Characterization Pinhead (Hellraiser)

1 characterization

1.1 origins
1.2 personality
1.3 powers, weaknesses , limitations
1.4 entourage

characterization

pinhead s role has varied each hellraiser installment. in script original film, barker describes pinhead , other cenobites demons in notes; character himself, however, upon capturing kirsty cotton, identifies himself neither explicitly angelic or demonic, stating , fellow entourage explorers in further regions of experience. demons some. angels others. second film expounds on idea of cenobites demons depicting them denizens of realm called hell, maze-like dimension ruled on entity known leviathan, subject quarry emotional , psychological torture. third film radically altered original concept, making pinhead purely evil demon of chaos, explained pinhead losing human, orderly , part of himself during previous film. in fourth film presented megalomaniac bent on world domination, , fifth acts judge, punishing open box sins making them face personal demons. in film, goes title of engineer , name derived lead cenobite in clive barker s original novella. seventh film reverts closer original film, cenobites responsible pleasure , pain, characters seem more demonic in later installments.

origins


doug bradley captain elliott spencer in hellraiser iii: hell on earth.

the character s past, alluded in hellbound, expanded upon in hell on earth. revealed pinhead originated elliott spencer, captain in british expeditionary force suffering ptsd , survivor guilt. spencer participated in battle of passchendaele, after lost faith in humanity , god. wandered earth indulging in hedonistic lifestyle bury trauma, turning baser methods of gratification , pleasure until finding lament configuration in british india in 1921.

personality

according clive barker, writing of hellraiser script took place during height of nightmare on elm street, friday 13th , halloween film series, intended portrayal of pinhead articulate , intelligent character not received producers: suggested pinhead should act more freddy krueger , crack jokes, while others suggested silent character jason voorhees , michael myers. barker insisted pinhead s personality more evocative of christopher lee s portrayal of count dracula: part of chill of dracula surely lies in fact , articulately aware of doing – feel penetrating intelligence – , don t find dumb things terribly scary – find intelligence scary, particularly twisted intelligence; s 1 of reasons why hannibal lecter scary, isn t it? s because feel s going 3 jumps ahead of you.

though described pinhead s human half in hellraiser iii: hell on earth being persuasive , inventive , pinhead prefers using coercive methods in order obtain goals, fact brings him conflict ally, demon princess angelique.

pinhead can reasoned , bargained with. in both hellraiser , hellraiser: hellseeker, kirsty cotton bargains pinhead offer him more souls in exchange own (in particular, human adversaries), resulting in life being spared. in hellraiser: revelations, pinhead prepared take emma cenobite realm having opened box before other characters explain forced open @ gunpoint boyfriend; pinhead agrees let emma go , take nico instead.

in demonic incarnations, pinhead irreverent toward christianity: in third film, club owner j.p. monroe exclaims jesus christ, pinhead mockingly replies, not quite. , , later on mockingly imitates stigmata in church, , states in fourth cares god thinks? in clive barker s hellraiser comics published boom! in 2011, pinhead has reached crisis point in existence , yearns spiritual salvation , opportunity reach heaven, , puts motion plan destroy fellow cenobites means of atonement.

paul t. taylor, portrays pinhead in hellraiser: judgment, described character twisted , intelligent . finding pinhead s mannerisms , demeanor unique among horror icons, taylor tried capture in performance: s stillness. s terrifying when makes move, means something. s economical , when speaks, s eloquent. taylor incorporated uncomfortable make-up , costume presentation of sadomasochist, stating pinhead s in agony likes it. feel in character whole time, , don t mean in sort of artistic, lofty way. mean maintained demeanor whole time because had to.

powers, weaknesses , limitations

described doug bradley stronger jason voorhees , michael myers, pinhead extremely powerful being, , such, has several supernatural abilities. preferred method of attack summoning hooks , chains mutilate victims, pulling said victims in several directions tear them apart. these chains subject total mental control , may direct them @ will. chains may change shape after having attached victim. pinhead highly resistant damage , direct assault, being able resist both gunshots , futuristic energy weapons. magic used creating objects out of thin air, teleporting, creating explosions @ distances , deceiving opponents illusions. capable of creating other cenobites both living , dead victims.

in order act in physical world, pinhead needs have been purposely summoned through lament configuration, though in not enough pinhead target puzzle-solver: in hellbound: hellraiser ii, pinhead stops cenobites torturing emotionally traumatised girl manipulated proxy opening configuration, remarking ...it not hands call us, desire. in hell on earth, finds way temporarily eliminate these restraints , wreaks havoc indiscriminately upon every human subject encounters until defeated. during incident powers apparently expanded beyond normal limits allowing him physically warp reality will.

pinhead @ first has no memory of human past, though reminded of in hellbound: hellraiser ii, results in screenwriter peter atkins described him being spiritually weakened , subsequently killed chanard cenobite.

entourage

pinhead shown in appearances accompanied other denizens of hell. although portrayed subordinate of engineer in hellbound heart, film incarnations show him leader of secondary cenobite characters. consistent members of entourage trio of cenobites named butterball, female, , chatterer. 3 appear in hellbound heart, first 2 hellraiser films, , boom! comic series, female , butterball making appearances in scarlet gospels , chatterer appearing in 2 of hellraiser sequels. in hellraiser iii: hell on earth , hellraiser: bloodline pinhead creates cenobites victims, giving them characteristics evocative of past lives or professions. later films in series depict pinhead accompanied new cenobites of unknown origin. though dominates other demons present in films, in hellraiser: bloodline, encounters angelique, whom grudgingly treats equal:

entirely new pinhead; s never had demonic cohort, speak. s had other cenobites in previous films, pecking order pretty clear. angelique @ least equal, , in angelique s own mind possibly superior. pinhead doesn t quite see things way, relationship little sparky.

though reverent toward her, pinhead disillusioned when methods in achieving goals through coercion come @ odds angelique s more seductive techniques.