What makes Hellraiser such a beloved and iconic franchise? In this exclusive interview Director David Bruckner and Jamie Clayton (Pinhead) explain.
Hellraiser is one of those franchises that immediately comes to mind when people are asked about horror films. It has an avid fanbase, and rightfully so. There is something unique to the Hellraiser films, making it beloved by many.
During an exclusive interview with Director David Bruckner and Jamie Clayton (who plays Pinhead in 2022’s Hellraiser), they explain why they think this franchise is so special.
Why Hellraiser Is So Beloved and Iconic
Bruckner immediately admits that there are so many things. “At its core Hellraiser is about possession and temptation. There is an irony to the Cenobites that makes them infinitely interesting and in manifests on so many different fronts.” He goes on to say that the Cenobites offer your something horrible, but it is also something that you want. Therein lies the intrigue and excitement.
“They’re both regal, but also terrifying. They’re repulsive, but glamorous.” Bruckner adds.
Jamie Clayton puts it perfectly though, when she says people love it because it’s sexy.
Jamie on Seeing Herself as Pinhead for the First Time
Jamie Clayton brings something unique to this version of Pinhead and makes this character her own. Doug Bradley has played the iconic role in the past, and she raves about how brilliant he is. She was thrilled the first time that she saw herself as Pinhead, even calling it glorious.
“The Russell’s executed Keith Thompson’s designs so beautifully. I remember when I went for my life cast, and I met them for the first time at their Big Creature Shop. I saw that it was going to be pearls at the tips of each pin and I was completely floored. I have a very personal special relationship with pearls — I’m wearing a strand of pearls right now. And so that I felt that immediate inherent connection to that part of it, because I didn’t know that there going to be pearls.”
Clayton says that when she first saw herself, she didn’t recognize herself. She went in with zero expectations but there was “a beauty and a terror” she felt when looking at Pinhead staring back at her. “It’s been such a gift to be given the opportunity to play this character. It’s such a peak for me.”
As for David Bruckner, he says that seeing Jamie as Pinhead, and the other Cenobites absolutely accomplished his vision for them. “It’s really challenging. Finding people that can step into these roles is not an easy feat. It is very abstract to perform something like this. It’s an enormous physical challenge to put these suits on and to come up with behaviors that feel Cenobite. Each one of our Cenobites was a creation all its own and was a really wonderful collaboration between our designers, VFX team, the performers, and even a little bit of work in post for cleanup.”
Be sure to check out Hellraiser (2022) on Hulu October 7th to see the Cenobites in action and learn for yourself why this franchise is so beloved.
NEXT: Hellraiser Review (2022 Movie)
About Hellraiser (2022)
A reimagining of Clive Barker’s 1987 horror classic from director David Bruckner in which a young woman struggling with addiction comes into possession of an ancient puzzle box, unaware that its purpose is to summon the Cenobites, a group of sadistic supernatural beings from another dimension.
