Read update
- Most fans of the Hellraiser franchise agree that Pinhead and his fellow Cenobites haven't appeared in any worthwhile cinematic undertakings in decades, but that seems set to change with the upcoming debut of Hulu's Hellraiser in early October.
Clive Barker's Hellraiser horror franchise raised the bar when it came to slasher storytelling in the 1980s. The series went on for quite some time before dwindling into relative obscurity, but not before committing some truly nightmarish imagery to film. To this day, the appearance of Pinhead and his Cenobites are simultaneously bone-chilling and awe-inspiring, which was entirely the point of Barker's approach.
Unfortunately, budget constraints and oddball creative decisions have led to some hilarity through the years, as well. Though unintentional, it's hard to keep from chuckling at how badly some of the scenes in the Hellraiser films played out. From screams and shouts to hokey gags, these are some of the scariest and silliest entries in the Hellraiser franchise.
Updated on September 28, 2022 by Tanner Fox:
Most fans of the Hellraiser franchise agree that Pinhead and his fellow Cenobites haven't appeared in any worthwhile cinematic undertakings in decades, but that seems set to change with the upcoming debut of Hulu's Hellraiser in early October.
Early trailers and promotional materials seem promising, and there's certainly plenty of fertile ground left to explore in Clive Barker's twisted universe. The Hellraiser franchise has set up more than a few memorable scares over the years, but, should the 2022 retread wind up a dud, it may join the legions of unintentionally hilarious Hellraiser movies that have been released over the past three decades.
Scariest:
Tiffany Summons The Cenobites
Hellbound: Hellraiser II (1988)
Few scenes are as frightening as when a traumatized Tiffany is left in a room with the puzzle box. After solving the Lament Configuration, Pinhead and his Cenobites are summoned once more, and a frightened Tiffany is forced to sit on the floor, powerless to move.
It's the moment where audiences were convinced that this innocent girl would be torn to shreds, but Pinhead stops the Cenobites from carrying it out. In his words, "It is not hands that call us. It is desire!" which demonstrates that Pinhead knew other parties were manipulating her from behind the scenes.
Welcome To Hell
Hellraiser: Inferno (2000)
Clive Barker's original Hellraiser movie may have made waves in the horror community when it debuted, but, after five sequels released in roughly a decade, interest in the franchise was beginning to wear thin, and 2000's Hellraiser: Inferno was generally regarded as a banal entry in a stagnant series.
Today, however, it's considered to be something of a forgotten gem, with the ending plot twist standing out as a series highlight. It's incredibly gruesome, as it features the film's protagonist being strung up with chains Frank Cotton-style and the symbolic severing of the final finger, tying the whole twisted affair together.
Channard's House of Horrors
Hellbound: Hellraiser II (1988)
After the events of the first Hellraiser film, Kirsty Cotton comes to be under the care of the malevolent Dr. Channard, who is secretly obsessed with the Lament Configuration. Kirsty tells him of the mattress on which Julia died, and he then has a patient killed on it so that Julia could be revived.
Halfway through the movie, Kristy and Kyle MacRae investigate the home of Dr. Channard, and MacRae comes across a room full of desiccated corpses collected by Julia. He also meets a grisly fate when a mostly fully-formed Julia discovers and devours him in order to fully revive herself.
The First Arrival Of The Cenobites
Hellraiser (1987)
Nothing quite beats that very first arrival of the Cenobites, after Kirsty inadvertently solves the Lament Configuration and draws them into this dimension. The use of ominous lighting and unnerving sound effects is enough to give anyone the chills, especially given how horrifying the Cenobites are to look at.
Kirsty manages to strike a deal with Pinhead to spare her in exchange for tracking down Frank Cotton, who escaped the Labyrinth and found life after death. Pinhead accepts the offer, but there's no relief for the audience, especially after Pinhead warns Kirsty that if she betrays him, "We'll tear your soul apart!"
Frank's Punishment
Hellraiser (1987)
The Cenobites eventually catch up to Frank and enact severe punishment on him for his escape from Hell. Hiding under the skin of his dead brother Larry, Frank is unable to fool Pinhead and the Cenobites, who immediately realize who he is and exact their vengeance accordingly.
Frank's second death mimics the first, though in much more grotesque fashion. Pinhead's chain hooks stretch Frank's skin and inflict great agony on him, but for all their punishment, the most chilling moment is when Frank mutters "Jesus wept!" before being torn to shreds by the chain hooks.
The Mattress Murder
Hellbound: Hellraiser II (1988)
One of the most stomach-turning horror scenes of the entire franchise comes courtesy of Hellraiser II, when Dr. Channard resurrects the dead Julia Cotton by acquiring the mattress she was murdered on, convincing a patient to cut himself while sitting on it.
