Hellraiser fans got lucky this Halloween season thanks to some remarkable art.
Concept artist Franck Besançon used each day in October to design a new Cenobite — the terrifying extra-dimensional beings populating Clive Barker’s horror franchise. Though they’re not canon to the original cast of Cenobites — which includes classic characters like Pinhead and Open/Deep Throat — Besançon’s new creations could fit right in.
These New Cenobites Are the Stuff of Nightmares
Rendered in a slippery, Barker-esque art style, Besançon’s creatures include additions such as The Hierophant, who has a bell lodged in his chest, Drummer, who beats his own face, and The Dancer, whose multiple pale arms wield needles. Besançon, whose work was used for Silent Hill: Townfall, tweeted about his progress throughout the project. “Maybe it’s not the most ‘cenobite’ one, but I liked the idea of one punching himself in a full masochistic way,” he said about Drummer on Twitter.
Other new beings include Gap, a Cenobite with a split face, Discord, who has multiple gruesome faces, and Solar, whose flayed flesh mimics the shape of a sun. Along with the finished products, Besançon posted 3D renderings of each character, giving fans the chance to see his art from all angles.
Followers even responded to Besançon’s designs with their own fan art, sharing drawings of his Cenobites. “To see other artists adapting my cenobites, this is just so amazing! It makes me so happy and proud to see that, look how cool it is,” he said. Perhaps the most exciting engagement with his content, however, was the attention of actor Barbie Wilde — best known for playing the female Cenobite in 1988’s Hellbound: Hellraiser 2. “If someone takes the time to talk about my work, it makes me happy, and it’s the least I can do to say thanks. And Barbie Wilde, she’s not anyone, it’s a real honour for me,” he tweeted.
Besançon isn’t the only one working on new Cenobite looks. Hellraiser’s revival on Hulu has drawn renewed attention to the franchise, including refreshed designs for the main group of Cenobites. Pinhead, originally played by actor Doug Bradley, is now being portrayed by Sense8’s Jamie Clayton. Her fresh take on the character has been celebrated by many — including Bradley himself. “I’m a bit blown away by this! The clever re-design of the make-up; the shimmer of the “pin heads”; the palette; whatever that keyhole/locket/tracheotomy thing is at the throat,” Bradley tweeted. “It’s simple, subtle, disturbing and sexy. Everything it should be.”
Hellraiser is now streaming on Hulu.
Source: Twitter
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