536 : More Pinheads than You Can Shake a Stick At (Hellraiser News + Pinhead Portrait Discussion
In Episode 536, Jose and Ryan go over some Hellraiser and Barker release-related news. Then we are joined by Markus Williams and Don Bertram to compare and discuss Pinhead Potraits by Clive Barker over the years. This is the Clive Barker Podcast, where long-time fans Ryan and Jose interview guests, bring you the news, and take deep dives into Barker-related stuff. This episode will be available in Podcast Audio and Youtube Video. Sponsor : Don Bertram's Celebrate Imagination | Pinterest | ETSY Store Check out his recent painting, Contemplation, Untitled (Bunny) and Flamingo Sponsor : Ed Martinez YouTube Channel Sponsor : The Now Playing Podcast From The Reef From the Orlando Informer: Hellraiser Food Truck at the Halloween Horror Nights Video of Pinhead from Halloween Horror Nights Hellraiser Resurrections - The Deep Gospel #1 Cover Hellbound Fright Rags Shirt Hellraiser Revival Gameplay Arrow Video Teases Underworld with original Trailer Clive Barker and Joyce Carol Oates Win World Fantasy Life Achievement Award Duiscussion : Unproduced Hellraiser V Hellraiser V: The Hellseeker Discussion: Pinhead Portraits (With Markus and Don) Cenobite 4 Live Painting Pinhead 5 Pinhead 1997 Shaman Pinhead 1997 V for Vice Versa Thief of Always Wall of Masks Checkerboard Pinhead Dark Worlds Cover Pinhead Cenobite 5 Pinhead Death Machine Markus' Photo Pinhead Oil Show Notes Our Transmutations Commentary Episode with Parody Cover Cris Velasco: Our 2016 Interview Cris Velasco Art Tour Cue and A Podcast Illusion Suite on Ebay Coming Next Book Club of Blood : Revelations Clive's Contemporaries 1987 – Angel Heart Clive's Contemporaries 1988 – Please Vote More News and Interviews Patreon Members Shout-Out (Become a Patron) David Anderson Erik Van T' Holt Daniel Elven Amanda Stewart Bradley Gartz Markus David Blair Matthew Batten Bennett Jesse Timothy Ramakers Terry Murdock John-John Ichtyandros (new) Sponsor: Don Bertram's Celebrate Imagination Sponsor : The Now Playing Podcast Sponsor: Ed Martinez YouTube Channel Renewed And this podcast, having no beginning will have no end. web www.clivebarkercast.com Apple Podcasts, Android, Amazon Music, Spotify, Pandora, Libsyn, Tunein, iHeart Radio, Pocket Casts, Radio.com, and YouTube and Facebook: | BarkerCast Listeners Group | Occupy Midian BlueSky | Reddit | Discord Community Support the show Buy Our Book: The BarkerCast Interviews Occupy Midian Hardcover | Paperback | Kindle | Apple Become a Patreon Patron | Buy a T-Shirt Music is by Ray Norrish All Links and show notes in their Entirety can be found at https://www.clivebarkercast.com AI Overview Ryan and Jose recorded episode 536 of the Clive Barker Podcast, focusing on Hellraiser news and related updates. They discussed the Hellraiser-themed Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios, including the Pinhead actor, the Hellraiser food truck, and merchandise. They covered the upcoming Hellraiser Resurrections comic one-shots from Boom Studios and a new Fright Rags Hellraiser 2 t-shirt. They mentioned gameplay footage for the Hellraiser Revival video game and expressed some concerns about its mechanics. They reviewed Arrow's upcoming 4K/Blu-ray release of Underworld/Transmutations, comparing its features to the existing Kino Lorber edition. They noted that Clive Barker and Joyce Carol Oates were announced as recipients of the 2026 World Fantasy Life Achievement Award. They also discussed an unused script for Hellraiser 5 (The Hellseeker) by Michael Lent, found through archive research, and compared it to the eventual Hellseeker film. They briefly touched on listener polls for Clive's Contemporaries, Patreon supporters, and other projects like Turbine's Hellraiser releases. Hellraiser Food Truck Planning Ryan and Jose discussed the Hellraiser-themed food truck and haunted attraction at Halloween Horror Nights in Orlando Universal Studios. They examined photos and videos of the Hellraiser setup, including the box design and costume details, and discussed which elements from Hellraiser films 1, 2, and 3 might be featured in the attraction. The conversation was interrupted by technical difficulties and scheduling conflicts, so they agreed to resume the discussion later. Universal Studios Horror Nights Planning Jose and Ryan discussed Universal Studios Halloween Horror Nights, focusing on the new Pinhead attraction. Jose shared that scare actors typically earn between $15 and $28 per hour and mentioned key creative team members involved in the haunted house, including John Murdy and Lojo Russo. They noted that the attraction would feature elements from Hellraiser 1, 2, and 3, opening on August 28 in Orlando and September 3 in Hollywood, and requested feedback from anyone attending the event. Hellraiser Content Planning Discussion Ryan and Jose discussed various Hellraiser-related content, including different covers for Deep Gospel and upcoming one-shot comics featuring characters like the female Cenobite and Butterball. They reviewed a new Fright Rags t-shirt design for Hellraiser and Hellbound Hellraiser 2, and briefly discussed gameplay footage for the Hellraiser Revival game, which Ryan preferred not to watch to avoid spoilers. They also touched on Arrow's upcoming release of Underworld/Transmutations on September 6, 2026, and concluded that Ryan was satisfied with his current Ultra HD copy of the film. 4K Blu-ray Release Discussion Jose and Ryan discussed a new 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Limited Edition release of a film featuring Clive Barker's work. The release includes two discs, with the first being 4K Ultra HD and the second being a 1080p version of "Transmutations" instead of "Underworld." Ryan noted that while the 4K disc is region-free, the second disc is region B, which may limit access for some viewers. The release is available for pre-order in the UK for £25 with a retail price of £29.99 and a release date of September 6, 2026. 