email GlenBurnie MD 08/25/04
AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH HORROR MOVIE ICON- DOUG BRADLEY AKA "PINHEAD"...
HELLRAISER!!! Just the name alone can cause the hair on the back of your neck to raise and your stomach turn. Since director Clive Barker first exposed the world to his sinister cenobite creatures back in 1987, the HELLRAISER films have taken the horror genre by storm. The gore and terror was unimaginable for it's time, and have managed to uphold those trendsetting ways through all 6 films. With the rumors of 2 new HELLRAISER films (and a possible "Pinhead vs. Michael Myers" movie) on the horizon, I was able to meet up with the star of the films himself- DOUG BRADLEY aka "PINHEAD" for an exclusive interview. Besides his most obvious role as the Horror movie Icon "PINHEAD", Doug is a very established actor who's appeared in numerous films ranging from- "Red Lines", "On Edge", "An Ideal Husband", "NightBreed", and too many more to mention. The interview covers all kinds of topics from- the upcoming HELLRAISER films, the possibility of a Pinhead vs. Michael Myers movie, his friendship with Clive Barker, appearing on the new Cradle Of Filth album, his role in the upcoming PROPHECY 5 movie, lost HELLRAISER footage, the new action figures, a re-release of his book, and much more. So just sit back and enjoy the interview. If you don't…"it will tear you apart".

HODGE- Welcome Doug. Okay, lets get to the question that’s on all the Hellraiser fans minds…when are the Hellraiser films “Deader” and “Hellworld” going to be released?

DOUG BRADLEY- I have no idea. We shot the movies between October and Xmas 2002, so they’ve been sitting in the can for nearly two years. I looped the movie with Rick Bota – who directed both films and also directed the sixth movie, Hellseeker – more than a year ago when I also recorded an alternative audio commentary for Deader with him, so the whole film was pretty much cut together then: and looking pretty good, I thought. Hellworld was not so far advanced and I didn’t see any of that beyond the scenes I was looping, but I was hearing good reports of it. At that point, I understood that the plan was to release Deader for Halloween last year with Hellworld coming out Spring this year. Then I heard Jan/Feb this year for Deader, which became Spring, which became August which now doesn’t seem to be happening.

Exactly what the hold-up has been, I don’t know, but anyone keeping tags on industry gossip/news will be aware that there’s a swirl of rumours coming out of Miramax (who own Dimension Films) at the moment: big financial problems; people getting laid off; executive merry-go-round etc, etc. It’s been suggested that none of this affects Dimension directly – I don’t know. But the upshot is I think nothing will happen before next year. It is really frustrating and irritating, not least for the number of times I have to answer this question. None of us go through the effort of making these films to have them gathering dust on the shelves. We want them out there for you guys to see – and for us to see! And it would seem odd business sense to have product sitting around that could be out there making money.

Meanwhile, I was talking to a director recently who said, “So, you’re getting ready to do Hellraiser 9, are you?” In response to my dumbstruck ignorance he insisted that he’d heard it was. So who knows?

HODGE- The demand for the current Hellraiser action figures is overwhelming. With the success of the new toy series, could Hellraiser fans expect a theatrical return of the series?

DOUG BRADLEY- To be honest, I don’t see any correlation between the two. Neca have done an absolutely magnificent job with the figures – and that they’re giving all the movies in the series such in-depth coverage is just amazing. That they are in such demand doesn’t surprise me. Dare I say it? I think Neca are taking the movies a little more seriously than Dimension. Exactly why they started releasing the movies straight to dvd and video from Inferno onwards, I don’t know. Probably the simple answer is that it’s cheaper. Having established that precedent, I don’t expect to see any future Hellraisers opening theatrically, unless…..

HODGE- I’ve read internet rumors that a HELLRAISER vs. HALLOWEEN movie may be in the works. I’ve even heard that it may be an animated film. Any truth to this?

