25 best horror movie monsters

20. Pinhead (Hellraiser)

You could argue that Pinhead, who was once a man, technically breaks our “no humans” rule. However, he’s so far removed from his half-remembered humanity that I think we can relax just a little bit. But, not too much – you are in the presence of one of the most vicious Cenobites around, after all.

Viewers first encountered Pinhead in 1987’s Hellraiser, directed by horror master Clive Barker. He’s actually little more than an incidental character in the film, which follows the human Kirsty Cotton as she faces off against her evil, undead Uncle Frank.

Still, when the demonic Cenobites appear on screen, you can’t help but remember them. For many unaware moviegoers, it’s more than likely that these hellish demons haunted nightmares for years to come. It’s all thanks to Frank, who summoned the Cenobites for some fun times and got way, way more than he bargained for. In fact, he’s taken away by the demons and consigned to a hellish underworld. When Frank manages to resurrect himself, the Cenobites do all that they can to reclaim him.

No one Cenobite is the same, though they all seem to be really into the BDSM/leather scene. Pinhead is especially unsettling, though. As his name suggests, his entire face and skull are covered with evenly placed pins. Actor Doug Bradley brings a quiet, menacing intelligence to the role. It was a far departure from the villains of the 1980s, who were often either mute or dedicated to lame one-liners. Someone with half a brain had a decent chance of escaping these dullards, but Pinhead? You wouldn’t stand a chance.