Chatterer
Encyclopedia
Chatterer is a fictional antagonistic character appearing in the Hellraiser
film series and the only Cenobite besides the group's leader, Pinhead
to appear in more than two Hellraiser films. He is a Cenobite
, an order of extradimensional sadomasochists who experiment in an extreme form of hedonism
. His name comes from the constant clicking of his teeth, his only means of communication.
s dedicated to exploring the limits of human sensation; these "explorations" take the form of extreme sadomasochism, to the point that it is considered torture by most of those whom they encounter. He lives with his fellow Cenobites in an extradimensional realm called Hell, a gigantic labyrinth accessible only via a puzzle box called The Lament Configuration, which opens a dimensional fissure. While those who possess unique qualities conducive to the Cenobite agenda are transformed into Cenobites upon opening the box, others are subjected to the Cenobites' "experiments." Like his fellow Cenobites, Chatterer has lost all memory of his life as a human before he became a Cenobite; Hellraiser: Hellbound indicates that Chatterer opened the box while still a young boy. No further information has been given on his life before he became a Cenobite, although various non-canonical sources have offered speculation, including ad copy for Chatterer action figures and a short story written by actor Nicholas Vance, who played Chatterer in the first two Hellraiser films.
Like his fellow Cenobites, Chatterer's body has been subjected to an extreme form of body modification
and ritual scarification
; in Chatterer's case, his face has been peeled back to permanently expose his teeth, which he can only click together as a means of communication. He is a member of the entourage of lead Cenobite Pinhead
, accompanying him whenever he is summoned via the box and acting as the group's enforcer, physically attacking and restraining potential victims.
Along with the other Cenobites, Chatterer takes antagonist Frank Cotton back to the Cenobite realm after Cotton opens the Lament Configuration, expecting to find a hedonistic paradise that will cure his sensual
nihilism
. Despite being warned that what he finds may not be what he is expecting, Frank willingly goes along with the Cenobites, only to find that-- past an initial euphoria-- the experiences to which the Cenobites subject him are so intense as to be torturous. Chatterer is later part of the Cenobite contingent that makes a deal with Frank's brother's friend, Kirsty, to return Frank to them in exchange for her own freedom, after she unwittingly makes a deal to return to the Cenobite realm by opening the box.
Chatterer would reappear in the film adaptation of The Hellbound Heart, Hellraiser, in which he was given a name in the film's closing credits. Unlike in the novella, this Chatterer is completely mute, only capable of communicating by clicking his teeth together.
In Hellbound, Chatterer is renamed "Chatterer II" following aesthetic modifications to the mutilations on his face. After Kirsty Cotton reminds Pinhead of his own former humanity, the revelation causes his fellow Cenobites to remember their own former lives and they turn against the newly created Cenobite, Channard, in order to protect Kirsty. Chatterer, along with the rest of the Cenobites, are killed by Channard following a short fight; like the other Cenobites, Chatterer reverts to a non-mutilated human form after he dies.
Unlike the other members of Pinhead's entourage from the first two Hellraiser films, Chatterer has made appearances in later entries in the series. The mechanism of his revival has never been explained. He is the only consistent member of Pinhead's entourage in Hellraiser: Inferno
(in which he lacks legs and is called "Torso"), Hellraiser: Hellseeker
, Hellraiser: Deader
, and Hellraiser: Hellworld
.
The only films in which he does not appear are Hellraiser: Hell on Earth, and Hellraiser: Bloodline
, the latter of which features a dog-like creature with Chatterer's head called "The Chatter Beast." The latest entry in the series, Hellraiser: Revelations
features a cenobite identical to Chatterer except that it has a pair of visible breasts; this Cenobite has been alternately identified as both "Chatterer" and "Female Cenobite."
