by Marshall Watson
“Your suffering will be legendary – even in hell...No tears please, it’s a waste of good suffering.”
If those chilling words don’t give you enough of a hint to guess? This review is just what the Rx prescribed. Join me today as we take a closer look at the NECA 18” motion-activated Pinhead. It is an articulated vinyl figure from the classic horror series Hellraiser -- all in the spirit of Halloween of course.
Pinhead who serves as the main antagonist and leader of the Cenobites, wasn’t always this alter ego. Born Elliott Spenser in the early 1900’s during a time of war, where if you didn’t die you wished you had. Spenser, an explorer of all the forbidden pleasures, opens “the box” that ends all his exploration and discovery. Hell had taken hold, some would say, and so began the transformation into the evil and sadistic yet articulate alter ego of Pinhead. Stripping him of his memory from his former life, he was given the job to take the souls of all those that solved “the box”. With Female, Butterball and Chatterer by his side to ensure his success the foursome became The Cenobites, creatures which were once human and travelled to earth to collect the souls of the living. After coming into the battle for the licensing rights close to the end of negotiations (snatching them from the numerous other companies), NECA (National Entertainment Collectables Association) released this particular figure as the first of series one (three series in total) followed up by his sidekicks and fellow Cenobites.
This incredibly detailed and life-like figure, in all its 18 inches of glory, truly captures Pinhead right down to the finest of details including some of his common catch phrases like “We have such sights to show you” and “We’ll tear your soul apart”. While motion activated an on/off switch silences the crisp, creepy, yet loud and intriguing voice of his truly. The well placed speaker in his back ensures that when Pinhead is standing in your chosen place of pride amid your collection the sound echoes throughout the room, adding to the ever chilling effects that dominate this figure.
Along with his spine-chilling sound effects Pinhead has loads of articulation making it easy to move his head, shoulders, upper forearms, wrists and waist giving you the freedom to position him to your perfect stance. His various “tools of the trade” hang proudly around his waist and can be easily swapped to be held in his left hand, giving you the ability to change his look when you feel the need. With realistic looks, right down to the blood splatter, it is sure to make admirers take a second look.
Lemarchand’s Box is a fictional piece also known as a lock puzzle (or puzzle box) appeared in the Hellraiser film series. This particular version is known as Lament Configuration and is a mystical & mechanical device that acts as a door or key to another dimension/plane of existence and once solved to which you would find Pinhead's world. This extremely designed key addition to the figure gives you the sense of reality that the designer Kyle “Tankman” Windrix was aiming to achieve when sculpting NECA’s Pinhead. The fact that you can choose if the box is present in Pinhead’s right hand also gives another personalised touch to your figure and the ability to truly enjoy its design up close and in fine detail.
Overall the Pinhead design and true to life or rather to character are second to none. With his pale skin colour and the fine detailing of his head and hands, the addition of the blood stained fingertips and blood splattered tools to exact replications of the film characters' attire, this figure is a must-have for any horror fan and collector. The flexible, yet strong rubber-like vinyl adds the extra realism and texture when handling the figure which offers a somewhat realistic feeling of skin, weighing in at only 1.6kg this figure is sure to please even those that are truly sceptical. The only let down of this figure is its base, opting for a solid moulded plastic piece with the soles of the shoes set in the place where his legs would be. This option was most likely chosen for stability and a space to hide the electrical components and is a very minor setback in the overall quality and final satisfaction this figure delivers.
Sadly or not, this particular release of the figure is being discontinued, and is becoming a collectors item. However, like other collectibles, it comes up for sale often enough in online auction sites like eBay ranging from $100 to $250 (buy it now prices) with some listed at a starting price as low as $30 - leaving the opportunity open to pick up a bargain occasionally.
If you now have the desire to own a NECA Pinhead best go hunt yourself one down before he’s hunting you. So until next time “It is not, HANDS that call us, it is: desire!”
HELLRAISER/PINHEAD STUFF: Toy Wars (Clive Barker's "Beatiary" variant, ReAction figure)
Thanks to Cat V. Hahn (photos)