by David Byron
Doug Bradley is not only the star of one of the biggest independent horror films in history, HELLRAISER, but also an accomplished writer as well. His autobiography, BEHIND THE MASK OF THE HORROR ACTOR, provides the reader with a unique and personal perspective on cinema monsters and the men who wear the masks. He has graciously agreed to appear in this collection, and the book wouldn't be the same without old ''Pinhead.''
-Iron Dave
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Douglas William Bradley (born 7 September 1954) is an English actor. He is well known for playing the role of the Cenobite Pinhead in all eight Hellraiser films, as well as the character of Captain Elliot Spenser in two of the films Hellbound: Hellraiser II (1988) and Hellraiser III: Hell on Earth (1992). He is one of only 2 actors to play the same horror character 8 consecutive times, the other being Robert Englund who"s also portrayed Freddy Krueger 8 consecutive times. Bradley has appeared in an advert for direct line insurance in the UK (as a gym teacher) appearing on everything from T.V, the backs of buses, in tube stations and internet adverts. He has performed narrations on several songs by Cradle of Filth, an English extreme metal band. The first was 2000s “Her Ghost in the Fog” (as well as “Death Magick For Adepts” and “Tortured Soul Asylum”), however he could not appear in the music video and was replaced by actor David McEwen who would play the character of Kemper in Cradle of Fear. Bradley also appeared on its sequel - “Swansong For A Raven” (as well as the album intro “Satyriasis”). In 2006, he lent his narrations to “Rise of the Pentagram” and “Tonight In Flames”. Continuing in this vein, Bradley has contributed guest vocals to Cradle of Filth"s 2008 album, Godspeed on the Devil"s Thunder, on most songs excluding “Tragic Kingdom”. He seems to be playing the role of Gilles de Rais, the person on which the album"s concept is based. Bradley has appeared in a lot of horror shorts including Red Lines and On Edge. He is also a member of UK animation company Renga Media, makers of the independent British CGI „Dominator" movies and shorts, dividing job roles between producer and voice actor. He also voiced the Loc-Nar in the short animated crossover Heavy Metal vs. Dominator, in which characters from the Dominator universe meet and fight with characters from the film Heavy Metal 2000. Bradley was born in Liverpool, England. He lives in London with his wife, Lynne, a son and a daughter, and a cat. He is a longtime close friend of horror/fantasy novelist Clive Barker, the two having met when they attended secondary school, and has worked with Barker in various capacities(from a theatre group to the Hellraiser films) since the early 1970s. He is also a die hard Liverpool FC supporter.
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NVF Magazine interview With
Doug Bradley
NVF: It"s an honor to have you here at last. I wouldn"t have felt the same without having you in a book about 1980s horror cinema. Speaking of which, I hear vicious rumors about a Hellraiser remake. Why doesn"t Hollywood get tired of „"revising"" {and ruining} classic films?
DB: Yes, talk of a Hellraiser remake has been going on for two and a half years now, but no firm plans have reached my ears. I don‘t know anything about it and in two and a half years noone has spoken directly to me about it one way or the other concerning any possible involvement I may have in it.
Why doesn‘t Hollywood tire of remakes? I guess the obvious answer would be money. It‘s almost a blank cheque, isn‘t it? I agree with you that most of the results are very unsatisfactory (The Omen, Halloween) There have been one or two exceptions: John Carpenter‘s The Thing is always the shining beacon, isn‘t it? There is an element in this though - and it‘s peculiar to horror films, I think – which is about the subject matter and the characters
– specifically the ‗monsters‘ – which operate on a kind of ‗mythological‘ level and so- like with myths - there is an urge to tell and re-tell and reshape the stories again and again. It‘s the same thing that drives franchise sequels, isn‘t it? There‘s never that final full-stop, it‘s always ‗What happened next…..‘ or ‗What would happen if?‘
NVF: How long have you and Clive known each other? He seems like a very interesting fellow, and multi-talented as well. When Stephen King stated „"I have seen the future of horror, and it"s name is Clive Barker,"" he couldn"t have been more right.
DB: We‘ve known each other longer than either of us probably care to admit these days. Coming up forty years, for God‘s sake. Multi-talented doesn‘t come close. He always had a lot more to offer than just being ‗the future of horror‘, as amazing as it must have been for Clive to have King say that about him. He‘s probably the most extraordinary person I know and obviously very important in my life. We‘ve always kept in touch. I‘ll see him in a couple of weeks at Fangoria"s LA Weekend.