2026 World Fantasy Awards Announcement Ryan announced that Clive Barker and Joyce Carol Oates will receive the 2026 World Fantasy Awards for Lifetime Achievement, to be presented at a ceremony in Oakland, California from October 22-25. The discussion included recognition of Joyce Carol Oates' notable works and debate about the timing of the award, with Jose noting the benefit of receiving recognition while still alive. Jose also mentioned that Boom Studios plans to release five Hellraiser one-shot comics as a prelude to a new ongoing series by the end of 2027. Hellraiser Content Discussion Jose and Ryan discussed the growing popularity of Hellraiser content among people with limited knowledge of the franchise, comparing it to Scream and expressing frustration with misinformed comparisons. They mentioned upcoming Hellraiser merchandise at Universal Studios, including acrylic standees, mugs, and glasses. Jose recommended exploring the original novella "The Hellbound Heart" and suggested stopping at Hellraiser 4 for movie viewing, while also recommending the 2022 remake. Hellraiser Script Discussion Ryan and Jose discussed a Hellraiser script that was intended to be Hellraiser 5 but was ultimately not picked up. The script, written by Michael Lent, follows a character with amnesia who discovers he was a criminal while being pursued by Cenobites. While the script contains some interesting elements like the character healing from severe burns and the Cenobites being 7 feet tall, Jose and Ryan both found the concept of a computer game called "**** World" to be problematic and unrealistic. The Clive Barker Podcast team, including Ryan, Jose, Don, and guest Marcus, held a discussion focused on various artistic depictions of Pinhead, the iconic character from the Hellraiser series. They examined and compared multiple portraits of Pinhead created by Clive Barker, ranging from early pitch package sketches to later oil paintings and sketches. The conversation covered the evolution of Pinhead's design, different artistic techniques used by Barker, and the significance of the character in Barker's oeuvre. The group also shared personal anecdotes about visiting Barker's studio and handling original manuscripts and artwork. They touched on related topics such as the Hellraiser franchise's enduring popularity, recent merchandise, and potential future projects. The session was informal and celebratory, with participants expressing their appreciation for Barker's art and each other's insights. Clive Barker Art Comparison Discussion The group discussed comparing different versions of Pinhead art by Clive Barker as part of a podcast segment from their recent Kickstarter campaign. Don Bertram and Marcus Williams joined Ryan and Jose to examine various artwork, with Don sharing his personal experience promoting Barker's art at movie theaters using a one-sheet from the Illusion Suite. The conversation included discussion about an eBay listing for the Clive Barker Illusion Suite portfolio, which Don noted was not selling well due to its limited market awareness and the fact that it's only signed on the header page. Pinhead Character Design Evolution The group discussed early artwork and designs for Pinhead from Hellraiser, including a sumi ink drawing from 1986 that was part of a pitch package for New World executives. They examined how the character design evolved from the original novella, noting differences in details like jeweled pins versus nails and the androgynous voice description. The discussion highlighted how Clive Barker's initial concepts were adapted for the film, with Ryan and Don providing insights about the differences between the written description and the final cinematic portrayal. Pinhead Artwork Discussion Review The group discussed various drawings and artwork related to Pinhead and Clive Barker's work. They examined a pencil drawing from 2005 for Nika toys that was later used for a Cenobite diorama and silicone mask. The discussion included details about a hook feature in the artwork that connects to Pinhead's scalp, which Markus confirmed was present in both the drawing and the movie. The participants also reviewed a colorful oil painting done live at Tower Records in 2005, with Don expressing particular appreciation for the red color elements and the desolate landscape background. The conversation concluded with reflections on Clive Barker's reluctance to do live painting demonstrations, as he mentioned to Don that he tends to "show off" rather than focus on the work. Clive Barker Pinhead Art Discussion The group discussed various Clive Barker artwork, focusing on sketches and drawings of Pinhead. Marcus shared several pieces he had found, including black and white sketches with shamanistic elements and silver Sharpie details representing mercury flowing through the character's face. The discussion covered different artistic styles and techniques, with particular attention to Barker's use of negative space in the "V for Vice Versa" piece from his A through Z of Horror book. The conversation also touched on how Barker's Pinhead design has become his most iconic creation, comparing it to Frankenstein in literature. Clive Barker's Pinhead Painting Discussion The group discussed Clive Barker's art, particularly focusing on a large impasto oil painting of Pinhead that Don had seen at a gallery. They examined details of the painting including its thick texture, color choices, and the presence of faces and skulls in the design. The conversation also touched on Chris Valesco, who purchased the painting in 2013 and has worked on soundtracks for games like Overwatch and Mass Effect, though not the new Hellraiser game. The discussion concluded with plans to potentially interview Chris Valesco in the future and to include links to his art collection videos in the show notes.
