HELLRAISER (2022) Puzzle Box
I was approached to reimagine the HELLRAISER Puzzle Box for David Bruckner's new movie, which was an honor and a great challenge. Redesigning an iconic object like the Lament Configuration was daunting, but a lot of fun. First off, the original is perfect, so there's no improving on that, but the script had a lot of interesting new features for the box, so there was a lot to sink my teeth into. The main visual difference from the original design is that I wanted this box to look like a puzzle - to have the mechanism be a visible part of the aesthetic. Also, we came up with distinctive looks for the two sides beyond the top and bottom "Crown" - "The Garden" and "The Labyrinth", which needs to be united to complete the puzzle.
This is the final design, before moving into 3D with Makinarium in the UK. Here the corners are rearranged, the Garden and the Labyrinth misaligned.
Click, the Garden and Labyrinth sides united...
And here it is in Cenobite hands, as seen in the movie.
This was my first attempt - Cube A - at the least the first one I shared with the production. It is at once surprisingly close to where the design ended up, and a million miles away.
Versions B to D - Trying to take the look a little further from the original. Seeing them now, I can clearly tell that my heart wasn't in B and C. But we all liked version D, which was also the first appearance of the Garden and Labyrinth.
A quick sketch of how the mechanism would split and rearrange.
I remember thinking this was it when I did it!
"What's inside the Lament puzzle?" - Well, extradimensional geometry folding in on itself, what else?
An example of deep-dives on details. In this case corners on the Garden side.
Trying out a tight framing of the puzzle, as part of homing in on rhythm and frequency of patterning.
A new feature of this version of the Puzzle Box is the blade that draws blood to seal the deal.
Investigation of placement and shape of the blade - From mechanical to talon/scalpel versions.
I believe this was the first released glimpse of the new design.
Check out the Box as it looks in the movie.