“Intercourse, Demise, and Puzzles” — Highlights from New Discord Interview with HELLRAISER (2022) Screenwriters Ben Collins and Luke Piotrowski

How did you each first get entangled with the Hellraiser venture, and what excited you most about taking it on?

Luke Piotrowski: Again after we had been pretty unestablished screenwriters, our agent and supervisor obtained us a name with the folks at Miramax who had the rights on the time. As kids of the 80s, we had been thrilled to have the possibility to play with a few of the most sacred franchise toys. We crafted a pitch. It was NOT what they had been searching for. However, for years, Hellraiser type of felt just like the one which obtained away. And our particular person passions for the franchise turned a particular level of connection between us. It was the one we each beloved and desperately wished to do. By some means, someway.

Lower to a few years later, we had been making The Night time Home with David Goyer’s Phantom 4 after we heard the information that they had been engaged on the title with Spyglass. We shamelessly went proper to our buddy Keith Levine, inventive producer at Phantom 4. “So… what’s up with Hellraiser?”

There was a bit extra to it than that. We needed to have inventive discussions with them and craft some paperwork earlier than being introduced in to pitch to Spyglass. However so far as touchdown a gig in Hollywood goes, it was one of the crucial seamless.

I feel what excited us most was in all probability what excites everybody right here on this discord. Hellraiser is horror nevertheless it’s additionally one thing extra. It has a few of the most excessive violence within the style, but in addition a way of gothic poetry. A way of the theatrical. And a mythology that’s dense and evocative. A few of the most putting and chic manufacturing design too. Of all of the horror franchises, Hellraiser is probably the most literary. That’s one thing I reply to.

Ben Collins: I’ve a really distinct childhood reminiscence of seeing the VHS cowl of the unique Hellraiser movie in a video retailer and being each terrified and hypnotically entranced by it. I used to be in all probability 5 years previous and definitely unable to learn but. However the picture of Pinhead was seared into my mind and took on a mysterious legendary high quality in my childhood. I didn’t see the movie till I used to be about 10 years previous and located it taking part in on an area broadcast station one night time. Even then I feel I solely noticed possibly half of it. Principally I bear in mind seeing Frank’s regeneration sequence and having to show it off when my dad and mom obtained residence so I didn’t even get to see Pinhead. Years later after I was a freshman at artwork college my roommate within the dorms had a DVD copy and it was the primary film we watched collectively on the primary night time we spent away from our dad and mom.

It wasn’t till 2010 or 2011 when Luke and I had been first contacted by executives at Dimension Movies as a part of a cattle-call for screenwriters they may rent to reboot the varied franchises they managed on the time. Luke and I had been each instantly occupied with Hellraiser and began daydreaming about how we’d have the ability to play in that world in a approach that might hassle honor what we beloved about it, but in addition convey it to a brand new viewers with a stage of status that had been misplaced within the franchise over time.

After all we didn’t get the job at the moment. And for years Hellraiser was the one which obtained away. Over time completely different firms would declare to have the rights and we might meet about it. But it surely wasn’t till 2019 that Keith Levine from Phantom 4 reached out on to us about doubtlessly getting concerned in writing the film that turned Hellraiser 2022.

So it was a very lengthy path however I feel for me personally a part of what continued to drive my curiosity was the need to entry that feeling of awe that I had as a baby trying on the cowl for the primary time.

When approaching a beloved horror franchise, what had been your first discussions about tone and path?

Luke Piotrowski: We had a long-running joke proper from the beginning that any reboot of Hellraiser wanted three issues: intercourse, dying and puzzles. Should you take any one among them away, it isn’t Hellraiser anymore. Simply puzzles and dying? That’s Noticed. Simply intercourse and dying? That’s most horror films. Simply intercourse and puzzles? That’s shut… however not fairly.

Personally, I feel tone is extremely vital relating to making additions to any franchise. It’s so vital to dump out the field of elements and see what one thing actually is at its coronary heart. What makes it work.

