Chatterer | |
---|---|
Hellraiser character | |
First appearance | The Hellbound Heart (1986) |
Last appearance | Hellraiser (2022) |
Created by | Clive Barker |
Portrayed by |
|
In-universe information | |
Full name | James (unknown middle or last name) |
Alias | |
Species | Human/Cenobite |
Gender | Male |
Primary location | "The Labyrinth" / Hell |
Status | Deceased (reboot) Unknown (original series) |
Chatterer is a fictional character appearing in the Hellraiser film series. He is a Cenobite, an order of extradimensional sadomasochists who experiment in extreme forms of hedonism. His name comes from the constant clicking of his teeth, his only means of communication. He serves the Cenobites' leader Pinhead. Chatterer has become a fan favourite character in the Hellraiser franchise.
Chatterer is a member of the Cenobites, formerly-human monsters dedicated to exploring the limits of human sensation; these "explorations" take the form of extreme sadomasochism, to the point that it is considered torture by most of those whom they encounter. He lives with his fellow Cenobites in an extradimensional realm called Hell, a gigantic labyrinth accessible only via a puzzle box called the Lament Configuration, which opens a dimensional fissure. While those who possess unique qualities conducive to the Cenobite agenda are transformed into Cenobites upon opening the box, others are subjected to the Cenobites' "experiments". Like his fellow Cenobites, Chatterer has lost all memory of his life as a human before he became a Cenobite; Hellraiser: Hellbound indicates that Chatterer opened the box while still a young boy. No further information for the character and his past is known. A short story written by actor Nicholas Vince, who played Chatterer in the first two Hellraiser films, offers an origin for the version of Chatterer who appears in "The Hellbound Heart". Vince's story, "Look See", claimed that the novella version of Chatterer was a handsome young actor who specialized in off-color humor. A hugely successful, albeit corrupt, actor (who among other things slept with underage girls and framed rival actors and his enemies for being communists in order to ruin their careers), Chatterer eventually found the box and sensing his dark heart, mutilated his face to match his inner self and as he was brought into the Order of the Gash. [3]
Like his fellow Cenobites, Chatterer's body has been subjected to an extreme form of body modification and ritual scarification; in Chatterer's case, his face has been severely disfigured and his lips have been peeled back to permanently expose his teeth, which he can only click together as a means of communication. He is a member of the entourage of lead Cenobite Pinhead, accompanying him whenever he is summoned via the box and acting as the group's enforcer, physically attacking and restraining potential victims, often by shoving his hand in their mouths. [4] [5]
Actor Nicholas Vince lived near creator Clive Barker, who liked his work. Barker suggested they work together, resulting in a collaboration on Hellraiser. [6] : 22 As Chatterer, Vince wore a one-piece mask that rendered him blind. A fake set of chattering teeth were fitted in his mouth and were triggered when he bit down. Because of the difficulty in eating and the drooling associated with the design, the chattering teeth were redesigned to be removable. [7] The design was changed in the sequel to give Chatterer eyes so Vince could see. [6] : 62 [8] [9]
Due to the original version of the character's death by Dr. Phillip Channard at the end of Hellbound: Hellraiser II , as well as the character's absence from the sequel Hellraiser III: Hell on Earth , several alternate versions of the Chatterer character were devised to appear in the numerous sequels in the Hellraiser franchise. [10]
