Hellraiser

Hellraiser 2022

Directed by

David Bruckner

David Bruckner

Made by

Hulu

Hulu

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Plot Summary

Discover the intricate plot of Hellraiser (2022). From unexpected twists to emotional highs and lows, this detailed summary breaks down every moment to give you a deeper understanding of the film’s story.


During a lavish gathering at the mansion of the opulent millionaire Roland Voight, a sex worker named Joey stumbles upon a mechanical puzzle box that Voight insists she solve. After successfully figuring it out, she is quickly met with a deadly surprise—a blade springs from the box and fatally wounds her, subsequently unleashing a portal from which chains emerge and brutally dismember her.

Fast forward six years, we meet Riley, a recovering addict who lives with her brother Matt, his boyfriend Colin, and their roommate Nora. Encouraged by her boyfriend Trevor, Riley agrees to break into an abandoned storage facility, where they discover the mysterious puzzle box. After a confrontation with Matt leads to her storming out, Riley finds herself in an empty park where she solves the box but narrowly escapes injury. This triggers the appearance of the Cenobites, a sinister group of mutilated beings who demand she make another choice for sacrifice.

Matt finds Riley unconscious and tries to rouse her, only to inadvertently slice himself on the box’s blade, prompting his mysterious disappearance. Grieving and blaming the box for Matt’s fate, Riley, along with Trevor, seeks out Serena Menaker, Voight’s former lawyer, who reveals the box’s dark history. A reckless attempt by Menaker to seize the box results in her getting cut and falling victim to the Cenobites.

Determined to uncover the truth, Riley ventures into Voight’s deserted mansion where she discovers his journals. They reveal that each configuration of the box has dire consequences—requiring a victim to be marked for the Cenobites to take, and each completion promises a “gift” from Leviathan, the arbiter of Hell. Riley is horrified to see an apparition of Matt, discovering he has been flayed in the process.

As Riley explains her findings to Colin, the still-living but mutilated Voight unexpectedly attacks, leading to Nora’s death by the Cenobites. In their escape attempt, the group crashes their van and finds themselves back at the mansion. Confronted by the Priest, the leader of the Cenobites, Riley faces a horrific ultimatum. She is enticed with a chance to resurrect Matt if she submits to sacrificing two more individuals. After a tense struggle, Trevor is injured by the Chatterer, one of the Cenobites, and Riley is tragically cut by the blade herself.

Riley works to solve the subsequent configuration and manages to rend the Chatterer to pieces, but as events unfold, the true treachery reveals itself. It’s discovered that Trevor has been in collusion with Voight to provide victims for the box. In a desperate attempt to ensnare the last Cenobite, Asphyx, Riley and Colin are thwarted when Voight re-emerges, stabbing Colin with the box himself.

Voight then shares his harrowing story of seeking extreme pleasure after completing his sacrificial tasks, only to be relegated to a life of pain from the contraption he bears. He completes the final configuration, seeking liberation from his torment, but summoning Leviathan heftily confirms his tragic fate.

As sacrifices come to a conclusion, the Cenobites present Riley with an offer to resurrect Matt. Recognizing the inherent twisted nature of such “gifts,” she chooses instead to embrace her grief, denouncing the bargain. By opting to live with her burden, she is given the gift of “lament.” As the Cenobites disappear and the box returns to its cube shape, Riley and Colin walk away from the mansion, leaving her to ponder if she truly made the right decision. The gruesome fate of Voight awaits him, as he transforms into a new Cenobite within Leviathan’s grasp.

Timeline

Track the key events of Hellraiser (2022) with a comprehensive timeline. Perfect for understanding the sequence of major plot points, this feature offers clarity on how the story unfolds.


The Fatal Encounter

At a lavish gathering hosted by millionaire Roland Voight, sex worker Joey unexpectedly discovers a mechanical puzzle box. Despite her success in solving the box, she is brutally betrayed as a blade springs forth, fatally wounding her and unleashing chains that dismember her.

Voight's Mansion

Introduction to Riley

Six years later, we meet Riley, a recovering addict living with her brother Matt, his boyfriend Colin, and their roommate Nora. Struggling to overcome her past, Riley’s life takes a turn when she is encouraged by Trevor, her boyfriend, to engage in reckless behavior.

Six Years Later

Discovery of the Puzzle Box

Encouraged by Trevor, Riley breaks into an abandoned storage facility where they uncover the mysterious puzzle box. Tensions rise as an argument with Matt leads Riley to solve the box in an empty park, narrowly escaping injury yet triggering a horrific chain of events.

Abandoned Storage Facility

The Cenobite's Arrival

After solving the box, Riley is startled to find herself confronted by the Cenobites, terrifying beings demanding yet another sacrifice. She is now caught in a nightmarish web where her choices will have dire consequences.

Matt's Mysterious Disappearance

Matt finds Riley unconscious and attempts to wake her, but accidentally cuts himself on the box's blade. This injurious event leads to his sudden and mysterious disappearance, escalating Riley's grief and determination to uncover the truth.