That’s doubly vital with Hellraiser. Barker’s work is a lot about tone. Not simply what’s taking place however the best way that it’s introduced. The grotesque and the sensual are serviced in equal measure whether or not on display screen or on the web page.

At one level, a distinct set of producers truly obtained maintain of the rights and approached us. However they solely cared in regards to the title, not the tone. They wished one thing with scorching teenagers, a slasher type of factor. And we finally simply stated “no thanks.”

To us, Hellraiser couldn’t be a slick slasher. It’s not a “hell yeah” film. It’s not even a heavy steel film. It’s gothic class laced with putrescence. An attractive, harmful nightmare.

Ben Collins: I feel we at all times wish to ask ourselves “what are probably the most important components that make this factor what it’s?” So the dialogue begins with understanding what items we’re working with, and understanding the historical past of the franchise and what’s been achieved earlier than. In a case like Hellraiser it’s enjoyable to look at all the previous films and type of take inventory of what works and what doesn’t, or in some instances what might have labored, all of which may level you within the path of what hasn’t been achieved but.

So the method turns into negotiating that feeling of being true to what it’s but in addition introducing new issues it may be.

Did you revisit Clive Barker’s unique novella The Hellbound Coronary heart throughout improvement, and in that case, how did it affect your writing?

Luke Piotrowski: Many occasions. Hellbound Coronary heart, Within the Flesh, Damnation Recreation, Scarlet Gospels. Even the previous Hellraiser comics! As quickly because it began to turn into actual, I started steeping myself in Barker once more. I wished greater than something to evoke these vibes. To be in that headspace.

There have been many parts from the novella we tried to include into the film, significantly when it got here to the Cenobites. A variety of them fell away through the street to manufacturing, sadly. However I need it on the report that we fought exhausting to maintain the jars of piss Frank deliberate to make use of to anoint himself! We additionally had the sound of wings and birds that the e-book describes when the Cenobites seem nevertheless it turned one component too many and we landed on simply the bells.

Ben Collins: I’ve learn Hellbound Coronary heart just a few occasions over time, in addition to listened to a number of audio variations, (included an exquisite, abridged model learn by Clive himself on YouTube) so it was very a lot on my thoughts all through. Luke and I talked about it extensively and felt the e-book’s descriptions of the Cenobites gave us lots of latitude when it comes to learn how to think about them in a brand new model.

Was Clive Barker concerned in your writing course of, and in that case, what was probably the most beneficial suggestions he gave you?

Luke Piotrowski: Sadly, we by no means obtained to fulfill or discuss to Clive himself. I do know he was involved with director David Brucker fairly a bit, although. That’s my one huge remorse, that we by no means obtained the possibility to collaborate with him. Even when solely a bit. I do know he particularly wished to deal with Riley’s religion or lack thereof, which I assumed was fascinating and led to some dialogue and a few completely different dialogue.

You’ve talked about that your model of Hellraiser was impressed partially by earlier pitches and concepts, and that some work you probably did for ‘The Night time Home’ grew out of discarded Hellraiser materials. Can you element what the unique Hellraiser pitch seemed like?

Luke Piotrowski: The quick model is we wished to do a really elegant, very hallucinatory model of The Hellbound Coronary heart. Very Black Swan. What fascinated us in regards to the unique story and movie was that Julia is in some ways the true protagonist. Kirsty is type of the damsel in misery and the climax rests on her shoulders however many of the actually juicy, emotional stuff and quite a lot of the battle falls on Julia. That preliminary pitch principally merged the 2 characters into one. The duty we gave ourselves was to craft a extra tragic, sympathetic model of Julia.

In our take, she was a lady who was nonetheless reeling from the sudden dying/disappearance of her husband. Whereas investigating what occurred to him, she found that she didn’t know him fairly in addition to she thought she did. He had a secret facet, a secret life. Secret wishes that he pursued by way of the occult. Briefly, she thought her husband was a Larry. After his dying, she found he was a Frank.