Chatterer II was intended to be a redesign of the original Chatterer character in Hellbound: Hellraiser II , with the updated version of the character allowing Nicholas Vince to be able to see through the makeup effects after an injury the actor sustained on set. [6]
Chatterer III first appeared in Hellraiser: Hellseeker portrayed by Mike Jay Regan. This version of the character also appears briefly in Hellraiser: Deader , and has a more prominent role in Hellraiser: Hellworld . [11]
The Female Chatterer, otherwise known as Chatterer IV or Female Cenobite II, is an amalgam of Chatterer and the Female Cenobite that appears in Hellraiser: Revelations portrayed by Jolene Anderson. [12]
Torso is a Cenobite in Chatterer's likeness that appears in Hellraiser: Inferno . Torso is portrayed by Chatterer III actor Mike Jay Regan, and, as his name suggests, has the lower half of his body missing. This Cenobite was reportedly created by the original Chatterer himself. [13]
The Chatterer Beast appears as Pinhead's pet in Hellraiser: Bloodline . The Chatterer Beast was moulded from human flesh by the Leviathan and designed to be Pinhead's pet in Chatterer's image. [14]
Chatterer is first introduced in the novella The Hellbound Heart . Like the other Cenobites, he is identified only by the order in which he appeared to Frank Cotton, as "the third":
Now the third spoke. Its features were so heavily scarified — the wounds nurtured until they ballooned — that its eyes were invisible and its words corrupted by the disfigurement of its mouth. [15]
Along with the other Cenobites, Chatterer takes antagonist Frank Cotton back to the Cenobite realm after Cotton opens the Lament Configuration, expecting to find a hedonistic paradise that will cure his nihilism. Despite being warned that what he finds may not be what he is expecting, Frank willingly goes along with the Cenobites, only to find that—past an initial euphoria—the experiences to which the Cenobites subject him are so intense as to be torturous. Chatterer is later part of the Cenobite contingent that makes a deal with Frank's niece, Kirsty, to return Frank to them in exchange for her own freedom, after she unwittingly makes a deal to return to the Cenobite realm by opening the box.
Chatterer would reappear in the film adaptation of The Hellbound Heart, Hellraiser, in which he was given a name in the film's closing credits. Unlike in the novella, this Chatterer is completely mute, only capable of communicating by clicking his teeth together.
In Hellbound, Chatterer is renamed "Chatterer II" following aesthetic modifications to the mutilations on his face. After Kirsty Cotton reminds Pinhead of his own former humanity, the revelation causes his fellow Cenobites to remember their own former lives and they turn against the newly created Cenobite, Channard, in order to protect Kirsty. Chatterer, along with the rest of the Cenobites, are killed by Channard following a short fight; like the other Cenobites, Chatterer reverts to a non-mutilated human form after he dies – the form of a teenage boy.
Unlike other members of Pinhead's entourage from the first two Hellraiser films, Chatterer has made appearances in most of the later entries in the series. The mechanism of his revival was never explained in the films. [16] [17] He is a member of Pinhead's entourage in Hellraiser: Inferno (in which he lacks legs and is called "Torso"), Hellraiser: Hellseeker , Hellraiser: Deader , and Hellraiser: Hellworld , while an alternative versions appear in Hellraiser: Bloodline , which featured "The Chatter Beast", and Hellraiser: Revelations , which featured the "Female Cenobite".
In the 2022 reboot, Hellraiser , the Chatterer appears with an updated appearance but is still mute and only communicates using its teeth. In the film, the Chatterer is stabbed with the Lament Configuration, seemingly killing the Chatterer after being ripped apart by chains.
