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Hellraiser FAQs

What input did Barker have on HR2?: Barker sold the rights to Hellraiser for $1 million in the deal that allowed him to direct the first film. HR2 was based on an original concept by Barker, but it was really Peter Atkins' (screenwriter) and Tony Randel's (director) show. He did, however, executive produce the movie and he hung around the set during filming.

What input did Barker have on HR3?: Originally, Trans Atlantic did not want Barker to have anything to do with this movie. He was too expensive to hire. When the film was finished, Lawrence L. Kuppin (head of Trans Atlantic) invited Barker to view the film. He gave the studio his opinion: "although it contained some great moments, there was a lot of stuff missing; the ending wasn't right, there was no climax, [Barker] didn't understand some sequences, and in some parts the story was incomprehensible." Kuppin then wanted Barker to endorse the film, so they could release the film under his name. Barker refused "because it didn't reflect [his] vision of the Hellraiser mythos...." Later, the heads of Miramax, Bob and Harvey Weinstein, offered to let Barker fix the film for them. Miramax was going to be HR3's American distributor. Barker agreed. With Peter Atkins doing the writing, Barker added more death scenes to the Boiler Room massacre, the scene in which Sandy was skinned by the pillar, and the bondage scene in which the monstrous machine comes out of the floor after Joey. Barker thinks the final result was "50/50 split between [his and Anthony Hickox's] two visions."

What input did Barker have on HR4?: Barker wrote the original outline for HR4. Peter Atkins turned this into the original script. The story was focused on the Lament Configuration -- not Pinhead. Miramax, towards the end of shooting, decided to change this storyline around. Rand Ravich was hired to touch up the script and give Pinhead a more prominent role. Meanwhile, Barker was busy directing Lord of Illusions. He rarely went to the HR4 set and had no input during its filming.

What input did Barker have on HR5?: None. Barker originally offered to help create HR5 and was even going to get a Japanese artist to create some interesting Cenobites. Miramax blew him off. He is finished with Hellraiser movies thanks to the Disney company.

What input did Barker have on HR6?: Rick Bota viewed the finished film with Barker who not only enjoyed it but gave some notes to the director. Bota went back and added things based on these including the skinned man at the films conclusion and the Stitch Cenobite thrusting the metal 'gag' into Trevor.

Are there movie novels?: Not really. The Hellbound Heart is a Barker novella that was the basis for HR1. Epic Comics also released a comic adaptation of HR3.

Do real puzzle boxes exist?: None that can move like the Hellraiser Box can. Sorry, but the laws of physics are quite strict about this. For the non-moving variety, check the Puzzle Emporium.

What is the difference between the comic Box and the movie Box?: Quite a bit. The comic Box has 3 unique panels and the movie Box has 6. When solved, the movie Box's "star" panel shows 4 Engineers arranged around the center disk. The comic Box does not. See Image Gallery: Miscellany for pictures.

What is the Engineer?: In HBH, the Engineer is a Cenobite-like creature from Hell who designs torture devices. In the script to HR1, the Engineer is the scorpion-like creature that chases Kirsty out of Hell. In HR5, the Engineer is either a nickname for Pinhead or the Faceless Killer depending on your view.

What is Leviathan? Does he work for Satan or something?: No. Leviathan is its own deity. The mythologies of Christianity and Hellraiser are completely separate. In fact, often in the Hellraiser Comics Leviathan is shown to be a large influence behind world religions. So, while holding a cross up to a vampire may work, Pinhead just laughs (as in the church scene in HR3). The name 'Leviathan' has a Biblical origin, ironically. Job 41 is all about Leviathan, who is a great sea monster associated with chaos. The Hellraiser Leviathan is virtually the opposite of this representation: a crystalline deity obsessed with order.

Where can I find that surgeon scene in HR2? Is this the same as the "Kirsty's Room" scene?: It doesn't exist. In the original script, Pinhead and the Female Cenobite surprise Kirsty and Tiffany by transforming from doctors into Cenobites. Bob Keen and company just couldn't get the scene to look right, so they nixed it. However, the picture of Pinhead and the Female Cenobite dressed in surgical scrubs was too interesting to ignore. Consequently, it has been (misleadingly) used on the packaging of a few versions of the HR2 tape and LD. The "Kirsty's Room" scene is completely different. You can find it on the American collector's edition HR2 tape, LD, or DVD.