With the arrival of a new “Hellraiser” that will bring the Cenobites and the horrors they cause back to life, one question may remain: is the film a sequel to the franchise, a remake of the first film, or a total reboot of the series?
“The Hellbound Heart,” a story written by Clive Barker, was adapted in 1987, with a screenplay and direction by the same writer. Thus was born the original “Hellraiser”, which eventually became a franchise, which added nine sequels. The success of the franchise is mainly based on his most iconic character: Pinhead.
In this new chapter of the franchise, which arrives 35 years after the original, Doug Bradley, the original Pinhead, will be replaced by actress Jamie Clayton, star of the Netflix series “Sense8”. David Bruckner takes on the role of director of the film, being known in the horror universe for films such as “V / H / S” and “The Dark House”.
Now, Hulu’s new “Hellraiser” doesn’t come as a sequel to the original 1987 film, nor is it a mainstream remake. Instead, the film is a re-adaptation of the Clive Barker story as well as a reboot of the “Hellraiser” franchise.
Ignoring the sequels to the franchise, the new film leaves behind films that have not gained critical or public acclaim, as no feature film, aside from the original 1987 film, has a Rotten Tomatoes approval above 50%. , which signals that all have received negative reviews from critics. On the other hand, “Hellraiser” of 2022 has a critical approval score of 80%.
Why is the new “Hellraiser” not a remake?
The new film is a re-adaptation and reboot rather than a direct remake, as this frees up the new production to further explore the ideas of Clive Barker’s book. For example, Pinhead and the other Cenobites were described as androgynous figures in the book. But Pinhead, in particular, has also been described as having a more feminine voice, which doesn’t match Doug Bradley’s masculine tone in the 1987 film.
Therefore, the new “Hellraiser” can be seen as more faithful to the original text by putting Pinhead as a female figure (played by Jamie Clayton) in the reboot. Furthermore, the reboot state also takes the new movie away from the flaws of the original series.
Most of the “Hellraiser” sequels have been criticized for looking like cheap films and for being too far removed from the original Clive Barker story. 2011’s “Hellraiser: Revelations”, for example, is a 1.5-hour film that was produced in a short time, just to prevent Dimension Films from losing its franchise rights.
This caused Doug Bradley to refuse to return to the role of Pinhead, despite having played the character in every film up to that point. Therefore, the character changed face for the first time in the franchise’s history.
Despite all these messes, a fresh start makes audiences more excited to see the film. With a new take on Clive Barker’s source material, the reboot of David Bruckner’s “Hellraiser” ends up being the most compelling film for fans and critics since the original’s release.
The new “Hellraiser” will premiere on October 7 and is expected to arrive in Brazil via Star +.
The “Hellraiser” post: Is the new movie a sequel, remake or reboot? first appeared on Digital Look.
Source: Olhar Digital
Emily Jhon is a product and service reviewer at Gossipify, known for her honest evaluations and thorough analysis. With a background in marketing and consumer research, she offers valuable insights to readers. She has been writing for Gossipify for several years and has a degree in Marketing and Consumer Research from the University of Oxford.
