subtly introduced before becoming more pronounced with each kill. The gore, effects, and creature design are top-tier.
The Cenobites look both more sterile and more grotesque than ever. Their designs feel almost clinical, yet deeply unsettling—like living instruments of torture.
Highlights include:
Voight’s elaborate trap mansion
The evolving Cenobite designs
The Rube Goldberg-style chest device
A mix of on-screen gore and implied horror
It’s a balance many modern horror films struggle to achieve.
A Franchise That Finally Found Its Way Again
Hellraiser has no business being this good. It’s the 11th entry in a long-running series, released straight to streaming on Hulu, and born from years of false starts.
And yet—it works.
Fans are finally eating well again. The film has since received a physical Blu-ray and 4K release, and even a new M-rated video game is on the way—one that actually explores the mythology instead of treating the character like a cameo.
With a strong understanding of Barker’s themes and a willingness to evolve, Hellraiser (2022) stands as a sleeper hit that deserves far more attention than it gets.
The post A Franchise Reborn: Why Hellraiser (2022) Works appeared first on JoBlo.