It was the puzzle field and the Cenobites who claimed him, after all. She solves the field and makes use of it to discount with the Cenobites to convey him again. They agree… however what they return is just not the husband she remembers. Very very like Frank within the unique movie, her husband comes again a tattered and bloody husk, tortured past recognition. Like all cope with the satan, it gave her what she wished nevertheless it led to her damnation. With the intention to restore him, she needed to begin going out, stalking males, bringing them again to kill and feed him. It was very a lot a narrative a few girl mad with grief, attempting to numb herself with violent and meaningless intercourse. And in addition a narrative about following a beloved one down a darkish path. Making an attempt to fill a gap in your soul. Form of a Lars Von Trier film in a approach.

The plan was for her to finally renege and attempt to break the deal, incurring the wrath of the Cenobites. But it surely was all very darkish and elevated and not likely something financiers can be keen to make! I nonetheless assume it might be unbelievable, although.

We ended up taking the ‘grieving widow makes a darkish discovery about her husband’ conceit and utilizing it because the engine of Night time Home. The sooner drafts of that one had been additionally far more sexually charged.

How did these earlier concepts evolve and inform the ultimate model of Hellraiser (2022)?

Luke Piotrowski: Finally, we weren’t in a position to take too many ideas from that preliminary pitch into the 2022 movie. Once we got here on board, David Goyer already had a tough therapy. It was only some pages lengthy nevertheless it outlined an engine that was completely completely different from ours. That was the inspiration we constructed 2022 on.

The one factor that carried over from our earliest conversations was the notion that possibly the puzzle field might provide rewards aside from extremely brutal torture. The ache/pleasure line is, after all, fascinating. But it surely’s so excessive that it may be exhausting to craft a story round. We knew we wished to have the ability to inspire folks to danger utilizing the field for different causes. To permit for protagonists that weren’t all like Frank whereas nonetheless conserving these parts alive and properly.

How did you steadiness honouring the franchise’s mythology and established canon while creating one thing contemporary for contemporary audiences?

Luke Piotrowski: We felt an incredible duty with the mythology. Our arms had been tied considerably by having a therapy already in place. However I feel we obtained to do most of what we wished to do when it comes to including to the canon.

We had some discussions about attempting to method it in such a approach that we didn’t flat out contradict any of the prevailing mythology in order to maybe permit it to exist throughout the extant canon. Finally, we needed to diverge, although. From a design standpoint, it simply ended up being too distinctive. And the brand new guidelines relating to the configurations made it clear that this needed to be its personal, contemporary continuity.

Ben Collins: I feel for me a part of why I wished to work within the Hellraiser franchise was exactly as a result of the canon mythology is pretty convoluted because of there by no means being a constant authorial voice dictating the selections between the movies. For as a lot as I really like a few of the sequels (Hellraiser III is arguably my favourite of the franchise up till Pinhead exhibits up on the membership) they appear to have every been made in service of themselves versus a lot of an overriding mythological consistency. This isn’t anybody’s fault after all, the film business was very completely different when Clive made the unique movie.

However for our functions the inconsistent mythology supplied the chance to rebuild a model that integrated points of most of the particular person movies, in addition to unique novella and a few of the different prolonged universe stuff. Greater than something we wished a model of the Hellraiser mythology that each labored in our movie, however is also carried ahead in subsequent movies, whether or not by us or anybody else. I feel we had been profitable on the primary half and time will inform in regards to the second half.

The Hellraiser mythos is intensive, with many films, books, and comics. If you had been approaching this reboot, what core parts did you’re feeling had been important to retain, and which components did you’re feeling wanted updating or reimagining for contemporary audiences?

Luke Piotrowski: Clearly, we needed to have the field. Needed to have a Pinhead. Needed to have the chains. Ben and I knew we wished to tug in some Hellbound parts too. We wished the labyrinth, we wished Leviathan.

I feel what’s important is that idea of “angels to some, demons to others.” The Cenobites aren’t monsters or maniacs or killers. They are surely attempting to share their gospel, to give you presents. It’s not their fault for those who don’t respect these presents. Ache is gorgeous to them. Divine.

