Clive Barker 'Genuinely Astonished' by Hellraiser: Revival

Ever wondered what happens when the master of horror gives his blessing to a video game adaptation? Clive Barker, the twisted genius behind Hellraiser, has spoken out about Hellraiser: Revival, and he's absolutely thrilled with how it turned out.

In an interview with Dread Central (via FRVR), Barker admitted he had his doubts going in. "I was fearful at one point that the game would be overly censored," he said. But those fears were put to rest. "I'm genuinely astonished by how far they've been able to push it." And his verdict? "I'm proud as f**k at the end result."

That's high praise from the man who created Pinhead and the Cenobites. Barker worked closely with developer Saber Interactive to shape the game's world and advise on its story. He sees Revival as a prime example of how to handle a licensed property. "I think what was achieved in the game is a wake-up call to anyone who's been involved in the making of a franchise like Hellraiser," he explained.

For context, Barker reclaimed the American franchise rights to Hellraiser several years ago. Revival is written as a legacy sequel that ignores the films after Hellraiser 2. Barker didn't mince words about some of those earlier sequels, particularly those made by the Weinstein brothers. "There are many of the Hellraiser movies that were made by the Weinstein brothers that were created simply to hold onto the rights," he said, noting that "less and less" money was spent on them over time. "It's not the fault of the writers and directors, but just the way the system works in some cases."

Working with Saber has clearly reignited Barker's passion for the universe he created. "I have many ideas that I'd like to see realised in the Hellraiser universe, and I'm planning to keep my fingers in that pie," he said. While those ideas are currently being explored in a new series of comic books, Barker says he'd "love to go further in the movies." He also strongly hinted that his collaboration with Saber isn't over. "I'm looking forward to working with them again on some other projects." Whether that means a Revival sequel or an adaptation of another Barker work remains to be seen.

The positive reception from Barker is likely a relief for Saber Interactive, especially after this summer's Rideshare Stimulator controversy. In August, CEO Matt Karch denied accusations that the company replaced writer Stella Sacco with ChatGPT, then apologized for how he spoke about her publicly. Saber also admitted to using generative AI in a general sense, but CCO Tim Willits assured players the tech isn't used in Hellraiser: Revival or ongoing projects like Jurassic Park: Survival and Space Marine 3.

So, what do you think? Does Barker's endorsement make you more excited to dive into Hellraiser: Revival? Let us know in the comments!