‘Hellraiser’ Review – Pinhead is Amazing, But the Demonic Terror is Not
Pinhead and the Cenobites have returned to the screen, but the new tale is lacking terror. Our Hellraiser review gives all the details.
Clive Barker’s S&M horror classic gets fresh blood in director David Bruckner’s reboot. The movie focuses on a young woman (Riley) that’s living with her brother while trying to get her life together and struggling with addiction. In the pursuit of cash to better her situation, Riley comes into the possession of an ancient puzzle box, unaware of what its true purpose is. She soon finds out as the Lament Configuration starts taking her friends.
This reboot is better than the sequels we’ve gotten over the years – it’s helped by the fact that Barker was involved in the production. Jamie Clayton is a fantastic Pinhead that exudes an otherworldly power and terrorizing sexuality. The designs (some revamped, some new) for the rest of the artfully mutilated Cenobites all capture the possibilities of labyrinth dimension. Lead Riley is flawed and rough around the edges, her reactions make her annoying at times. She has that try everything without thinking kind of personality that has become a trope. The rest of the humans are a bit one-dimensional and there to act mainly as sacrifices.
There are some changes made to the mythology that I’m not a big fan of, and at times it feels like a generic horror movie wrapped in Hellraiser because of that. It’s far from perfect, but it’s worth a watch for existing and new fans alike.
Spoilers Below the Trailer
Spoiler Filled Hellraiser Review
The Cenobites, the box, and the labyrinth dimension (as usual) are the best part of the movie.
Jamie Clayton! Perfect casting, great character design, and the voice are fantastic. Pinhead is amazing. I’m impressed by the new Cenobite designs. The choice of pearl-topped hat pins over the flat-head sewing pins used in the past lends elegance and femininity to the characters. Why not be pretty and grotesque? I also approve of the departure from the black S&M leather priest look toward something more flesh-based.
Voight’s hedonistic pursuit more makes for a good core story and he’s a decent new Frank even though his suffering is not as brutal. All of the callbacks to Frank’s grueling transformation in the 1986 movie were a nice touch, as well. The new Hellraiser is connected to existing mythos through more than the Cenobites. The story also gets to the heart of it: regret is the cruelest torture.
via Hulu
The Not-So-Great
Pinhead and the Cenobites have returned, but they’re lacking otherworldliness and their victims are lacking humanity. The acting was flat or over the top, with not much in between. I spent a lot of the movie wanting to punch Riley for whining and overreacting all the time. This bratty characterization is not uncommon for horror movies, so it’s a bit of a wash.
While the Cenobites are a highlight, they were goofy at times and the changes to the mythos were bad. They aren’t gross enough. The Cenobites’ costumes look like what they are – silicone suits – in a lot of shots instead of flesh due to their dry appearance. I would have liked to see some more practical gore and goo. The fact that they appeared in the real world, just standing around and visible to everyone, was not the best choice. It makes them mundane.
The whole using the puzzle box as a stabbing weapon was dumb, as was the house’s Cenobite-proof cage (they look stupid hanging out on the lawn). It could have been a tighter, scarier movie without those plot devices.
I’d put it above most of the sequels in part because it’s got a bigger budget, but it could have done with thirty fewer minutes and some added gore. The franchise is supposed to be about hedonism, pain, and the flaying of flesh. The Cenobites are supposed to be terrifying to their victims. I didn’t get enough of that here. It’s still a worthy entry into the franchise. I was just hoping for more.
‘Hellraiser’ is available on Hulu now.
