‘Hellraiser’ evaluate: Hulu does not increase the bar on Clive Barker’s gory unique

USA Prime Time
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Although the brand new “Hellraiser” is billed as “reimagining” Clive Barker’s 1987 horror movie, it’s not just like the title ever went away, elevating six direct-to-video productions (the final one in 2018) after the 4 theatrical motion pictures. If you in some way skipped, ballpark, 9 of these, this direct-to-Hulu model presents a credibly creepy retelling in an over-inflated bundle that might profit from a couple of focused pinpricks.

The movie begins promisingly sufficient, introducing “ER” alum Goran Visnjic, taking part in the standard billionaire with unhealthy intentions who seeks to amass a mysterious puzzle field that may used to summon Cenobites, supernatural beings from one other dimension whose grotesque appetites are the stuff “R” rankings are made from.

The narrative then shifts to Riley (Odessa A’zion of Netflix’s “Grand Army”), a younger lady combating habit who winds up stealing from the fallacious storage facility, thrusting her and people round her (together with her brother) into peril and creating incentive for her to decipher what may be taking place.

First stricken by eerie visions, she’s ultimately confronted by Pinhead, right here performed by Jamie Clayton (“Sense8”), who supplies a way of menace underneath what has all the time seemed to be the world’s most laborious-to-apply make-up, nevertheless iconic it may be.

Reuniting the workforce behind “The Night House,” the movie was directed by David Bruckner, with veteran style author/producer David S. Goyer sharing credit score for the story with screenwriters Ben Collins and Luke Piotrowski. While the plot lastly hyperlinks Riley’s arc to the opening, at a full two hours, the narrative lags because it tries to construct some sense of connection to the supporting gamers, main as much as a chronic climactic sequence that’s characteristically bloody however lower than thrilling, together with what’s maybe greatest described as a slow-speed chase.

“Hellraiser” is clearly working inside pretty well-defined parameters, and leveraging 35 years of display historical past, delivers on essentially the most primary stage by way of particular results and gore, with out – the “reimagining” declare however – bringing a lot freshness to the system. It additionally suits Hulu’s technique of premiering motion pictures culled from well-known franchises, with “Prey” – from the “Predator” universe – among the many current examples.

For these simply in search of one other repair of Pinhead and the Cenobites, that’s in all probability sufficient to get the job carried out. But as soon as “Hellraiser” has made that, er, level, the film feels extra like a snack – or ‘chew – than a meal.

“Hellraiser” premieres October 7 on Hulu.