I additionally assume it’s important that Pinhead have the ability to talk. Early on, there was type of an edict to maintain Pinhead extra just like the Night time King from Recreation of Thrones. A silent, stoic determine. However what I really like a lot about Barker’s work is the viewpoint of the “monsters.” The unique Candyman is so efficient as a result of that character is so seductive. “I’m the whisper at the back of the classroom… be my sufferer.” I felt it was important that Pinhead be seductive and allowed to attempt to promote their worldview. To provide voice to an excellent.

Ben Collins: I feel for me probably the most essential distinction that Cenobites have over different horror film “villains” is that they make selections based mostly on their very own pursuits and wishes. They communicate and make statements about their opinions, they usually can lie and break their very own as a result of they get pleasure from doing that. So any model that dumbs them down or makes them beholden to too “guidelines” can solely diminish their energy.

The concept of including completely different capabilities to the field itself was one thing Luke and I mentioned approach again in 2012 as a result of it appeared to us that the Cenobites would in all probability get pleasure from having a number of methods to trick, manipulate and torture folks. So despite the fact that it was a “new thought” it nonetheless felt in-kind with the habits of the Cenobites as constantly demonstrated within the lore.

The primary factor I really like about Hellraiser III is that the primary half is nearly these two ladies changing into associates whereas attempting to resolve a thriller collectively. So I feel that facet positively inflected a few of the first half of our film.

Leviathan is my favourite factor in Hellbound, and I assume the structure stuff is my favourite facet of Hellraiser IV. As Luke stated, lots of items got here with Goyer’s therapy, nevertheless it helped that every one of us appeared to overlap sufficient on which issues felt had been value pulling from.

What drew you to discover habit as a part of Riley’s arc, and the way did you steadiness that with the supernatural/horror parts?

Luke Piotrowski: As soon as we began to tug away from the grief points (thank God, as a result of it was already very performed out even a number of years in the past), it was a no brainer to dive headlong into Riley’s habit and self-destructive habits.

It obtained a bit misplaced within the translation to display screen however, to me, Riley is a dominant character that desires to be submissive. Like many addicts, she hates herself and the issues she does however everybody in her life is so accommodating they’re unable to supply the punishment she craves. She has no instruments to absolve herself of her sins, so she simply finally ends up hating and punishing herself extra.

She’d like nothing greater than for her brother to name her on her bullshit. When he kicks her out of the home eventually, it’s a type of aid. Fucking lastly! She even has to direct him, instruct him in learn how to yell at her. “Say it such as you imply it. GET OUT! Like that.” She’s taking the cat o’ 9 tails out of his hand and exhibiting him learn how to swing it.

The supernatural parts had been meant, after all, to evoke all these emotions and wishes. A few of us don’t assume we deserve something however ache. It’s what we secretly crave.

How do you see her after the occasions of the film? Is there a type of canon that you’ve got for the place she goes and what she does sooner or later?

Luke Piotrowski: I feel it’s similar to Pinhead says: she has to dwell. To hold that weight. For me, conceptually, each “reward” the field affords is a kind of ache. It is likely to be bodily, mental, or emotional. But it surely’s at all times ache.

When you’ve opened the field, you’re fucked and there’s no profitable. Riley might not be having her pores and skin ripped off throughout the Leviathan… however she remains to be going to undergo in a approach that’s simply as fascinating to the Cenobites.

It’s a boring, gradual, ache. The ache of her guilt. The burden of her data. That was at all times the ending we wished to drive towards. The Lament Configuration is such an evocative title. I wished to embrace that.

So, what’s subsequent for her? The identical as any addict, I think about. She has to personal the harm she brought on. Attempt to be higher. However life is tough. Life is ache. She’s on the identical street as the remainder of us.

Ben Collins: I hope Riley is staying sober and going to conferences and remedy. I believe she may be lively on conspiracy subreddits in addition to being among the many many individuals demanding the discharge of “The Voight Information”. I hope she finds some type of inventive outlet or one thing that can provide her some peace.

The determine of Pinhead is iconic, with Doug Bradley’s efficiency being very influential. What was your method to Pinhead on this film – in character, in philosophy, and in visuals? How did you concentrate on the legacy and viewers expectations whereas nonetheless making one thing new?

