Hellraiser (2022) aka Finally We Have A Hellraiser Film That DOESN'T Suck

[Winter]

After the first two Hellraiser films the series kinda, sorta because maybe Absolute Crap. It was just bad film, after bad film, after bad film but we now have a Hellraiser film that is honestly really good. One thing I enjoyed about this film was how the Cenobites were handled.

While they're the most iconic villains in the series with Pinhead being the real standout they were actually rather minor characters in the first film and killed off in the second act of the second film and they were just generic slasher monsters in all the sequels. But here, the Cenobites are the main threat, they're the ones moving the plot forward while still being unique as movie monsters. They seek to torment and hurt those who solve the puzzle box and even the human who starts this whole mess is still working for them.

I also like how they look. I was a bit iffy on their designs in the trailer but now said designs have really grown on me with them no longer wearing leather but instead their skin has been ripped apart to resemble cloths. Also, while Pinhead is the Cenobite that gets the most screen time she's no longer the "Main" Antagonist. The Cenobites as a whole all get fairly equal screen time and lines which really helps sell them as a singular threat instead of Pinhead's minions.

Also Jamie Clayton KILLS it in this performance, she's honestly as good as Doug Bradley with her playing the iconic character in her own unique way. Bradley had deep Booming Voice while Clayton speaks more calmly and softly. Bradly barely moved often holding his hands behind his back while Clayton moves around a bit more but always slowly. Bradly barely showed any expression while Clayton almost always has this soft, calm smile while also having a few other expressions.

Finally Clayton is more subdued while Bradly was often a bit more over the top. Neither is better or worse they're just different and honestly it's nice that Clayton wasn't really emulating Bradly but instead giving her own take on the character. And as I said in the other post I just love that we have a trans woman playing an iconic character with many singing the praises of her performance. As a trans woman myself it's just great to see one of us getting such a huge role.

Finally one thing that I enjoyed was how the Cenobites HONOR their word. Something that always bugged me in the original film was how the Cenobites would often betray those they made deals with while in the book they do actually stick to their word. But in this film it remains true to what the Cenobites are which are NOT demons but this force that does what it does for their master. This thus makes them feel more unique instead of just another kind of slasher monster as they will leave you alone if you cut a deal with them and they will honor it. You will have to do horrible things but you can be freed of them.

Just a good film all around and it's nice to see another Horror Icon getting a good film.

[McAvoy]

Keep in mind in the original novel, Pinhead was described as not having a sex but did seem feminine. As in a feminine voice.

So Clayton is actually staying closer to the book than Bradley did. Bradley made the character iconic though.

[Winter]

Actually, one thing I find so interesting about the reception of this film is how hardly anyone is talking about the fact that Pinhead is being played by a trans woman. Most of the negative reviews from critics and audience seem to have more of an issue with the film being a remake, a horror film or not being as gory as the original. Hardly anyone has talked about the film having a trans woman when I was so certain that would be the only thing anyone would talk about.

But so far the only issue many seem to have with Clayton is that she's not Bradly and even then most of the negative reviews still praise her performance as the character. Hopefully this is a sign that the whole Woke/Anti-Woke argument is dying down and we can just go back to complaining about things like CGI vs. Practical Effects or that a character isn't wearing the right color shoes.

[McAvoy]

Actually, one thing I find so interesting about the reception of this film is how hardly anyone is talking about the fact that Pinhead is being played by a trans woman. Most of the negative reviews from critics and audience seem to have more of an issue with the film being a remake, a horror film or not being as gory as the original. Hardly anyone has talked about the film having a trans woman when I was so certain that would be the only thing anyone would talk about.

But so far the only issue many seem to have with Clayton is that she's not Bradly and even then most of the negative reviews still praise her performance as the character. Hopefully this is a sign that the whole Woke/Anti-Woke argument is dying down and we can just go back to complaining about things like CGI vs. Practical Effects or that a character isn't wearing the right color shoes.

I doubt it. Seems to be stronger than ever. She Hulk, Rings of Power, HotD, Little Mermaid etc.

My theory is because it hasn't occurred to any of those Anti Woke crowd that Clayton is a transwoman. Maybe because they just don't know or because Jamie Clayton has a pretty successful transition that you can't tell that she is trans.

I doubt the Anti Woke crowd is silent because she did such a great job. Because there is no doubt that there will be a large percentage of that crowd who are also Anti Trans too.

[hammerofglass]

In this particular case I don't even know how they would complain about her, all of their usual figleaf narratives have problems. Can't complain it's a woman playing "a man's part" because that means admitting she's a woman, can't complain that she's "really a man" because the character was previously played by a man, can't bring up the book because the book version was ambiguously gendered.

[Madner Kami]

I'd argue it might be down to the character's "original" gender being rather inconsequential, plus Pinhead not being a figure meant to identify with, so there're not many expectations projected onto it, unlike say a female Captain Picard or a male Wonder Woman or whatever.
Also there's the fact that, well... Pinhead is a demon of sorts. And since being genderqueer, trans or whatever isn't exactly sanctioned by the Bible, it is thus kind of part of the parcel ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[McAvoy]

I'd argue it might be down to the character's "original" gender being rather inconsequential, plus Pinhead not being a figure meant to identify with, so there're not many expectations projected onto it, unlike say a female Captain Picard or a male Wonder Woman or whatever.
Also there's the fact that, well... Pinhead is a demon of sorts. And since being genderqueer, trans or whatever isn't exactly sanctioned by the Bible, it is thus kind of part of the parcel ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

I do remember that there was criticism of 'yet another movie where a male character is taken up by a female'.

But no mention of the actress being a transwoman because perhaps she isn't well known. Or perhaps because Hellraiser isn't exactly a big franchise compared to Freddy or Michael or Jason movies.

[Frustration]

Or because the character is so unearthly that the personal details of the actor don't seem important.