Clive Barker Was “Astonished” by How Far ‘Hellraiser: Revival’ Goes: “I’m Proud as Fuck” [Exclusive]

If you’ve been wondering whether Clive Barker’s Hellraiser: Revival has its creator’s stamp of approval, Clive Barker couldn’t have made his answer much clearer.

“I’m proud as fuck at the end result.”

Speaking exclusively with Dread Central to celebrate the game’s release, Barker told me that even he was surprised by how far the developers were able to push his world of pain, pleasure, and transgression.

“The folks at Boss Team Games were kind enough to ask me,” Barker explained. “I was passionate about doing this and astonished by the quality of the content. The quality and defiance of the game is extraordinary.”

His biggest concern? That some of that defiance might not survive.

“I was fearful at one point that the game would be overly censored but I’m genuinely astonished by how far they’ve been able to push it,” he continued. “I think for the audience that loves Hellraiser and horror video games this will be a knockout.”

Having just completed it, I think that’s exactly what makes Revival work. It’s a fantastic old-school horror experience that lets you walk around inside Barker’s mythology without feeling like somebody scrubbed away everything that makes it uncomfortable. The sex, the depravity, the grotesque imagery – it’s all part of Hellraiser. It should be confronting.

And having Doug Bradley back as Pinhead makes that experience even better.

“Doug is Pinhead and Pinhead is Doug,” Barker told me. “They occupy the same space. He does a wonderful job and I would have hated to see anyone else in that role.”