Hellraiser 2022 Review

Hellraiser 2022 is a macabre retelling of Clive Barker’s original novella, The Hellbound Heart. Bringing the eighties classic into a far more modern light, writers, Ben Collins and Luke Piotrowski have taken a classically dark tale and added their own blood-curdling signatures, to grotesquely delicious effect.

Hellraiser 2022 Premise

While down-on-her-luck recovering drug addict, Riley (played by Odessa A’zion) is going through her 12-step program, she is living with her overbearing but protective brother, Matt (Brandon Flynn), and his boyfriend, Colin (Adam Faison). After coming home drunk one night, hopeless Riley ends up getting into an argument with her brother before running off into the night.

It’s here Riley meets her boyfriend, Trevor (Drew Starkey), and they hatch a plan to steal a puzzle box from the cargo of a billionaire. All those that are familiar with the Hellraiser franchise will know that nothing good can come from such mysterious cubes, and it doesn’t take long for the inevitable to transpire.

After playing with the puzzle box, Riley is visited by The Priest (Jamie Clayton) who warns of the box’s insatiable hunger for blood and informs her of its unearthly demands. After losing her brother to the new and malevolent forces in play, Riley knows what she must do to unlock the box and bring back her brother for good.

The Controversy Surrounding Hellraiser (2022)

When it first came to light that The Priest was to be played by a female, all hell broke loose (if you will pardon the pun). People claiming to be lifelong and devoted fans complained about the decision and chants of ‘woke media’ were heard far and wide.

However, what these people failed to realize is that with Jamie playing Pinhead the movie is closer to Barker’s original works. The Priest – and the Cenobites alike – were originally imagined as androgynous demons with feminine voices.

Besides, man, woman, or duck-billed platypus, Jamie Clayton portrayed a chilling Pinhead and stole the show.

The Cenobites are Back – and Creepier than Ever

The Cenobites were always one of the aspects of Hellraiser that made the franchise great. The grotesque deformities were seemingly spawned from the darker recesses of Barker’s mind. Forced to serve in hell and bear disfigurements reflecting their mortal lives, the Cenobites’ presence often spelled a bloody end for whoever they had locked in their foreboding gaze.

You will be happy to learn that Cenobites have made their way into Hellraiser 2022 and are even creepier than ever. The Chatterer is back and this time is joined by brand new Cenobites: The Gasp, The Weeper, The Asphyx, The Mother, The Masque, and Roland Voight. Each of these hellish incarnations has been designed with the original style, with each telling a story of a previous life. The whole ‘Hell on Earth’ theme of Hellraiser is wrapped up in the Cenobites, making them a vital part of the franchise. It was make or break and the Cenobites of 2022 once again stole the show.

Hellraiser 2022 Summary

We went into Hellraiser 2022 with low expectations. With so many icons of horror being brought into the modern world, it’s only a matter of time before a reimagining ruins a good, solid franchise forever. Thankfully, however, that time never came with Hellraiser.

Clayton brings The Priest to life in all of her chilling majesty, while the costume and make-up departments have perfectly recaptured the very essence of the timelessly classic originals. Hellraiser (2022) has all of the hallmarks of its predecessors and is an absolute must-watch for seasoned franchise cultists and new horror fans alike.

Hellraiser 2022 is available now to stream on Hulu.