Hellraiser remake with trans icon Jamie Clayton finally drops – and the verdict is in
Hellraiser stars Jamie Clayton as Pinhead. (Hulu)
The new Hellraiser reboot has finally dropped on Hulu, and fans are obsessed with trans actor Jamie Clayton role as Pinhead.
The film is a fresh take on Clive Barker’s 1987 horror classic, in which a young woman (Odessa A’Zion) struggling with addiction comes into possession of an ancient puzzle box, unaware that its purpose is to summon the Cenobites – extra-dimensional, demonic beings.
Trans actor Jamie Clayton – best known for her role in queer supernatural drama Sense8 – plays the film’s main antagonist,The Priest, affectionately known as Pinhead.
Her performance has been labelled a stand-out, with fans praising her as “the perfect Pinhead”.
Overall, the film has gone down well, with many hailing it a worthy follow-up to the cult classic.
Hellraiser is a really great return. Wonderful production design. Actually really like the changes they made to the box and it's functions. Jamie Clayton is a perfect Pinhead. New cenobyte designs are top notch. Hope we keep this going!
— Tyler Hall (@TylerGoesBoom) October 7, 2022
The priest, @msjamieclayton has arrived. #Hellraiser pic.twitter.com/K7pGfoplqb— 20th Horror (@20thHorror) October 5, 2022
Jamie Clayton on the set of Hellraiser ⛓ (2022) pic.twitter.com/MhfTpJrsyM— ❄Anya?? (@Anya00586015) October 4, 2022
One fan praised the remake as “thrilling and exciting”, noting that while it pays homage to the 1987 original, it takes on its own identity as well.
“The new Hellraiser pays homage to the original with its brutality and glorious new take on Pinhead & the Cenobites. … Thrilling and exciting in parts, it’s not a complete triumph but still pretty frickin’ rad,” they said.
#Hellraiser is brilliant in updating the tone & mythos of the original. It’s suspenseful, well acted & directed but lacks the nastiness of the original, almost as if it’s pulling its punches a bit. Easily the 2nd best and is leaps and bounds above all the other sequels ?? pic.twitter.com/50kEKgQBs3— Samuel Cox (@Samwiseonfilm) October 7, 2022
#Hellraiser is great. Go watch it on Hulu. @Jamieclayton exceeded my expectations for her pinhead and might be my favorite of the two. It’s not often when a reboot even comes close to the original but this movie does something unique yet familiar. I highly recommend this to all
— Ender (@ProbablyEnder_) October 7, 2022
Most critics have been equally impressed, with IGN writing: “Hellraiser is a soulful revival of a soulless horror legend that never tries to oust Clive Barker’s original.
“Jamie Clayton is the Pinhead a new generation deserves… a heady calibration of ‘pain or pleasure’ storytelling brings Hellraiser 2022 screaming with glee into a reinvigorated ready-to-franchise configuration.”
IndieWire write that while it’s a “solidly gory nightmare”, it’s “free of all the sexy subversion that got it here in the first place.”
The Guardian, however, write that the “stylish goth horror remake is as sadisitic as it is silly”
And, as ever with Twitter, there was time for some thirst.
jamie clayton pinhead saying ‘we have such sights to show you’ and i’m giggling and twirling my hair— maeve (@SIRGAWAlN) October 7, 2022
trevor i love you #Hellraiser ? pic.twitter.com/DhOdHpYdky— ? (@drewlynthinkerr) October 6, 2022
If you’re part of the ‘gay and scared of horror films’ club, not only are you valid and seen, but you simply remember Pinhead from either Gottmik’s Drag Race season 13 finale runway, or from Megan Thee Stallion’s Hallowe’en costume, the former of which was inspired by the latter.
The designer for Megan Thee Stallion’s Hellraiser Halloween costume reveals it was inspired by Gottmik from RuPaul’s Drag Race. pic.twitter.com/dbKMQ5x1as— Pop Base (@PopBase) October 25, 2021