Chatterer has appeared in Clive Barker's Hellraiser comic book series for BOOM! comics, where he is identified as Pinhead's page. Midway through the series, Pinhead betrays him (along with the rest of his fellow Cenobites) to Kirsty Cotton as part of a plan to retake his own former humanity. After "pleading" with Pinhead (in the form of clicking his teeth), Chatterer is torn apart by a series of hooked chains.[ citation needed ]
The Chatterer's origin was revealed in the 2017 short story "Prayers for Desire" written by Nicholas Vince and illustrated by Clive Barker, published by Seraphim Incorporated in the graphic novel Hellraiser Anthology Volume 2. [18] Vince said on the matter: "I'm beyond excited to finally share a story I drafted in December 2012. It's worth the wait, as it's found its spiritual home beside wonderful illustrations by Clive and amongst superb storytellers". [19]
As a pre-teenage boy, Jim frames his mother for the murder of his abusive father and is sent to an orphanage, where he and the other adolescents are taught that they will be useless to society. There, he engages in a homosexual relationship with a boy named Seth and regularly prays to the God of Love for affection. After turning sixteen, Jim joins Seth in becoming a prostitute, in which his physical appearance would often be complimented by his clients, to his disgust. One day, one of the clients asks him what his deepest desire is, to which he replied "To be loved". Later, he is asked again by the client what his desire is, this time replying "To be ugly", believing that people would love him for who he is. The client hands him a Lament Configuration, and he begins to serve who he is told is the God of Pain and Desire by distributing the Lament Configurations to various people. Years later, he comes across a blinded Seth, who was punished by their former pimp for Jim's decision to leave. Jim is told by another one of Hell's servants to make him solve a Configuration. Instead, Jim and Seth engage in sexual intercourse and Seth begins to angrily confess how much he hates Jim during the act. That night, Seth leaves without opening the Configuration and Jim's desire is granted as he is forcibly disfigured by the jealous God of Pain and Pleasure. The story ends with him becoming a Summoning Angel with clicking teeth. [20]
Chatterer was played by Nicholas Vince in Hellraiser and Hellbound: Hellraiser II . [6] : 22 Vince suffered an injury to his jaw during filming of Hellbound during a scene where Chatterer was to be impaled with several hooks. Due to this injury, Vince requested that Chatterer be given eyes to help with his vision. [21] [22] The role of the Chatter Beast in Hellraiser: Bloodline was played by Jodie St. Michael. [6] : 139 Torso from Hellraiser: Inferno , and the Chatterer in Hellraiser: Hellseeker , Hellraiser: Deader , Hellraiser: Hellworld and Hellraiser: Judgment were all performed by Mike Jay Regan. [6] : 178, 207 The female Chatterer that appeared in Hellraiser: Revelations was portrayed by Jolene Andersen. [23] The Chatterer is played by Jason Liles in the 2022 reboot. [24]
Shock Till You Drop called Chatterer an iconic character that is "simply a badass and incredibly terrifying". [25] Paul Kane describes the character as representing two different fears: that of being eaten alive and dental work. [6] : 43 [26] [27] In his review of the original Hellraiser film, Chris Stuckmann stated when talking about how little screentime Pinhead actually has in the film: "In fact I was more scared by The Chatterer, who must have inspired the creative team behind Silent Hill . But that's kind of how it goes with these horror movie icons isn't it? I mean when you think of Jason, and then go back and watch the first Friday the 13th , the Jason that we know, just really isn't there. Save for Michael Myers in the first Halloween film, a lot of times these horror movie villains become culturally impactful because we (the audience) decide they are". [28] The character has received their own Funko Pop Vinyl figure. Ironically, the figure claims to be from Hellraiser III: Hell on Earth , which is one of the few films in the Hellraiser franchise in which Chatterer (or any version of Chatterer) does not actually appear. [29]
Clive Barker is an English writer, filmmaker and visual artist. He came to prominence in the mid-1980s with a series of short stories, the Books of Blood, which established him as a leading horror writer. He has since written many novels and other works. His fiction has been adapted into films, notably the Hellraiser series, the first installment of which he also wrote and directed, and the Candyman series.
Hellraiser is a 1987 British supernatural horror film written and directed by Clive Barker in his directorial debut. Based on Barker's 1986 novella The Hellbound Heart, the film's plot concerns a mystical puzzle box that summons the Cenobites, a group of extra-dimensional, sadomasochistic beings who cannot differentiate between pain and pleasure. It stars Andrew Robinson, Clare Higgins, Ashley Laurence, and Doug Bradley as the leader of the Cenobites, identified in the sequels as "Pinhead".