Chatterer has most recently appeared in Clive Barker's Hellraiser comic book series for BOOM! comics, where he is identified as Pinhead's page
. Midway through the series, Pinhead betrays him (along with the rest of his fellow Cenobites) to Kirsty Cotton as part of a plan to retake his own former humanity. After "pleading" with Pinhead (in the form of clicking his teeth), Chatterer is torn apart by a series of hooked chains.
in Hellraiser
and Hellbound: Hellraiser II
.
The role of the Chatter Beast in Hellraiser: Bloodline
was played by Jodie St. Michael.
Torso from Hellraiser: Inferno
and Chatterer III from Hellraiser: Hellseeker
, Hellraiser: Deader
and Hellraiser: Hellworld
were all performed by Mike Jay Regan.
The female Chatterer that appeared in Hellraiser: Revelations
was portrayed by Jolene Andersen.
Hellraiser
Hellraiser is a 1987 British and American horror film based upon the novella The Hellbound Heart by Clive Barker, who also wrote the screenplay and directed the film. Hellraiser explores themes of sadomasochism and morality under duress and fear. The film spawned a series of sequels...
film series and the only Cenobite besides the group's leader, Pinhead
Pinhead (Hellraiser)
Pinhead is a fictional character from the Hellraiser series. Created by Clive Barker and portrayed by Doug Bradley, Pinhead is a prominent figure in the series, mostly featured as the main antagonist....
to appear in more than two Hellraiser films. He is a Cenobite
Cenobite (Hellraiser)
The Cenobites are extradimensional beings who appear in the works of Clive Barker, including the novella The Hellbound Heart and the nine Hellraiser films...
, an order of extradimensional sadomasochists who experiment in an extreme form of hedonism
Hedonism
Hedonism is a school of thought which argues that pleasure is the only intrinsic good. In very simple terms, a hedonist strives to maximize net pleasure .-Etymology:The name derives from the Greek word for "delight" ....
. His name comes from the constant clicking of his teeth, his only means of communication.
Character
Chatterer is a member of the Cenobites, formerly-human monsterMonster
A monster is any fictional creature, usually found in legends or horror fiction, that is somewhat hideous and may produce physical harm or mental fear by either its appearance or its actions...
s dedicated to exploring the limits of human sensation; these "explorations" take the form of extreme sadomasochism, to the point that it is considered torture by most of those whom they encounter. He lives with his fellow Cenobites in an extradimensional realm called Hell, a gigantic labyrinth accessible only via a puzzle box called The Lament Configuration, which opens a dimensional fissure. While those who possess unique qualities conducive to the Cenobite agenda are transformed into Cenobites upon opening the box, others are subjected to the Cenobites' "experiments." Like his fellow Cenobites, Chatterer has lost all memory of his life as a human before he became a Cenobite; Hellraiser: Hellbound indicates that Chatterer opened the box while still a young boy. No further information has been given on his life before he became a Cenobite, although various non-canonical sources have offered speculation, including ad copy for Chatterer action figures and a short story written by actor Nicholas Vance, who played Chatterer in the first two Hellraiser films.
Like his fellow Cenobites, Chatterer's body has been subjected to an extreme form of body modification
Body modification
Body modification is the deliberate altering of the human body for any non-medical reason, such as aesthetics, sexual enhancement, a rite of passage, religious reasons, to display group membership or affiliation, to create body art, shock value, or self expression...
and ritual scarification
Scarification
Scarifying involves scratching, etching, burning, or superficially cutting designs, pictures, or words into the skin as a permanent body modification.In the process of body scarification, scars are formed by cutting or branding the skin...
; in Chatterer's case, his face has been peeled back to permanently expose his teeth, which he can only click together as a means of communication. He is a member of the entourage of lead Cenobite Pinhead
Pinhead
A pinhead is the head of a pin.Pinhead may also refer to:* A telemark skier* A juvenile cricket* Pinhead; A very dull or stupid person according to the Merriam Webster Online Dictionary...
, accompanying him whenever he is summoned via the box and acting as the group's enforcer, physically attacking and restraining potential victims.