This act triggers a gateway for Julia to escape Hell. Her first order of business is to attack the severely frightened and confused patient who attempts to get away, only for Julia to sink her fingers into the back of his neck and drain the life out of him, to horrific effect.
Frank's Resurrection
Hellraiser (1987)
One of the most memorable scenes in the original Hellraiser involved the comeback of dear Uncle Frank Cotton, a notorious baddie who got his hands on the infamous puzzle box and ended up solving the Lament Configuration, to his own detriment. Years later, his brother Larry and wife Julia move into the same house where Frank was killed, which sets off a series of unfortunate events.
While moving furniture, Larry slices his hand open while carrying a mattress, and blood spills out onto the floor. This triggers a loophole by which Frank can escape Hell and emerge back into the real world, but the process is about as gruesome and unsettling as it was when the movie came out.
Funniest:
The Channard Cenobite
Hellbound: Hellrasier II (1988)
Hellbound: Hellraiser II saw a major shift in antagonists from Pinhead to Dr. Channard. After successfully duping young Tiffany into solving the Lament Configuration, those within the immediate vicinity are sucked into the Labyrinth where the evil deity Leviathan resides. Channard is tortured and mutilated by the demonic forces within, who turn him into Hell's newest Commander.
Although meant to be a frightening figure that dwarfs even Pinhead's ominous presence, the Channard Cenobite was cursed with some less-than-savory creative decisions involving tentacles with eyeballs and beckoning fingers, to name a few. What was meant to be a grotesque, macabre display of Hell's twisted aesthetic sense quickly became fodder for laughs.
Pinhead Destroys A Church
Hellraiser III: Hell On Earth (1992)
Hellraiser 3: Hell on Earth is generally considered to be a low point for the Hellraiser franchise. The first in the series to be directed by someone other than Clive Barker, it struggled to continue the story after the apparent death of Pinhead in the previous film, and many of the scenes felt out of place and unnecessary.
Chief amongst them was an odd interlude in the third act that saw Pinhead chase protagonist Joey through a church. Replete with silly one-liners and out-of-character moments, it was entertaining on some level, but it ultimately served to turn the post-Barker Hellraiser movies into complete schlock.
The Cenobites Appear
Hellraiser: Revelations (2011)
Far and away the worst entry in the Hellraiser franchise, 2011's Hellraiser: Revelations was infamously made on a budget of just 300,000 dollars and was the first in the franchise not to feature longtime Pinhead actor Doug Bradley in his iconic role. Instead, Stephan Smith Collins appears in the role, and he doesn't even slightly look the part.
Though Pinhead is the central focus of the film's poster, he's hardly in the movie at all. Plus, the other Cenobites who show up as part of his entourage look like they're wearing cheap Halloween costumes. It's definitely one of the most unintentionally hilarious parts of the once-vaunted horror franchise.
The Hellhound
Hellraiser (1987)
First-time horror movie director Clive Barker made no bones about the low budget that the first Hellraiser film was forced to work with. This extends to the final act, when what could only be described as a Hellhound attacks Kirsty and tries to retrieve the puzzle box before she can seal the rift between dimensions. This puppet isn't particularly convincing or frightening, and nearly ruins an almost-perfect horror flick.
Barker would later go on to say that he was surprised the film came out as good as it did, especially with all the drinking involved during the production process.
The Club Massacre
Hellraiser III: Hell on Earth (1992)
Hellraiser III focused on the concept of Pinhead's id being separated from his body following his death in Hellraiser II. This unbound Cenobite seeks to spread pure chaos at every turn, with no sense of Hell's code of honor to guide his actions.
After being released from the Pillar of Souls, Pinhead walks into J.P. Monroe's popular nightclub and lays waste to everyone within. Trouble is, the scene is shot so badly that it's essentially a laugh-fest from start to finish, complete with bad acting, goofy POV shots, and silly deaths.
The Cenobite DJ
Hellraiser III: Hell on Earth (1992)
Hellraiser III attempted to inject a bit of big-budget adventure and comedy into the horror franchise, and this took root in the looks of Pinhead's new Cenobites. While killing an entire club's worth of patrons, Pinhead creates a Cenobite from the DJ, turning him into a nightmarish version of his former self.
While some may argue the cool factor, it's unintentionally hilarious to have a Cenobite who throws CDs at his victims with pinpoint accuracy. In the end, the horror aspect is stripped away, leaving the soil ripe for belly laughs.
The Identical Twins
Hellraiser: Bloodline (1996)
Hellraiser: Bloodline is an interesting take on the franchise mythos—and also a perfect ending to the original quadrilogy—but it's not without its funny parts. One scene involves two security guards who just happen to be identical twins, and according to Pinhead, inseparably close.
Pinhead then takes this concept to the extreme, torturing both of them before twisting their faces into one another, turning them into a pair of Cenobites literally sewn together at the hip. It's not the most frightening Cenobite ever to grace the screen, and provokes more giggles than gags.