Clive Barker remains one of the finest minds in horror, but he’s not as prolific as he once was. His stories provided the source material for countless classic horror films. He directed several of the best examples, but he hasn’t taken that role in a while. Two of his most successful franchises entered the realm of remakes and reboots recently. His Hellraiser reboot dropped in 2022, but it’s on HBO’s top ten in 2025.
Barker served as the executive producer on the latest Hellraiser outing, but director David Bruckner helmed the project. Bruckner is a unique talent who started his career with the best entries in several anthology films. He did “Amateur Night” for V/H/S and stayed with that franchise ever since. Bruckner directed The Ritual and The Night House, both of which turned out pretty well. His Hellraiser reboot is among his best features.
Clive Barker’s Hellraiser Reboot Raises Hell on HBO
The Hellraiser franchise follows the unfortunate victims of a mysterious mechanical puzzle box. The story came from Clive Barker’s 1986 novella “The Hellbound Heart.” Each entry generally introduces new victims who tinker with the box and suffer the wrath of the Cenobites. Those Cenobites tend to draw attention through their horrific designs and compelling philosophy. The 2022 remake swaps out the original film’s psychosexual narrative for an addiction theme. Odessa A’zion stars as Riley, a recovering addict who stumbles onto the box and races to fix its effects. The central quest is deeply moving, but the 2022 remake’s biggest draw is its visuals. There are a few truly jaw-dropping shots and stellar horror moments that deserve attention. It’s not a perfect film, but it’s a solid new take on a familiar story. It’s a compelling body horror film with a lot of memorable moments.
Did you know that there are 11 cinematic adaptations of Hellraiser? The first film came out in 1987, shortly after the short story. Barker decided to direct that one himself without offering the same benefit to the next 10 films. That’s why it’s really the only one anyone remembers. A huge selection of beloved performers appeared throughout the Hellraiser series, many of them offering fascinating starting points to actors. One of the only consistent members of the franchise was Doug Bradley, who played The Priest, or Pinhead, throughout. He only bailed in the ninth entry. Jamie Clayton replaced Bradley, oddly bringing the character a bit closer to the novella’s description. Narratively, the 2022 reboot follows the first 10 films’ examples. It’s an endless march of new victims in familiar scenarios.
While the first nine sequels to Clive Barker’s original adaptation are schlocky cash-ins, the 2022 reboot feels like something new. It could have been the start of a new franchise. The odd thing about its current streaming success is that it’s on HBO. The film first launched on Hulu, but it’s good enough to achieve cross-platform notoriety. Hellraiser is worth watching for returning fans and newcomers. Learn from the Cenobites and be open to new experiences.