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NVF: Hellraiser has been referred to by some critics as „"a little gothic, a little S&M, and a little slasher."" I don"t see any slasher in there, other than the fact it came out in the slasher era. {1987}. Do you see any slasher elements in there?
DB: Definitely. Julia wielding that hammer? I‘ve always said you could take the Cenobites out of Hellraiser and you have a simplistic but serviceable slasher plot concerning a woman trawling bars picking up guys, bringing them home on a promise and beating their brains out to feed their blood to her dead lover who is gradually coming back to life. That level of the film is one way it fitted very neatly into the horror zeigeist of its period. But then Clive drops Pinhead & Co into the mix and everything is transformed, and it becomes the story we know: much more challenging, complex and satisfying. That mythological element comes into play again. And it mixes the Gothic into the slasher film all grounded in a family saga.
NVF: Forgive me, but I have to do this: You came to a College campus a few years ago in Vincennes, Indiana, my hometown, and I got to speak to you, and you seemed so…well…normal. I think it is wonderful that you are willing to speak to your fans in person. Have you ever had any strange or frightening experiences with a fan?
DB: Well, I like people and I like talking, so it‘s not a difficult thing really. One or two hairy moments with fans, but we‘ll pass over those: they really are exceptions. For the most part, the fans are courteous, kind and considerate. And interested and interesting. There was the guy late one October night at a Haunted House in PA who asked me to sign his penis. I declined, suggesting I might not be able to fit my signature on it. He just shrugged, said ‗Oh, OK‘ and walked away.
NVF: I have just finished reading your book Behind The Mask Of The Horror Actor, and I must say I found it a fascinating read! Have you ever considered writing fiction? I think you would make a wonderful short fiction writer.
DB: Glad to hear you enjoyed the book. Writing fiction? No, I don‘t think so. I don‘t think my brain is wired that way. I think you need to have that obsessive burn and drive to be a successful writer and I don‘t think I have it.
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NVF: Here"s one I am sure you"ve heard before, but here goes: What would you say is your favorite horror film? And yes, I know that may cover a lot of ground.
DB: Many times, Dave. And really the answer stays the same. Out of a long short list: The Bride Of Frankenstein. NVF: Just out of curiosity, what was Clive {Barker"s} main objective with the play Day Of The Dog? I have heard mixed reactions about that one. Then again, I have read a collection of his plays, which included Frankenstein In Love and History Of The Devil, and found them both quite entertaining.
DB: Oh,God, that‘s a huge question and unanswerable in the space available here. Clive never has one objective, I don‘t think. He used to talk himself about aiming to throw lots of coloured balls in the air: if the audience caught one he‘s be happy. Also Day Of The Dog is a mime piece, not a play. It grew out of an earlier mime called A Clowns‘ Sodom which was a short comedy based on the Commedia dell‘Arte tradition: Harlequin, Columbine, Pulcinella and the rest. With Day, it had become longer and much darker and in turn grew into the play Dog which mixes elements of lycanthropy into the original story and the co
mmedia elements have been dropped.
A complicated tapestry, you see! Dog was pretty much the first play The Dog Company performed. Frankenstein and The Devil came along a few years later. The latter was always my favourite of Clive‘s plays.
NVF: What"s on the horizon for Doug? Any plans to resurrect Pinhead a 10th or 11th time? DB: You‘re ahead of yourself! I‘ve played him 8 times, unless I made another film in my sleep that nobody told me about. The announcement of the proposed remake means, I think, that the Hellraiser series as it stands is done. No-one‘s said that in so many words, but it stands to reason. And it‘s more than six years now since Hellworld was shot. So my career in pins and latex may well be over, and I‘m cool with that prospect.
Right now? Well, the Clive connection continues: I had a small cameo in The Book Of Blood, which I‘m assuming will be getting released sometime soon. At the beginning of this year I took a lead role in an indie British horror film called Umbrage. And I‘m linked
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with three or four other films which my work with Renegade, the production company I‘m part of, continues. The Spine Chillers series is progressing. The Outsider we did last year and it picked up an award at a small Lovecraft Festival in the States, which was very gratifying. We‘re nearing completion on The Tell-Tale Heart which will be the second of the audio-visual series. Alongside these, we‘ve launched a series of Spine Chillers audiobooks: recordings of classic stories. The first two volumes of these are now available at www.audible.com and www.audible.co.uk. Hard copy CDs will follow soon. And we‘ve recorded enough material now to be looking at Volume 7 and beyond, so busy times right now. News of all this is on my website www.dougbradley.com and news of everything Renegade‘s up to, including upcoming work in comics is at www.renegadeartsentertainment.com.
