After languishing in sequel hell since 1992’s loud and awful Hellraiser III: Hell Of Earth – a level of quality we quickly came to pine for as successive offerings trawled new depths – original writer, director and weird fiction icon Clive Barker has finally succeeded in his mission of taking Pinhead back to his dark and gristly beginnings with a Hellraiser reboot.
“A few weeks ago I had a very productive meeting with Bob Weinstein of Dimension Pictures, in the course of which I pitched a remake of the first Hellraiser film,” wrote Barker on his Facebook page.
“The idea of my coming back to the original film and telling the story with a fresh intensity – honouring the structure and the designs from the first incarnation but hopefully creating an even darker and richer film – was attractive to Dimension. Today I have officially been invited to write the script based upon that pitch. What can I tell you about it?
“Well, it will not be a film awash with CGI. I remain as passionate about the power of practical make-up effects as I was when I wrote and directed the first Hellraiser. Of course the best make-up in the world loses force if not inhabited by a first-rate actor. I told the Dimension team that in my opinion there could never be a Pinhead without Doug Bradley, and much to my delight Bob Weinstein agreed. So once the papers are signed, I will open a Lemarchand Configuration, dip my quill in its contents and start writing.”
Barker also teased a follow-up project when asked by a fan, saying, “Dimension confirmed that they are purely interested in an R-rated picture. Somebody else asked why I’m not writing something original. The answer is that I am. After Hellraiser I intend to write and direct a completely new horror movie,which will mingle graphic horror and erotic content,to create an unrated film which will push the envelope of extreme content further than ever.”
Pick up the first three Hellraiser films in one DVD box set for £25.99 from Amazon.co.uk.
