Hellraiser: Revival is committed to the spirit of Clive Barker's work, embracing both the body horror and sexuality that define the Cenobite universe. The game's opening sequence, featuring explicit BDSM themes and graphic violence, signals its dedication to not watering down the source material.
Developer Saber Interactive collaborated closely with Barker, with executive producer Nenad Tomic stating that the creator was "deeply involved with the game from the very beginning," influencing everything from the visual style and story motifs to the lore and character personalities. The return of Doug Bradley as the original Pinhead further solidifies the game's authenticity.
Aidan, the game's protagonist, draws inspiration from Julia Cotton of Barker's "The Hellbound Heart" and the original "Hellraiser" film. Like Julia's obsessive attachment and sexual need, Aidan is driven by a desire to bring back his girlfriend, Sunny, leading him to make a deal with Pinhead and engage in a killing spree. Antony De Fault, Hellraiser: Revival’s narrative director, described Aidan as a character experiencing "fundamental dissatisfaction with life," whose fixation on Sunny accelerates his self-destructive tendencies. Unlike Julia, who suppressed her desires, Aidan actively pursues them, making him more equipped for the violence required in an FPS horror game.
The game also delves into the concept of an organized religion centered around the Cenobites, known as The Scarlet Church. This new addition to the lore explores a doctrine where pain is viewed as a gift and even an act of kindness, though the church is not above exploiting individuals for recruitment. De Fault explained that the church was conceived as a force to oppose the player, evoking the Cenobites while fitting into the established world. The church's congregation consists of the "mutilated faithful" who, like Frank from the original film, are dissatisfied with life and seek intense experiences. De Fault noted that the development team drew inspiration from real cults, observing that people often fall prey to such systems out of desperation for belonging or liberation.
Notable characters within the cult include Dr. Colin Marlowe, whose approach to elective surgery is described as extreme, and Charlotte, who finds acceptance and identity within the church's teachings. The cult's Prophet, Bruno, is portrayed as an "extravagant, unhinged artist," whose campiness was carefully balanced with believability through collaboration with Barker.
From its early stages, the development team aimed to push boundaries. De Fault revealed that an "unofficial goal of the team was to be banned, unrated, or restricted at least somewhere in the world" as a measure of success. To achieve this, the game requires players to engage in extreme violence and sexual acts, integrating these taboo elements into traditional survival-horror mechanics by making them more sensual and disgusting. The intimate first-person perspective further enhances this experience.
Sequences within the game include a mission set in a sex club owned by the cult and another involving the hunt for sex toys, including one described as capable of "rearranging your guts." These moments are designed to allow players to engage with the "forbidden experience" theme central to Barker's work. While pushing boundaries, the developers also exercised restraint, such as in a flashback scene where a character is implied to be engaging in sexual self-gratification. To avoid age rating issues, the scene was framed so that the character's genitals are not explicitly visible, a choice De Fault believes enhances the unsettling mental image for the player.
Through these efforts, Saber Interactive has created a game that genuinely explores the Hellraiser universe, honoring Clive Barker's vision. The game's successful expansion of the Cenobite mythos is considered a worthwhile addition to the canon.