Appearances
Chatterer is first introduced in the novella The Hellbound Heart. Like the other Cenobites, he is identified only by the order in which he appeared to Frank Cotton, as "the third":Along with the other Cenobites, Chatterer takes antagonist Frank Cotton back to the Cenobite realm after Cotton opens the Lament Configuration, expecting to find a hedonistic paradise that will cure his sensual
Sensation
Sensation is the fiction-writing mode for portraying a character's perception of the senses. According to Ron Rozelle, “. . .the success of your story or novel will depend on many things, but the most crucial is your ability to bring your reader into it. And that reader will be most completely...
nihilism
Nihilism
Nihilism is the philosophical doctrine suggesting the negation of one or more putatively meaningful aspects of life. Most commonly, nihilism is presented in the form of existential nihilism which argues that life is without objective meaning, purpose, or intrinsic value...
. Despite being warned that what he finds may not be what he is expecting, Frank willingly goes along with the Cenobites, only to find that-- past an initial euphoria-- the experiences to which the Cenobites subject him are so intense as to be torturous. Chatterer is later part of the Cenobite contingent that makes a deal with Frank's brother's friend, Kirsty, to return Frank to them in exchange for her own freedom, after she unwittingly makes a deal to return to the Cenobite realm by opening the box.
Chatterer would reappear in the film adaptation of The Hellbound Heart, Hellraiser, in which he was given a name in the film's closing credits. Unlike in the novella, this Chatterer is completely mute, only capable of communicating by clicking his teeth together.
In Hellbound, Chatterer is renamed "Chatterer II" following aesthetic modifications to the mutilations on his face. After Kirsty Cotton reminds Pinhead of his own former humanity, the revelation causes his fellow Cenobites to remember their own former lives and they turn against the newly created Cenobite, Channard, in order to protect Kirsty. Chatterer, along with the rest of the Cenobites, are killed by Channard following a short fight; like the other Cenobites, Chatterer reverts to a non-mutilated human form after he dies.
Unlike the other members of Pinhead's entourage from the first two Hellraiser films, Chatterer has made appearances in later entries in the series. The mechanism of his revival has never been explained. He is the only consistent member of Pinhead's entourage in Hellraiser: Inferno
Hellraiser: Inferno
Hellraiser: Inferno is the fifth installment in the Hellraiser series and the first Hellraiser film to go straight-to-DVD. It was directed by Scott Derrickson and released on October 3, 2000....
(in which he lacks legs and is called "Torso"), Hellraiser: Hellseeker
Hellraiser: Hellseeker
Hellraiser: Hellseeker is a 2002 horror film, directed by Rick Bota. It is the sixth film in the Hellraiser series. It also features the return of Kirsty Cotton, the heroine from Hellraiser and Hellbound: Hellraiser II...
, Hellraiser: Deader
Hellraiser: Deader
Hellraiser: Deader is a 2005 American horror film directed by Rick Bota. It is the seventh installment in the Hellraiser series. Like the previous two entries in the series, Hellraiser: Inferno and Hellraiser: Hellseeker it began as an unrelated horror spec script owned by Dimension, which was...
, and Hellraiser: Hellworld
Hellraiser: Hellworld
Hellraiser: Hellworld, is a 2005 horror movie directed by Rick Bota, based on a short story called "Dark Can't Breathe" by Joel Soisson. Released straight to DVD on September 6, 2005, it is the eighth film in the Hellraiser series and the last to feature Doug Bradley as Pinhead.-Plot:The film...
.
The only films in which he does not appear are Hellraiser: Hell on Earth, and Hellraiser: Bloodline
Hellraiser: Bloodline
Hellraiser IV: Bloodline is a 1996 horror film and the fourth installment in the Hellraiser series, which serves as both a prequel and a sequel...
