Starting this Friday the Horror Channel Hellraiser series is launching to keep us entertained for weeks to come!
Ahead of the release The Chatterer Cenobite AKA actor Nicholas Vince spoke about the upcoming Horror Channel offering.
Hellraiser will be broadcast on Friday 3 April @ 22:50 and Hellraiser II: Hellbound on Friday 10 April @ 23:15.
Horror Channel is broadcasting HELLRAISER and HELLRAISER II: HELLBOUND. How does it feel being part of such an iconic franchise?
I feel extremely fortunate. And I’m grateful to Horror Channel for screening the films. There’s a chance for people who’ve not seen them before to watch them. I’ve introduced the films at various screenings and I’m always delighted there’s often a 50/50 split between fans of the films and first timers.
You’ve spoken a lot about your experiences of playing the Chatterer Cenobite. Looking back, how much would you say it has defined your career?
Oh, it made my career. It’s given me the chance to work with some really interesting young film makers such as MJ Dixon, Paddy Murphy, Stewart Sparke, Katie Bonham, Federico Ichi Scargiali and Lawrie Brewster. And it led to writing comics for Marvel in the 1990’s. It’s opened many doors for me, particularly in terms of meeting fans of the films who’ve been very supportive too.
Is it true that the design of the Chatterer was partly inspired by your own facial reconstruction?
Yes, that’s right. I mentioned to Clive a documentary I’d watched about facial reconstructive surgery, during which I realised some of the techniques shown must have been used on me when I was 19 years old. It was really a brief conversation and I’d forgotten about it until after filming when Clive pointed out he’d remembered and incorporated what I’d described into the design of the Chatterer.
How important is the ongoing connection you have with your fans?
That’s very important to me. It’s something which I was taught by Clive. I used to meet up with friends when he did book signings at Forbidden Planet in London. I once saw him sign for seven hours without a break and he drew a picture along with his signature, and whilst he did that he chatted, answered any question and also asked questions. I’ve always tried to emulate that attitude when I meet fans, or as Clive would say ‘enthusiasts’.
What ‘monster’ movies do you personally admire? Have you a favourite?
I’m a big fan of Vincent Price and the Edgar Allan Poe films he did with Roger Corman. My all time favourite is MASQUE OF THE RED DEATH. What I love about Price in that film is that the monster he plays, Prince Prospero, isn’t a classic monster makeup, but he’s chilling. Of more classic monsters, then it would be Lon Chaney Jr. as WOLFMAN, Claude Rains as the PHANTOM OF THE OPERA and Robert Englund as Freddy Kreuger.
If you had the choice of playing any of the iconic monsters, which would it be?
The Abominable Dr Phibes, as played by Vincent Price.
Finally, what can we expect to see you in next?
They’ve just released Ashley Thorpe’s BORLEY RECTORY onto Amazon Prime in the UK, narrated by Julian Sands and starring Reece Shearsmith. There are three other feature films nearing completion and aiming for release later this year.
I’m also working on my third volume of short stories, which has my Chatterer origin story as the title, PRAYERS OF DESIRE which is due out at the end of Spring 2020.
Horror Channel Hellraiser Series Schedule
Let’s get down to the important stuff now! The times and dates to check out each feature in the Horror Channel Hellraiser series. Here we go!
Friday 3 April @ 22:50 – HELLRAISER (1987)
Frank Cotton (Sean Chapman) has solved the mystery of the Lament Configuration puzzle box, a sort of evil Rubik’s cube.
Unfortunately, he inadvertently opens a doorway to Hell and, in death, enters the world of the Cenobites.
A race of sadistic supernatural beings led by a bald Cenobite (Doug Bradley).
Brought back from the edge of damnation by the blood of his brother, Larry (Andrew Robinson), Frank rises to feed on the souls of others. But he needs his lover and sister-in-law Julia (Clare Higgins) to bring him fresh blood.
Friday 10 April @ 23:15 – HELLRAISER II: HELLBOUND (1989)
Kirsty Cotton (Ashley Laurence) has witnessed too many horrific images for her young mind to take and is placed in the care of Doctor Channard (Kenneth Cranham).
No one believes Kirsty’s wild and weird tales, except the Doctor who has secretly been searching for the pleasures the dark side can bring.
Soon the walls at the institute begin to crack and bleed and once dead faces from Kirsty’s recent past return to haunt her. And then a Cenobite known as Pinhead (Doug Bradley) vows to tear her soul apart.
Friday 17 April @ 22:55 – HELLRAISER III: HELL ON EARTH (1993)
Pinhead (Doug Bradley) has been caged in the Torture Pillar, his evil secured for all eternity. But a club owner J.P. Monroe (Kevin Bernhardt) buys this bizarre sculpture and accidentally cuts himself during its installation, dripping blood onto the ancient monument.
This resurrects Pinhead but this time he’s up against a reporter Joey Summerskill (Terri Farrell) who battles Pinhead into facing his own, tortured past.
