Editorials
Doug Bradley On Why the Infamous ‘Hellraiser II’ Surgeon Scene Didn’t Work
Ever since stills of the deleted scene were published, Hellraiser fans have wondered what went so wrong with the “surgeon scene” that it had to be cut from Hellbound: Hellraiser II. Not only cut, but not even included in unrated editions of the film and DVDs, until Arrow’s Scarlet Box Trilogy Set. At this past weekend’s Screamfest Q&A for film’s 30th anniversary, Doug Bradley explained why the scene never worked.
For those who couldn’t swing the Arrow set, Bradley recapped the scene.
“Kirsty and Tiffany are running around the corridors in the Channard Institute,” Bradley said. “Two gowned and masked figures emerge from the room. One of them says words to the effect of, ‘What are you girls doing here. You know you’re not allowed in this part of the hospital.’ As he speaks, the mask fills with blood and nails emerge.”
It was only two lines of script, but it did give Bradley pause contemplating how they’d pull it off with 1988 special effects.
“I do remember when I read the screenplay wondering how this mask was going to work,” Bradley said. “Obviously, it either had to be another actor or it had to be a mask that covered all of Pinhead’s face because Kirsty was pretty savvy about Pinhead by this time, and doesn’t recognize him. I put that question in the back of my head. Then, of course, we’re on set and we had masks here, which made it appear it was happening.”
Two lines end up being the most complicated shot in the film.
“I did remember thinking, because of course it takes that much time but there’s a lot of shots and setups within those two lines in the screenplay,” Bradley said. “10 pages of dialogue sitting at the kitchen table between two actors, you’ll get in one shot but that kind of stuff is going to take you a long time.”
Joining the Q&A with Bradley, director Tony Randel took full responsibility for the scenes’ failure.
“It was terrible and it was my fault,” Randel admitted.
“So in editing, I cut it out. That’s the simple answer. There are stills that survive from it but hopefully, no one ever sees it because the director screwed it up.”
Told by Bradley that the footage has surfaced, Randal said, “Oh no.”
Editorials
‘The Vampire Lestat’ Concert Event Launches New Season With The Ultimate Expression Of Fandom
There are thousands of passionate fans decked out in gothic chic and champing at the bit like feral creatures. They’re screaming for Lestat, a legendary vampire-turned-rock star, as if the entire crowd has been glamored into submission.
The entire experience is magic, but not because some supernatural thrall has been activated. What’s going on is even more special. It’s the power of the effusive fandom that’s been authentically assembled by AMC’s sublime Immortal Universe, namely Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire, now, The Vampire Lestat.
The Vampire Lestat is far from the first Anne Rice adaptation, and it’s not as if there’s been a lack of erotic vampire material for audiences to sink their teeth into. On June 2nd, during a one-night-only spectacle, New York City’s prestigious Beacon Theatre shook from Sam Reid’s bravado performance and an audience full of adoring fans who had already memorized Lestat’s songs.
It’s clear that The Vampire Lestat just hits differently than its predecessors. It’s become more than just a TV series at this point, and this opulent display of ego, swagger, and pure sex is the perfect way to premiere the new season and give back to the fans who helped make Interview with the Vampire/The Vampire Lestat such a breakout success. It’s exactly the sort of hyperbolized hedonism that would make Lestat cackle.
For all intents and purposes, AMC has successfully created the illusion that this concert/premiere is just one of the many destinations on Lestat and his band’s 54-stop tour that is simultaneously playing out on this season of television. It’s such a sophisticated and thorough level of interactive fan engagement that the audience doesn’t just understand, but also manages to accentuate through its involvement.
It’s a level of seamless synergy that’s not unlike the give-and-take relationship of vampire and victim.
Before the concert started, “LeStans” were sitting in the Beacon and flipping through a fake Rolling Stone issue with Lestat emblazoned on the cover, complete with interviews with the undead frontman inside. Other fans were admiring the vinyl pressing of Lestat’s EP as they walked past a section of undead band merch. Fandom and fantasy blur together, and it all becomes this elaborate, immersive experience. Fan celebration, erotic gothic fantasy, and a lavish rock concert transform into one beautiful thing.
To this point, AMC Global Media’s Chief Content Officer and President of AMC Studios, Dan McDermott, introduced the event by reiterating to fans, “You are the heartbeat of the series.” That’s abundantly clear on nights like this as that heartbeat collectively pulses to this performance. In terms of how AMC engages with The Vampire Lestat’s fans, it’s as bold a reinvention as the season itself.
This intuitive gamble speaks to AMC’s creativity in this department and a fandom that is eager to seize such opportunities. It’s the same innovation that led to zombie walks for The Walking Dead and real-life Los Pollos Hermanos restaurant pop-ups from Breaking Bad. It’s a great way to pump up the audience for The Vampire Lestat and then maintain that enthusiasm for the whole season.
For most series, a rock ‘n’ roll concert just doesn’t make any sense as a promotional tool. The Vampire Lestat finds itself in a very unique position where it can deliver an excellent concert at an iconic theater, but also use it to showcase The Vampire Lestat’s music by Daniel Hart (who was shredding on stage alongside Reid and the rest of their band) and, more than anything, Sam Reid’s endless charisma.
The way in which Reid feeds off of the crowd’s energy, modulating his performance and giving different sections of the Beacon life, is a perfect distillation of the series’ thoughtful relationship with its audience and how it’s become such a breakout success for AMC. AMC Studios President Dan McDermott emphasized that the fans are the reason that the show is still here and why an event like this is even possible. It’s rare to see a series in which every single cog in the machine is so perfectly attuned to its fans. Reid’s fans already cheer whenever they see him, so why not translate that to a concert setting?
It’s clear in this season of television that Reid was born to be a rock star, but it’s surreal to see him effortlessly command the stage — and the audience — at every step of the concert. He recites Shakespeare monologues and bitches out Armand between songs, all while the audience screams in support. For the duration of this concert, Reid is Lestat, and he’s given thousands of fans a memory that’s as immortal as any vampire.
Now bring on the encore and get this show on the road!
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