, the latter of which features a dog-like creature with Chatterer's head called "The Chatter Beast." The latest entry in the series, Hellraiser: Revelations
Hellraiser: Revelations
Hellraiser: Revelations is a horror film written by Gary Tunnicliffe and directed by Víctor García. It is the ninth film in the Hellraiser film series, and the first entry in the series since Hellraiser: Bloodline to be based on an original script, instead of incorporating series antagonist Pinhead...
features a cenobite identical to Chatterer except that it has a pair of visible breasts; this Cenobite has been alternately identified as both "Chatterer" and "Female Cenobite."
Chatterer has most recently appeared in Clive Barker's Hellraiser comic book series for BOOM! comics, where he is identified as Pinhead's page
Page (servant)
A page or page boy is a traditionally young male servant, a messenger at the service of a nobleman or royal.-The medieval page:In medieval times, a page was an attendant to a knight; an apprentice squire...
. Midway through the series, Pinhead betrays him (along with the rest of his fellow Cenobites) to Kirsty Cotton as part of a plan to retake his own former humanity. After "pleading" with Pinhead (in the form of clicking his teeth), Chatterer is torn apart by a series of hooked chains.
Portrayals
Chatterer was played by Nicholas VinceNicholas Vince
Nicholas Vince was born in West Germany in 1958 and lives in South London. Whilst he was at Mountview Theatre Academy, he met Clive Barker and was later cast as The Chatterer Cenobite in Hellraiser in 1987 and in its sequel Hellbound: Hellraiser II in 1988. He also played the Chatterer II. Vince...
in Hellraiser
Hellraiser
Hellraiser is a 1987 British and American horror film based upon the novella The Hellbound Heart by Clive Barker, who also wrote the screenplay and directed the film. Hellraiser explores themes of sadomasochism and morality under duress and fear. The film spawned a series of sequels...
and Hellbound: Hellraiser II
Hellbound: Hellraiser II
Hellbound: Hellraiser II is a 1988 horror film directed by Tony Randel. It draws heavily upon, and was made by much of the same cast and crew as its precursor, Hellraiser.-Summary:...
.
The role of the Chatter Beast in Hellraiser: Bloodline
Hellraiser: Bloodline
Hellraiser IV: Bloodline is a 1996 horror film and the fourth installment in the Hellraiser series, which serves as both a prequel and a sequel...
was played by Jodie St. Michael.
Torso from Hellraiser: Inferno
Hellraiser: Inferno
Hellraiser: Inferno is the fifth installment in the Hellraiser series and the first Hellraiser film to go straight-to-DVD. It was directed by Scott Derrickson and released on October 3, 2000....
and Chatterer III from Hellraiser: Hellseeker
Hellraiser: Hellseeker
Hellraiser: Hellseeker is a 2002 horror film, directed by Rick Bota. It is the sixth film in the Hellraiser series. It also features the return of Kirsty Cotton, the heroine from Hellraiser and Hellbound: Hellraiser II...
, Hellraiser: Deader
Hellraiser: Deader
Hellraiser: Deader is a 2005 American horror film directed by Rick Bota. It is the seventh installment in the Hellraiser series. Like the previous two entries in the series, Hellraiser: Inferno and Hellraiser: Hellseeker it began as an unrelated horror spec script owned by Dimension, which was...
and Hellraiser: Hellworld
Hellraiser: Hellworld
Hellraiser: Hellworld, is a 2005 horror movie directed by Rick Bota, based on a short story called "Dark Can't Breathe" by Joel Soisson. Released straight to DVD on September 6, 2005, it is the eighth film in the Hellraiser series and the last to feature Doug Bradley as Pinhead.-Plot:The film...
were all performed by Mike Jay Regan.
The female Chatterer that appeared in Hellraiser: Revelations
Hellraiser: Revelations
Hellraiser: Revelations is a horror film written by Gary Tunnicliffe and directed by Víctor García. It is the ninth film in the Hellraiser film series, and the first entry in the series since Hellraiser: Bloodline to be based on an original script, instead of incorporating series antagonist Pinhead...
was portrayed by Jolene Andersen.