A new image of the updated Pinhead in the Hellraiser remake shows off more gruesome details to the character's look. Based on the novel "The Hellbound Heart" by Clive Barker, the original Hellraiser debuted in 1987, quickly becoming a cult horror hit. Barker directed the adaptation himself, while the nine sequels that followed were helmed by a number of different filmmakers, keeping the franchise going despite mixed to poor reviews as it continued.
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The new Hellraiser remake is directed by David Bruckner (V/H/S, The Night House) and stars Sense8 actor Jamie Clayton in the iconic role of the Hell Priest known as Pinhead. The new iteration has a story by David S. Goyer, with a script by Ben Collins and Luke Piotrowski, making it a step forward in talent for the series, which had been languishing in straight-to-video territory for the last two decades. Originally played by Doug Bradley in the first film, Pinhead is the leader of the Cenobites, a group of sadistic supernatural beings summoned from another dimension who can no longer differentiate between pleasure and pain.
In a new image for Hellraiser (via USA Today), Clayton is seen in profile as the new Pinhead, showing off some of the more gruesome aspects of the character's updated appearance. Pinhead has traditionally been portrayed as male and wearing a black leather suit, complete with a large collar that covered his neck. Clayton's version sees the neck and shoulders laid bare, with a metallic object in her throat, which is stripped open, revealing flesh inside. In addition, there are areas of flesh cut out near the chest and shoulders, further revealing the gory details of the new look. Check out the image below:
As this is the first time a Hellraiser movie has a female Pinhead, changes are made accordingly – Bruckner has said that they did not want to copy what came before, and are offering something "that hits a little different." Bruckner also stated they always knew they wanted the new Pinhead to be a woman, and that Clayton "killed it" in the role. While the film carries the title Hellraiser, it is not a remake of the film, but rather "a new story in the Hellraiser universe" that could potentially kick off a new iteration of the franchise.
While the quality of the Hellraiser sequels has been questionable and inconsistent, the new version of the series looks to be an inspired take. With the film debuting on Hulu, it has the opportunity to capitalize on the genre enthusiasts that helped make the Predator prequel Prey such a tremendous success there this summer. A newly reinvented icon can be tricky territory, but it may be just what the franchise needs to bring viewers back into the sadomasochistic world of the Cenobites, which has managed to survive on the back of Pinhead's iconic status for over three decades. Hellraiser debuts on Hulu on October 7.