Luke Piotrowski: We wrote the very first drafts simply imagining Doug. Even going as far as to place all of Pinhead’s strains in daring. Listening to his voice in our heads. However all of us knew it in all probability wasn’t going to be Doug. And the worst factor would have been having somebody do a Doug impression. So we knew it needed to be completely different. As everybody has famous, The Hellbound Coronary heart describes the character fairly otherwise.

The quickest approach to differentiate it was to go feminine. There’s a precedent for that within the comics, in spite of everything (Kirsty herself!). Subsequent drafts went extra in that path. However that didn’t actually change how we approached the character. The strains and character all just about stayed the identical. It was extra of a casting problem than a conceptual problem.

I’ll say our Pinhead did finally turn into much less booming and stern and extra sensual and seductive. However that was true from the beginning. I discussed Candyman earlier and in some methods, I discovered myself channelling him as a lot, if no more, than Pinhead when it got here time to articulating the Cenobites worldview. There’s some Gary Oldman Dracula in there too.

What I wished was for Pinhead’s threats to Riley to virtually function as temptations. I wished to get some Barkerian turns of phrase within the dialogue. In hindsight, the scenes between Riley and Pinhead might have been hornier. However then, that’s true of most scenes!

There are at all times going to be those who reject the brand new. Pinhead is tied to Doug greater than different iconic horror characters for certain. However I feel Barker’s ideas transcend a single efficiency. It’s too juicy to restrict to at least one interpretation.

All of us love Doug. I feel one of the simplest ways to uphold the legacy of the character he originated is to not attempt to recreate it, to as an alternative return to the e-book and work from there to verify we aren’t stepping on his toes or stealing from his toolbox.

And I feel Jamie is so alluring and curious and calculating and threatening. She crushed it. I want her take had made a much bigger affect culturally.

Ben Collins: I discussed the story earlier about seeing the VHS field as a child, and I’m not exaggerating after I say that it was so not like something my mind had ever imagined that it was nearer to one thing otherworldly and even god-like than simply being some man in make-up. That stated, as I obtained older and started to grasp how films are made, the restricted sources Clive et al had on a few of these movies turned extra obvious. So once you think about making a brand new Hellraiser film, the primary want is to be making it with a cinematic model and method that may be a stage above what the franchise had ever achieved. So it was understood by us that our method to Pinhead needed to be new and contemporary in a approach that was requisite to the supposed scale of manufacturing. However I feel the need to raise Pinhead to being as otherworldly and godlike was there from the start. In as a lot because it was doable I hoped the viewers would see our Pinhead the identical approach I noticed Doug’s model. However to take action means making it essentially completely different.

Does Jamie Clayton’s distinctive ‘Hell Priest’ exist within the Labyrinth alongside Doug Bradley’s? Are they from the identical order, or maybe one other sect?

Luke Piotrowski: Finally, we ended up compartmentalizing a bit and deciding to cordon 2022 off as its personal, separate continuity. So whereas actively writing, we had been largely taking a look at this as a distinct universe with a distinct set of Cenobites.

I at all times think about the Cenobites (in each continuities) as being fairly timeless. They’ve been round for ages and might be round for ages. So I don’t see them updating or altering their appearances and modus operandi a lot.
There might be completely different sects I suppose. It’s not that tough to think about methods through which the 2 Pinheads might work together. But it surely wasn’t one thing we had been constructing in or accounting for as we labored on the movie if that is sensible.

Ben Collins: Luke is giving the correct reply as to how we conceived the film. However contemplating the huge prospects the mythology suggests, it doesn’t essentially preclude the concept of parallel realities, alternate dimensions and many others. Or there’s additionally the likelihood that Pinhead and the Cenobites seem in a approach that’s catered particularly to the one who summoned them. I imagine it was our buddy, filmmaker Elric Kane who instructed to me a few years in the past that within the 1987 film the Cenobites put on black leather-based as a result of that’s what Frank anticipated when he summoned them, as a result of that might have been transgressive on the time. After all, within the fashionable world BDSM gear is simply as a lot style as it’s indicative of a life-style, so naturally their look adjustments and turns into transgressive to the time and the particular person interacting with them.