DOUG BRADLEY- Well, such a movie was well and truly in the works last year. As soon as Freddy vs Jason stomped all over the box office on its opening weekend, Dimension wanted Pinead vs Michael made yesterday. It was full speed ahead – the plan I believe was to have it in theatres – yes, theatres – for this Halloween. With Clive Barker slated to write it and John Carpenter directing it, it looked like a fascinating, mouth-watering prospect. And then it stopped dead in its tracks – I believe because of opposition from one of the Akkads. As far as I know, that’s where it stays. Fans at Horrorfind were showing me a recent USA Today which said Dimension were currently developing the movie – but that, or suggestions that it may be an animated film, is news to me. I honestly don’t know what the state of play is right now.

HODGE- Will you be appearing in the upcoming PROPHECY film?

DOUG BRADLEY- If it ever gets released, yes. Dimension shot Propecy 4 & 5 back to back in Spring 2003. They’re a continuous story, but I only appear in Part 5 as a photo of a corpse having met a grisly end in Part 4. I play a Romanian cop who becomes infested by Belial. However, these two films are presumably now trapped in the same limbo as Deader and Hellworld, so don’t hold your breath.

HODGE- There are many different versions of the Hellraiser 3 dvd on the internet. Is the “Red Edition(105 mins)” the longest and bloodiest version, or does an even gorier cut exist?

DOUG BRADLEY- I honestly have no idea. The fans tend to know more about these things than I do.

HODGE- It’s been rumored that Legendary Horror director Wes Craven and yourself have known each other since you were both in High school. Do you still keep in touch with Wes?

DOUG BRADLEY- Interesting case of Chinese whispers here. I’ve met Wes Craven once, in a restaurant in LA. Spookily enough, I had gone to the restaurant with Robert Englund. I think what we’re getting confused with here is that I was at school in Liverpool here in England with Clive Barker. That is true and yes we very much keep in touch, mostly by telephone now he lives in LA, but I’ve visited him over there and I just had dinner with him this summer when he was in London. Still pretty close, I would say.

HODGE- How did your PINHEAD appearance at the 1992 MTV Music Awards come about?

DOUG BRADLEY- Very simple: I was in LA doing publicity for the release of Hell On Earth and the Awards show was at UCLA that year. Miramax put the two things together. I’ve also done Spring Break and been Halloween guest video jock for MTV.

HODGE- Is it true that a HELLRAISER 1-3 DVD Box-set is going to be released soon? If so, what kind of special features can we expect on the dvd’s?

DOUG BRADLEY- Yes. It’s being released by Anchor Bay. Two things I can promise you for the extras are an alternative audio commentary on the film by director Anthony Hickox and myself, and new interviews with both of us.

HODGE- Aren’t you featured on the new CRADLE OF FILTH album? Do you perform some kind of intro or interlude?

DOUG BRADLEY- Correct again. It’s the second time I’ve worked with Cradle, having appeared on the Midian album a few years back. This time I did a kind of Lovecraftian chant and then recorded two sets of Danny’s lyrics. I really enjoy working with them, despite not being a fan of heavy/ death/industrial/goth/speed/dark metal (delete as appropriate). I am a fan of Danny’s writing, though.

HODGE- Your book “Sacred Monsters: Behind The Mask Of The Horror Actor” is scheduled to be re-released in the near future. Will it be available in the U.S. as well? Where can fans purchase a copy? Will anything new be added to the re-publish?

DOUG BRADLEY- Yes, the book is going to be available in the States at last, which I’m delighted about. I believe it’s due to be published around Halloween (publication dates appear to be rather hazy events, I’ve discovered). I’m rather hoping fans will be able to buy it in bookstores! Otherwise you should be able to buy online at Titan Books or Amazon. I’ve added one new chapter to update the Hellraiser story from Inferno to Hellworld. Also the US distributors have dropped Sacred Monsters from the title , so the original sub-title – Behind The Mask Of The Horror Actor – is now the title. I’m sorry to lose, but appreciate their argument that Sacred Monsters doesn’t immediately sell the book, which Behind The Mask does.

HODGE- I want to thank you for taking this time out of your busy schedule to conduct this interview with me. I’ve been a huge fan of your work for years and this was quite an honor. Any last words for your fans reading this?

DOUG BRADLEY- Thank you Mike for this opportunity to enlighten the fans on many topics. It's their support that keeps these films going. Thank you and best wishes.