NVF: Well, Doug, it was a real thrill to have you with us, and you take care. My pleasure, David.
***
Books:
Behind the Mask of the Horror Actor
Films:
Actor: In Production 2000s 1990s 1980s 1970s Andrassy Street 60. (2009) (in production) .... Archbishop Joseph Magyar Tamora Gamble (2009) (in production) .... Vachovia The Lodger (2010) (announced) .... Mr. Johnson The Reverend: Vigilante Vampire (2009) (pre-production) .... Reverend Andrews
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The Beautiful Outsiders (2009) (pre-production) .... Richard Umbrage (2009) (completed) .... Jacob
Ten Dead Men (2008) .... The Narrator ... aka 10 Dead Men (USA: DVD box title) The Cottage (2008) .... Villager with Dog Book of Blood (2008) .... Tollington ... aka Clive Barker's Book of Blood (Philippines: English title) (UK: complete title) Pumpkinhead: Ashes to Ashes (2006) (TV) .... Doc Fraser ... aka Furia monstrului (Romania) Hellraiser: Hellworld (2005) (V) .... Pinhead The Prophecy: Uprising (2005) (V) .... Laurel Hellraiser: Deader (2005) (V) .... Pinhead "No Angels" .... Mr. Asquith (2 episodes, 2005) - Episode #2.8 (2005) TV episode .... Mr. Asquith - Episode #2.6 (2005) TV episode .... Mr. Asquith The Commander: Blackdog (2005) (TV) .... Tim Gad Dominator (2003) (voice) .... Dr. Payne/Lord Desecrator Red Lines (2002) .... Teacher Hellraiser: Hellseeker (2002) (V) (as Doug Bradley/Charles Stead) .... Pinhead / Merchant "Paradise Heights" .... Customs Officer (1 episode, 2002) - Episode #1.3 (2002) TV episode .... Customs Officer "The Armando Iannucci Shows" (1 episode, 2001) - Time Passing (2001) TV episode On Edge (2001/II) .... Dr. Matthews "Judge John Deed" .... Inspector Lannon (1 episode, 2001) - Exacting Justice (2001) TV episode .... Inspector Lannon Hellraiser: Inferno (2000) (V) .... Pinhead
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"Doctors" .... Graham Sharpe (1 episode, 2000) - God's Will (2000) TV episode .... Graham Sharpe
An Ideal Husband (1999) (as Douglas Bradley) .... Brackpool Driven (1998) .... Eric Myers ... aka Written in Blood (UK: TV title) Archangel Thunderbird (1998) (TV) .... Dr. Churchill La lengua asesina (1996) .... Headwig ... aka The Killer Tongue Hellraiser: Bloodline (1996) .... Pinhead ... aka Hellraiser IV: Bloodline (UK: wide-release title) (USA: poster title) Jim's Gift (1996) (TV) .... Mr. Winthrop Proteus (1995) .... Leonard Brinkstone The Big Game (1995) (TV) .... Harry Woolf "Inspector Morse" .... Clergyman Williams (1 episode, 1993) - Twilight of the Gods (1993) TV episode .... Clergyman Williams Shepherd on the Rock (1993) .... James Culzean Hellraiser III: Hell on Earth (1992) .... Pinhead / Captain Elliot Spencer "The Bill" .... Pete Henderson (1 episode, 1990) - Friends and Neighbours (1990) TV episode .... Pete Henderson Nightbreed (1990) .... Dirk Lylesberg ... aka Clive Barker's Nightbreed (UK: complete title) (USA: complete title)
Hellbound: Hellraiser II (1988) .... Pinhead / Captain Elliot Spencer ... aka Hellraiser II
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Hellraiser (1987) .... Lead Cenobite ... aka Clive Barker's Hellraiser (UK: complete title)
The Forbidden (1978) Salome (1973) .... King Herod Make-Up Department: Hellraiser: Bloodline (1996) (makeup artist) (as Bill Bradley) ... aka Hellraiser IV: Bloodline (UK: wide-release title) (USA: poster title) Hellraiser III: Hell on Earth (1992) (makeup artist) (as Bill Bradley) Thanks: Hellraiser: Prophecy (2006) (special thanks) Clive Barker: Raising Hell (2004) (V) (special thanks) Self: 2000s 1990s Tattoos: A Scarred History (2009) Into the Dark: Exploring the Horror Film (2009) .... Himself Conversations with Dead Men (2008) (TV) .... Himself Demons to Others: The Making of 'Hellraiser: Prophecy' (2007) .... Himself ... aka Demons to Others (USA: short title) Under the Skin: Doug Bradley on Hellraiser II - Hellbound (2004) (V) .... Himself Under the Skin: Doug Bradley on Hellraiser III - Hell on Earth (2004) (V) .... Himself Under the Skin: Doug Bradley on Hellraiser (2004) (V) .... Himself
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Super Secret Movie Rules: Slashers (2004) (TV) .... Himself ("Pinhead" - Hellraiser) ... aka SSMR: Slashers (USA: short title) The 100 Greatest Scary Moments (2003) (TV) .... Himself Hellbound: Hellraiser II - Lost in the Labyrinth (2000) (V) .... Himself Hellraiser: Resurrection (2000) (V) .... Himself "Exposure" .... Himself (1 episode, 2000) - Episode #1.10 (2000) TV episode .... Himself