None of those concepts had been supposed within the script and are usually not supported by the film, nevertheless it’s enjoyable to consider.

Had been there different Cenobites designed or scripted that didn’t make it into the ultimate edit of the film?

Luke Piotrowski: The star Cenobites had been at all times Pinhead/The Priest, the Gasp (who was initially known as The Gape however obtained softened/censored… in grand Deep Throat/Cunt Throat custom), the Chatterer, the Weeper and the Asphyx.

The Asphyx is the one I’m most happy with as that was wholly my thought. I wished to incorporate completely different kinks and sorts of “torture” within the designs. The breath-play/latex play Cenobite felt like such untapped territory. It was truly based mostly on a dream I had years in the past the place I visited a theme park that had an attraction known as “Clive Barker’s The Becoming” which was only a actually claustrophobic and upsetting vacuum sealing expertise!

The largest factor we misplaced (and it nonetheless bums me out) was a sequence Bruckner got here up with the place the Weeper cut up open utterly and have become a type of quadrupedal creature. There’s manufacturing artwork of it on the market someplace I imagine… or there is likely to be on the upcoming German Blu-ray launch. It was extremely cool however needed to be reduce for budgetary causes.

The film makes some daring selections with the puzzle field configurations. Are you able to stroll us by means of your reasoning and the concepts behind now needing the field to “reduce” the solver and now not needing the ‘want’ component from the unique conception?

Luke Piotrowski: The field is, and at all times has been, a lure of kinds. Frank thought he desired the “pleasures” it contained… however he didn’t. It was greater than he bargained for. It’s, at its core, a cope with the satan conceit. The satan guarantees one thing you need. And offers it… however not in the best way you wished.

Goyer’s therapy had a component of getting to supply a number of sacrifices to the field. We preferred the concept the field was finally more durable to “clear up.” Within the unique movies, it appears fairly easy. You rub the circle and out pop the chains.

The therapy instructed the potential for a puzzle field that might take all the film to open utterly. That was interesting to us.
We wished the field to really feel harmful any time somebody held it. It has the flexibility to basically “chunk” you. Any time a personality held the rattling factor, we wished the viewers to sit down up. Ideally, I wished to make it in order that for those who had been to see a prop or duplicate of the field in actual life… a part of you wouldn’t need to contact it.

Ultimately, it’s not all that completely different from the hooks within the unique movies. Within the first film, Frank has to acquire the field and clear up it to get his prize (the intense sensations). It opens and hooks and chains emerge.

In our model, if you’d like one of many prizes (together with however not restricted to excessive sensations) you must receive the field and clear up it. As a substitute of chains instantly popping out, the blade pops out. The sport has begun. And the Cenobites encourage you to complete it to assert your prize. Identical mechanic, simply delayed.

Boastful assholes like Voight assume the principles don’t apply to them. He makes an attempt to get different folks to take the hit for him so he can reap the rewards. However the home at all times wins in the long run.

The Lore and Laudarant Configurations appear to have gone with out a lot rationalization, in addition to your individual interpretations. Are you able to give us an official reply to what these might provide the solver?

Luke Piotrowski: We needed to depart one thing for a possible sequel! I can’t give an official reply. Nothing’s canon till it’s canon. On display screen or in an official novel, comedian, and many others.

However because the man that got here up with them… Lore is data, Laudarant is love. Much like Liminal, I believe Lore would provide you with what you desired… in horrific abundance. What was that previous Upright Residents Brigade sketch? The bucket of fact? Think about having all the data of the cosmos beamed into your thoughts. A Lovecraftian type of glimpse of the opposite facet, the scope of eternity. It might mentally obliterate you. I believe it will be one thing alongside these strains.

As for Laudarant… identical guidelines apply. What does approach an excessive amount of love appear to be? I’ll depart that to everybody’s creativeness however no matter it’s, it isn’t fairly.

