![]() ![]() A single black-and-white photo helps Pinhead remember his former self. With the follow-up of Hellbound: Hellraiser II (1988), we learned that he was previously a man, Captain Elliot Spencer. The first Hellraiser (1987) kept Pinhead shrouded in mystery. Opening this puzzle box promises the ultimate in pleasure and pain, but I’ve only ever seen the damn thing deliver pain. With 1980s special effects of stop motion and claymation, this is particularly horrific even today. Solving it unleashes Pinhead and his demonic friends who literally tear people apart with chains. The basic premise of these films is that there is a puzzle box promising ultimate pleasure and pain. One second you’re talking to your dead dad in Vietnam, the next second you’re face-to-face with Pinhead. While some of this was blatant with direct ties to World War I and Vietnam, there are unintended undertones that fit perfectly with the theme that war is hell. What became apparent was the eagerness of the filmmakers to incorporate war as a parallel to the depicted horror, especially in the second and third installments of the franchise. ![]() My parents wisely kept me away from these movies as a child, but in my rebellious 30’s, I have watched them with an initial tongue-in-cheek delight. ![]() Pinhead is a pop-culture icon who sits comfortably alongside Freddy Kruger and Jason. The Hellraiser franchise features some of the most unforgettable imagery, even if you haven't seen a single film. ![]()
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