Halloween... The Happy Haunting of America! (1997) .... Himself
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Simon Bamford
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Simon Bamford actor, writer and director graduated from Mountview Theatre School in 1981. He has recently been filming in Edinburgh on Clive Barker's 'Book of Blood' which is due for release in December 2008. Simon plays the Character of Derek in the movie, the film has a UK cast including Sophie Ward, 'Robin Hood's' Jonas Armstrong, and Doug Bradley. As Principal filming has now finished the film is in post production. More details can be found here http://www.clivebarker.info/newsbobjournal.html
His first film appearance was in The Who's Quadrophenia with Sting, Toyah Wilcox, Michael Elphick, Ray Winstone, Leslie Ash, Phil Daniels and Timothy Spall.
He created the role of 'Butterball' in Clive Barkers cult movie 'Hellraiser' and it's sequel 'Hellbound', working with Claire Higgins, Oliver Parker, Doug Bradley.
Simon can also be seen in Boogeymen:The Killer Compilation with 'Texas Chain Saw Massacre's' Gunnar Hansen and 'Nightmare on Elm Street's' Robert Englund.
*** NVF Magazine Interview With
Simon Bamford
Good day to you, Simon. How are we today?
I‘m alright thanks! A little hungry as always, to get the most out of life…food…work…stimulation…sex, all the pleasures.
I hear you have been filming BOOK OF BLOOD in Edinburgh. Now, it is based on Clive"s book{s} of the same title? When ‗The Dog Company‘ (a UK theatre company that produced Clive Barker‘s stage work, with actors such as Hellraiser"s ‗Doug Bradley‘ Movie director ‗Oliver Parker‘ and myself) disbanded in the early 80‘s, Clive negotiated a deal with Sphere books to publish a range of short stories collectively named „Books of Blood" The very first story in the first book deals with a young man called ‗Simon McNeal‘ whose journey creates the flesh for the rest of th
e stories…you‘ll have to read them to find out more…as I can‘t give
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too much away. Other stories in the series have led to the movies ‗ Candyman", „Hellraiser" and the soon to be released and much anticipated „Midnight Meat Train"
The launch party for the original Book of Blood ‗volume one‘ was an exciting time back in 1984 as it was the first glimmer of commercial success for Clive
He later admitted that when writing the central character of Simon McNeal he was thinking of me and signed my first edition copy ―To Simon, the McNeal boy par excellence‖
So here we are 24 years later and the filming of that original story has recently wrapped in Edinburgh and yes I was fortunate enough to be involved. Everyone involved was excited about the rushes and I hope to see some of the footage when I visit Clive in LA next week.
: I remember you, of course, as the Butterball Cenobite in Hellraisers 1 and 2. Were those a lot of fun to make? What"s it like working with Clive Barker?
It‘s rare to meet someone with such an inspirational intellect.
As Clive is also a writer he has a wonderful talent for soaking up any details, events and minutia from everything he comes in contact with be it, locations, music, experiences or people, which gives him a very genuine and warm interest in everybody he meets.
The original Hellraiser film came out of the blue for me. A chance phone call to Clive resulted in an offer for the part of the ‗Fat Cenobite‘ as it was originally named. Clive was keen to let me know that there may be a little makeup involved. We filmed in ‗Cricklewood production village" and Clive was key to every stage of development, encouraging all departments‘ to raise their game by emerging themselves in this new, dark, disturbing world. The results surprised everyone, including the American producers who on seeing early rushes, asked Clive to tweak the ending so that they could set up a sequel. The initial budget was very low which makes the finished product even more impressive. To be honest I was not really aware of much that was happening during filming, as the make up was it‘s own Hell. With my eyes and ears completely covered, and false dentures glued onto my own teeth, I was immersed in sensory deprivation for 12 hours a day, never seeing