What was the toughest scene to put in writing (or re-write) – maybe one which modified dramatically from what you first imagined to what ended up on display screen?

Luke Piotrowski: Ah, the scene with Menaker within the hospital with Riley was written so many rattling occasions. Menaker was a person within the early drafts which gave it a really completely different taste. That was one other huge exposition scene that saved being written and rewritten. For quite a few causes, I feel it ended up being the weakest scene within the film. We didn’t have a ton to work with and needed to piece rather a lot collectively within the edit.

Ben Collins: The Trevor scenes stood out to me as a result of the character was each essentially misleading, but in addition one of many essential voices of covert exposition all through the movie. So it was exhausting to discover a “character” on the web page that felt like an individual, versus a tool that serviced the plot. So all of Trevor’s dialogue was being rewritten all through the event course of and it wasn’t till we had Drew Starkey solid within the function that David Bruckner felt he might get a deal with on learn how to think about the Trevor character. So most of the key scenes with Drew had been rewritten throughout manufacturing to suit to Drew’s presence and have an effect on and he turned a three-dimensional character in a approach that he by no means was on the web page.

Did finances, manufacturing realities, or studio suggestions drive you to chop or change any of your favorite concepts? Which of them had been sacrificed, and which of them obtained improved due to constraints?

Luke Piotrowski: I’ve alluded to some issues. I had some Cenobite origin concepts I wished to trace at. And the quadrupedal type of the Weeper would have been so fucking cool. Voight’s intercourse dungeon finally felt a bit smaller and tamer than I might have preferred.

Apart from that… the scene with Colin virtually being claimed by the Gasp in the long run was staged in a swimming pool initially. I beloved the concept of seeing the chains seize him underwater. Protecting him inches from the floor, preventing for breath. And that meant they dragged Trevor down into the water too. Highlighting much more his descent and Voight’s simultaneous “ascension.” I’m an enormous fan of baptism imagery.

Oh, and one different picture I adored and saved attempting to include was our Pinhead’s jewelled pins having the ability to sink into and emerge from her head. Form of just like the plumage of a chook. One thing that felt natural. Like goosebumps. The way in which the physique responds to sexual stimuli, I wished to see them emerge when she first appeared or sink into her cranium, penetrating her mind when she offers Voight his “alternate.”

With Voight changing into a Cenobite on the finish, is that this for Leviathan’s personal private agenda, or will Voight be becoming a member of the ranks of Pinhead and the ‘Gash’?

Luke Piotrowski: My assumption was that he can be becoming a member of their ranks. In my thoughts, the unique Cenobites are actually divine however their ranks have been swelled over time by people who’ve solved the field, made their sacrifices and selected Energy. What actually will get Voight off is just not sensation however dominance. He needs to be the one holding the whip. He needs to be a Cenobite.

Ben Collins: In Hellbound: Hellraiser II there’s the entire sequence the place they reveal the earlier human life of every of the Cenobites and as fascinating as a few of it’s, I used to be personally by no means glad with that rationalization of their origins. So I feel we wished to point out that Voight was distinctive in some methods, his dedication and persistence made him eligible for the last word reward Leviathan has to supply, however not essentially recommend that the identical is true of every of the Cenobites we see within the film.

That approach there’s at all times extra mythology to unpack in future movies.

If given the possibility to proceed, what points of the mythology would you most need to discover in future installments?

Luke Piotrowski: I really like Hellbound a lot. I’d like to see extra of the labyrinth. However I additionally love the comics and the way they might deal with several types of tales and completely different time intervals. I’d like to have the time to possibly construct out an ensemble solid of characters.

No matter it was, I want to take inspiration from Clive Barker’s tales. The mythology is simply as fascinating because the characters confronting it. So one thing a bit extra overtly attractive and overtly queer and overtly fucked up can be enjoyable.

Are there parts or characters you want to discover in sequels or spin-offs? If the film results in additional installments, what threads do you’re feeling most excited by to discover?