The Hellbound Heart is a horror novella by Clive Barker, first published in November 1986 by Dark Harvest in the third volume of its Night Visions anthology series. The story features a hedonist criminal acquiring a mystical puzzle box, the LeMarchand Configuration, which can be used to summon the Cenobites, demonic beings who do not distinguish between pain and pleasure. He escapes the Cenobites and, with help, resorts to murder to restore himself to full life. Later on, the puzzle box is found by another.
Douglas William Bradley is an English actor and author, best known for his role as the lead Cenobite "Pinhead" in the Hellraiser film series and for narration on various Cradle of Filth albums.
The Cenobites are fictional, extra-dimensional, and seemingly demonic beings who appear in the works of Clive Barker. Introduced in Barker's 1986 novella The Hellbound Heart, they also appear in its sequel novel The Scarlet Gospels, the Hellraiser films, and in Hellraiser comic books published (intermittently) between 1987 and 2017. In the 1987 novel Weaveworld, they are mentioned in passing as "The Surgeons". The Cenobites appear in prose stories authorized but not written by Clive Barker, such as the anthology Hellbound Hearts edited by Paul Kane and Marie O'Regan, the novella Hellraiser: The Toll, and the novel Sherlock Holmes and the Servants of Hell written by Paul Kane.
Pinhead is a fictional character and the main antagonist of the Hellraiser franchise. The character first appeared as an unnamed figure in the 1986 Clive Barker novella The Hellbound Heart. When Clive Barker adapted the novella into the 1987 film Hellraiser, he referred to the character in early drafts as "the Priest" but the final film gave no name. The production and make-up crew nicknamed the character "Pinhead"—derived from his bald head studded with nails—and fans accepted the sobriquet. The name was then used in press materials, tie-in media, and on-screen in some of the film's sequels, although Barker himself despises the moniker.
Hellbound: Hellraiser II is a 1988 supernatural horror film directed by Tony Randel and starring Clare Higgins, Ashley Laurence, Kenneth Cranham and Doug Bradley. It is the second film in the Hellraiser franchise, and draws heavily upon its precursor, Hellraiser, which was released a year before with much of the same cast and crew. Laurence reprises her role as Kirsty Cotton, who is admitted into a psychiatric hospital after the events of the first film. There, the head doctor (Cranham) unleashes the Cenobites, a group of sadomasochistic beings from another dimension.
Hellraiser III: Hell on Earth is a 1992 American supernatural horror film and the third installment in the Hellraiser film series. It was directed by Anthony Hickox and stars Terry Farrell, Paula Marshall, Kevin Bernhardt, and Doug Bradley. Ashley Laurence, who starred in the previous two films, reprises her role as Kirsty Cotton in a cameo appearance.
Hellraiser: Bloodline is a 1996 American science fiction horror film and the fourth installment in the Hellraiser series, which serves as both a prequel and a sequel. Directed by Kevin Yagher and Joe Chappelle, the film stars Doug Bradley as Pinhead, reprising his role and now the only remaining original character and cast member. It also features Bruce Ramsay, Valentina Vargas, Kim Myers and Adam Scott in his first major film role. It was the last Hellraiser film to be released theatrically and the last to have any major official involvement with series creator Clive Barker until the 2022 reboot.
Hellraiser: Deader is a 2005 American supernatural horror film and the seventh installment in the Hellraiser series. Directed by Rick Bota, the original script was written by Neal Marshall Stevens. As with Hellraiser: Hellseeker it began as an unrelated spec script, which was subsequently rewritten as a Hellraiser film. Like Inferno, series creator Clive Barker did not have an involvement in the production. The film stars Kari Wuhrer, Paul Rhys, Simon Kunz, and Doug Bradley.
Hellraiser: Hellworld is a 2005 supernatural horror film directed by Rick Bota. It is the eighth installment in Hellraiser series. The Hellworld script is based on a short story called "Dark Can't Breathe" by Joel Soisson and was originally not planned as a Hellraiser film – it was reworked into that format. Hellraiser: Hellworld was released straight to DVD in the United States on September 6, 2005, after a handful of minor film festival and private screenings.