Meeting Serena Menaker

Devastated by Matt's disappearance, Riley seeks out Serena Menaker, Voight's former lawyer, who provides insight into the sinister puzzle box's history. However, the history proves fatal for Menaker when she attempts to seize the box and is cut, falling prey to the Cenobites.

Voight's Journals

Determined to uncover the dark secrets surrounding the puzzle box, Riley ventures into Voight's deserted mansion. There, she discovers journals that reveal the horrific truth about the box's configurations and the demands of the Cenobites for each sacrifice.

Voight's Mansion

Confrontation with Voight

As Riley explains her discoveries to Colin, the mutilated Voight unexpectedly assaults them. This confrontation leads to a devastating loss when Nora is killed by the Cenobites, heightening the group's desperation as they seek to escape.

Riley's Terrifying Choice

The group attempts to flee in a van but crashes and ends up back at the mansion. There, Riley faces the Priest, the Cenobites’ leader, who offers her the chance to resurrect Matt, but only at the cost of two more sacrifices.

Voight's Mansion

Betrayal Revealed

As Riley struggles with her choices, Trevor is injured by the Cenobite known as the Chatterer. It is then shockingly revealed that Trevor has been colluding with Voight to supply victims for the gruesome puzzle box.

Final Confrontations

In a desperate bid to defeat the final Cenobite, Asphyx, Riley and Colin are thwarted when Voight reappears and fatally stabs Colin with the box. The ensuing chaos leads to Voight sharing his tale of unending pain after achieving what he thought was pleasure.

Voight's Final Configuration

Driven by his own torment, Voight completes the final configuration of the puzzle box, summoning Leviathan. However, this act leads to his tragic fate, where he becomes a new Cenobite, fulfilling a cycle of suffering.

Riley's Choice

As the final sacrifices are laid before her, the Cenobites offer Riley the chance to bring Matt back to life. However, recognizing the twisted nature of these gifts, she defies their offer, choosing instead to embrace her grief and continue on her own path.

Leaving the Mansion

With the Cenobites vanishing and the box returning to its cube shape, Riley and Colin make their escape from the mansion. As they walk away, Riley is left to ponder the weight of her decision and the loss of her loved ones.

Voight's Mansion

Voight's Transformation

As Riley and Colin leave, the tragic fate of Voight unfolds, marking his transformation into a new Cenobite under Leviathan's power. His story serves as a haunting reminder of the consequences of seeking pleasure through sacrifice.

Characters

Meet the characters that bring Hellraiser (2022) to life. Dive into detailed profiles of the cast and their roles, exploring their motivations, relationships, and arcs within the story.


Riley

Riley is a recovering addict thrust into a nightmare when she inadvertently solves the puzzle box. Her journey highlights her internal struggle and her efforts to save her brother while grappling with her choices.

🦸‍♀️ Protagonist 💔 Grief

Roland Voight

Roland Voight is a wealthy figure entangled in the box's dark legacy, whose tragic obsession with pleasure leads to horrific outcomes. His character embodies the consequences of vanity and desire.

👿 Antagonist 💰 Wealth

Trevor

Trevor is Riley's boyfriend whose motivations become questionable as the narrative unfolds. His collusion with Voight reveals a darker side to his character, playing a crucial role in the film's betrayals.

🕵️‍♂️ Betrayal 💔 Love

Matt

Matt, Riley's brother, is a critical emotional cornerstone in the film, exemplifying the stakes of Riley's choices. His tragic fate serves as a catalyst for Riley's transformative journey.

💔 Family ⚰️ Sacrifice

Serena Menaker

Serena is Voight's former lawyer, seeking to claim the box's power for herself, but her greed leads to her downfall. Her attempt to seize control exemplifies the peril of ambition in the face of dark forces.

👩‍⚖️ Ambition ⚰️ Downfall

Setting

Uncover the settings of Hellraiser (2022), from iconic locations to the time period that shapes its world. See how these elements add depth and context to the movie’s narrative.


Time period

Present Day

Set in contemporary times, the film portrays the struggles of addiction and the search for identity amidst chaos. The modern backdrop enhances the horror of Riley's encounters with supernatural elements, making her journey relatable and frightening.

Location

Voight's Mansion, Abandoned Storage Facility, Empty Park

Voight's Mansion serves as a lavish backdrop where dark events unfold, known for its opulence and secrets. The abandoned storage facility is a site of discovery, holding the mechanical puzzle box that changes lives forever. The empty park symbolizes a moment of solitude and turmoil as Riley faces her choices.

🏰 Mansion 🏚️ Storage 🌳 Park

Themes

Explore the core themes of Hellraiser (2022). From its commentary on social issues to its emotional undertones, delve into the deeper messages woven into the film’s story.


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Sacrifice

The film delves into the theme of sacrifice, highlighting the lengths characters go to in order to save loved ones or escape torment. Riley faces a harrowing choice, illustrating the consequences of selfish desires and the heavy price of redemption.

😈

Consequences of Desire

Hellraiser explores the dark consequences of desire and the pursuit of pleasure. Characters are lured by the promise of gifts from Leviathan, only to discover that each choice leads to pain and suffering, raising questions about the morality of their actions.

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