Luke Piotrowski: I feel I’d need to shut the door on Riley’s story and introduce somebody new with a brand new set of demons and wishes to discover by way of the field. Exterior of digging into the quasi-biblical origins of the Cenobites I’m intrigued by Lemarchand. All of the Euro-Carnivale points of Bloodline. I might be occupied with possibly following somebody into the sinister occult underworld of France or one thing. Get a few of the globetrotting taste the opening of the unique movie has.

Ben Collins: Considered one of our targets with the one film was to hopefully construct a purposeful engine for future instalments, whether or not we had been concerned or not. The creation of the a number of configurations and the method one has to undergo with a view to attain a reward is story mechanism that might work together with characters and plots.

What do you see as the way forward for the franchise? Is a sequel one thing you’d wish to be a part of, or do you each know something that you would be able to share? Keith Levine went on report early final yr to state that talks are taking place.

Luke Piotrowski: Ben and I are writing individually now however I feel a Hellraiser sequel is one thing we’d each eagerly staff again up for. I want we had extra concrete information to report. Inform Hulu, hold streaming it! That’s the one path ahead that I can see.

Clearly, we’re all excited in regards to the prospect of the online game. And I’ve began to discover writing comics. I’d like to see the comics make a comeback and be part of that.

Ben Collins: Luke and I’ve at all times believed that the world Clive created might help any variety of fascinating tales and that we’d like to have one other likelihood to seek out one. We’ve all been very busy with completely different initiatives since we completed Hellraiser in 2022, but when the suitable alternative introduced itself we’d be honored to return again.

What are your ideas on the upcoming Hellraiser online game, Revival, and the way the mythos may work being translated right into a recreation? Will you each be taking part in it?

Luke Piotrowski: I’ve seen the trailer however not a lot past that. I’m excited to see it develop on the aesthetic of the unique movies. I’ll positively test it out. I really like survival horror video games. I’m certain everybody can spy a bit Silent Hill DNA in Hellraiser 2022. Something that retains the franchise alive and rising is an efficient factor in my e-book. Let there not be a technology who doesn’t know who Pinhead is!

Ben Collins: I’m very curious to see the way it works! I positively assume some issues can translate higher to video games than they do as films, however I don’t know that I ever thought of whether or not Hellraiser would totally work in that medium so I’m to test it out.

It’s in all probability value mentioning that Martin Emborg, the designer who made the configurations in our film additionally made a Hellraiser impressed recreation known as Echo that’s obtainable on Steam. Sadly it’s solely on PC so I’ve by no means performed it however I hear it’s cool and that’s how we initially turned conscious of his work.

What can followers hope and anticipate to see from yourselves sooner or later? Any thrilling upcoming initiatives for you each?

Ben Collins: I’ve been writing lots of new stuff however the one I’m most pumped about proper now could be a psychological thriller I wrote known as No Smoking, No Pets. It’s an unique screenplay and I’ve reunited with the staff at Phantom 4 (David Goyer, Keith Levine, Gracie Wheelan, and David Tracy) to provide. I can’t say an excessive amount of however hopefully extra might be introduced quickly. Thanks guys for being sufficient in wanting to listen to what now we have to say about this film! I hope we answered the whole lot satisfactorily sufficient!

Luke Piotrowski: We truly simply had a brand new film hit theaters this yr, a criminal offense thriller known as She Rides Shotgun starring Taron Egerton, based mostly on the novel by Jordan Harper. It’s obtainable on VOD now. Tremendous propulsive and intense with an enormous coronary heart. It’s about an ex-con compelled to go on the run with the ten yr previous daughter he’s by no means had the possibility to know. I’ve additionally obtained a pair huge solo initiatives I’m engaged on that haven’t been introduced but. Considered one of which is one other very completely different however very thrilling horror remake. The opposite is an adaptation of a current horror novel. I’ve additionally obtained an unique movie I’m hoping to direct. We’ll see what occurs there. However I positively have my first comedian e-book, Ferocious, popping out from Mad Cave Studios this fall. Six points dropping month-to-month beginning in November. It’s a heartfelt, violent twist on the basic revenge story set in a darkish fantasy world. A little bit Berserk, a bit Lone Wolf and Cub. I’d love folks to test it out.