Movie Review

Film Review: HELLRAISER (2022): A Horror Classic Gets Modernized in an Interesting but Overlong Reboot

Jamie Clayton Hellraiser

Hellraiser Review

Hellraiser (2022) Film Review, a movie directed by David Bruckner, written by Ben Collins and Luke Piotrowski and starring Jamie Clayton, Odessa A’zion, Adam Faison, Drew Starkey, Brandon Flynn, Aoife Hinds, Jason Liles, Yinka Olorunnife, Selina Lo, Zachary Hing, Kit Clarke, Goran Visnjic, Hiam Abbass, Predrag Bjelac, Vukasin Jovanovic and Ivona Kustudic.

In 1987, the original film, Hellraiser, came out. It was certainly a gorefest with chains ripping into the skin of humans while creatures known as Cenobites take wrath on their victims. It was a pretty decent horror picture but director David Bruckner’s new reboot is trying to do something a bit different this time out by “fleshing out” the material (in more ways than one). Bruckner’s new Hellraiser picture is two hours long and much more detailed than the original picture. Still, the reboot is yet another example of movie makers trying to improve upon something that was fine and didn’t really need tinkering with. With that being said, there are some terrific characterizations here alongside the promised bloodiness.

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As the movie opens, the young Joey (Kit Clarke) gets manipulated when he is asked to meet an older lawyer woman, Menaker (Hiam Abbass) in a certain part of a mansion in exactly ten minutes. Instead, he runs into the wicked Voight (Goran Visnjic) who insists that Joey try to solve a puzzle box which anybody who has seen the original film knows, is pretty much the portal to the world of Hell where the Cenobites live.

Odessa A’zion stars as the central female protagonist, Riley. When we first meet Riley, she’s suffering from financial problems and doesn’t live under the best circumstances. Riley lives with her brother, Matt (Brandon Flynn) and a couple of other people all chipping in to pay the rent. Early on, Riley has raw sex with her boyfriend, Trevor (Drew Starkey) who is the catalyst for the movie’s plot to be initiated as the pair try to get their hands on some worthy merchandise in a warehouse but, unfortunately, get stuck with the puzzle box which brings the Cenobites into the action as they eventually demand sacrifices to fulfill their own ideals and philosophies.

The leader of the Cenobites is known as the Priest and is played quite well by Jamie Clayton who surprisingly creates a terrifying “Pinhead” who takes a pin out of her head at one point and inflicts pain on a key victim. Clayton chews scenery every time she appears on screen. It is Goran Visnjic who steals the show, however, as Voight, a character we can’t wait to see get his just desserts. Visnjic is appropriately cast in his role and it’s a welcome return to form for the distinguished actor. The last scene with Visnjic will leave a lasting impression on the viewer.

A’zion is a relatable, heroic character who doesn’t always have the best dialogue yet A’zion’s personality carries the movie through its lengthy two hours running time. She is the type of strong female character which many horror films are known to feature and A’zion doesn’t disappoint in her role.

The Priest could have had a bit more screen time in a movie that overstays its welcome. This picture could have used some trimming down in the editing room. Some scenes drag while others are too short. There is an abundance of characters too which makes it hard to keep track of everyone but since the movie needs to kill off victims, it’s understandable that the picture needs to have at least half a dozen central characters to give horror movie audiences what it wants.

I could be wrong because I haven’t seen the original picture in some time, but this new movie feels a little bit less horrific than the 1987 movie. Having been young at the time it was released, perhaps I was more shocked by that older picture. Some of the scenes in the new Hellraiser feel repetitive even though the killings are unique. That’s because some of the Cenobites are flat. Only the Priest is truly memorable. The other Cenobites look like a bunch of zombie rejects and don’t have much personality on display.

Still, Hellraiser is a pretty admirable effort despite its lengthiness. It’s not on the level of the 1987 film and I’m not sure it will be celebrated as much as the original years down the line. This reboot recreated the whole concept of the classic from 1987 which is widely known for being distinct in its concept. Ashley Laurence and Doug Bradley, the original movie’s stars, were strong and memorable. A’zion and Clayton certainly do good work here but they’re not quite on the level of the original performers.

Nevertheless, Clive Barker’s tale gets a nice polish this time out but it’s still, ultimately, another example of filmmakers trying to remake a classic and only succeeding moderately. If you need a movie for Halloween, though, all the Cenobite freaks in Hellraiser sort of look like they’re out trick-or-treating as they go after their victims in the picture so this movie will fit the bill for a quick and easy frightfest.

Rating: 6.5/10

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Thomas Duffy

Thomas Duffy is a graduate of the Pace University New York City campus and has been an avid movie fan all of his life. In college, he interviewed film stars such as Minnie Driver and Richard Dreyfuss as well as directors such as Tom DiCillo and Mark Waters. He is the author of nine works of fiction available on Amazon. He's been reviewing movies since his childhood and posts his opinions on social media. You can follow him on Twitter. His user handle is @auctionguy28.
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