Hellraiser is a British-American horror media franchise that consists of eleven films, as well as various comic books, and additional merchandise and media. Based on the novella The Hellbound Heart by English author Clive Barker, the franchise centers around the Cenobites which includes the primary antagonist named Pinhead.
The Scarlet Gospels is a 2015 horror novel by author Clive Barker which acts as a continuation to both his previous novella The Hellbound Heart and his canon of Harry D'Amour stories. The book concerns the Hell Priest, the demonic Cenobite nicknamed "Pinhead", and his efforts to gain power. Occult detective Harry D'Amour must journey into Hell to rescue his friend and stop the Hell Priest's plans. The book was the first in which the Hell Priest was officially given a name by Clive Barker, who disliked the nickname 'Pinhead' given his character by others.
Kirsty is a fictional character from the Hellraiser media franchise. Created by writer Clive Barker, Kirsty first appears in the 1986 novella The Hellbound Heart. Her full name is identified in the sequels as Kirsty Singer, before being adapted in the 1987 film adaptation Hellraiser as Kirsty Cotton. The character served as a major focus in the original film and its sequel Hellbound: Hellraiser II, later playing a supporting role in Hellraiser VI: Hellseeker. In all of her appearances in the film series, she was portrayed by actress Ashley Laurence. The film describes her as being Larry Cotton's daughter, while in the novel she is simply a friend of his.
Nicholas Vince is an actor, writer, and film maker who was born in West Germany and lives in South London. He trained at Mountview Theatre Academy, and shortly after graduating he met Clive Barker, modeling for him and later being cast as The Chatterer Cenobite in Hellraiser in 1987 and in its sequel Hellbound: Hellraiser II in 1988. He subsequently played Kinski in Barker's 1990 film Nightbreed. Since 2016 he's been Patron of the London Horror Festival, the UK's original and largest festival of live horror performance. In 2016 he was awarded the "London Horror Society Award for Outstanding Contribution to UK Independent Horror" and in 2018 a "Lifetime of Torment Award" at Texas Frightmare.
Hellraiser: Judgment is a 2018 American horror film written and directed by Gary J. Tunnicliffe, based on the characters created by Clive Barker. The tenth installment in the Hellraiser film series, the film stars Damon Carney, Randy Wayne, Alexandra Harris, Heather Langenkamp, and Paul T. Taylor, and centers on three police detectives who, investigating a series of murders, are confronted by the denizens of hell. The film expands the fictional universe by introducing a new faction of hell: the Stygian Inquisition. While the Cenobites offer sadomasochistic pleasures to humans that enter their dominion, the Inquisition processes the souls of sinners. Tunnicliffe plays the Inquisition's auditor, a prominent role in the film.
Gary J. Tunnicliffe is a British special make-up effects designer, writer, and director. He has performed make-up effects in all the Hellraiser films from Hellraiser III: Hell on Earth to Hellraiser: Hellworld, wrote Hellraiser: Revelations, and wrote and directed Hellraiser: Judgment. His other make-up credits include Candyman, Wishmaster, the Dracula 2000 series, the Pulse series, and Feast.
Hellraiser is a 2022 supernatural horror film directed by David Bruckner, with a screenplay by Ben Collins and Luke Piotrowski, from a screen story co-written with David S. Goyer. A reboot of the Hellraiser franchise, the eleventh installment overall, and the second adaptation of the 1986 novella The Hellbound Heart by Clive Barker following the 1987 film, the film stars Odessa A'zion as a young woman recovering from addiction who ends up with a mechanical puzzle box that can summon the Cenobites, humanoid beings who thrive on pain being pleasure. Jamie Clayton, Adam Faison, Drew Starkey, Brandon Flynn, Aoife Hinds, Jason Liles, Yinka Olorunnife, Selina Lo, Zachary Hing, Kit Clarke, Goran Višnjić, and Hiam Abbass appear in supporting roles.