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Since 1987 , the nameHellraiserhas been synonymous with the extra - dimensional scoundrel fondly pertain to by buff as Pinhead , but the choice to go all - in on the franchise ’s main adversary was a mistake .
Over the course of ten movie , Pinhead has gone from the cryptical baddie in the shadows to a one - lining dropping principal character . Thediminishing popularityof the serial with both fans and critics can be blamed on quite a few thing , but makingHellraiserall about Pinhead is arguably one of them .
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serial creatorClive Barkerreferred to him as merely the “ Lead Cenobite ” and “ Hell Priest ” in the original seed material for the picture show , but it was the soubriquet Pinhead , which was coin by the make - up crew on the set of the first film , that stuck . The name became semi - officially canon inHellraiser III : hellhole on Earthwhen the demon is referred to as such by the hero , Joey Summerskill .
Pinhead Became The Focal Point Of The Franchise
The history behind the name should have made it sack the original spirit was never to have the graphic symbol become the focal percentage point of theHellraiserseries . Franchises being what they are , producer bang they had a cash cow when sports fan could n’t get enough of the Cenobite with nails in his head after the first movie came out . Dimension Films were sure they had another Jason Voorhees or Freddy Krueger on their hands . Culturally , Dimension was correct . It is hard to argue Pinhead is n’t one of the most recognizable faces in repugnance . However , where the studio apartment went untimely was by not understand the character itself .
Hellraiser IIIwas where Pinhead start being written as a lead office like so many other slashers , despite only being on silver screen in the first pic for under ten minutes . The third movie is spotty , but it does have its fanbase . After that , thefranchise declines . It verbalise to the talent of Pinheadactor Doug Bradleythat the theatrical role became so popular despite having such little silver screen time , even though he did have a declamatory role inHellbound : Hellraiser II .
The problem , ultimately , is this : Pinhead is not the typical scoundrel . He is practically neutral and more of an hatchet man of a cosmic contract bridge . If someone dare mountain with theHellraiserpuzzle boxas they pursue their forbidden pleasures , he and the other Cenobites follow to collect . Pinhead was initially mean to act as a menacing menace in the background knowledge , rather than take the lead . In the first motion picture , Frank is clearly the villain whereas the Cenobites are a third party do in their own pursuit while the Frank vs. Kirsty story modernise . InHellbound , Dr. Channard is the primary antagonist , combat both protagonist Kirsty Cotton and the returning Cenobites who are , again , just seek to do their jobs .
Related : Hellraiser : Pinhead ’s Origin Explained ( He ’s Not As Old As You Think )
Pinhead ’s characterizations are all over the position from the third film ahead . First , he ’s a wise - crack grampus like Freddy , then he ’s a co - agonist in both daemon and human class . The fifth and sixth celluloid , InfernoandHellseeker , were n’t earlier written asHellraisermovies and shoehorn Pinhead in . InInferno , Pinhead is a healer . As has been done in other horror franchise , the Hellraiser writers madequestionable decisions .
While bad script and cash grabs all played giving roles in lowering the overall character of theHellraiserseries , the total bungling of Pinhead ’s character , along with Doug Bradley ’s departure , meant the only entry still worth find out were the first two and possibly the third depend on how much revulsion fans be intimate theHellraiseruniverse . It utter to how iconic the character is , though , that he remains so pop over thirty years after his debut and explains whya rebootis planned .
More : The Hellraiser Reboot Should Bring Back Doug Bradley
