Doug Bradley (1) (1954–)

Masks have been used in religious rites, theatrical productions, and movies. In this book Doug Bradley, better known as Pinhead from Hellraiser, delves into the world of makeup and masks. The book is structured chronologically beginning with a historical view of masks that moves on to the classic horror movie actors; Lon Chaney, Boris Karloff, Lon Chaney Jr., and Christopher Lee to name a few. He also interviewed several newer horror film actors including Robert England and the many stuntmen show more who have played Jason and Michael Myers. He sprinkles here and there memories from his own career and then ends the book with chapters devoted to his work on Hellraiser.

It was interesting to find out how the movie make up was applied and the hardships that the actors went through. It truly seemed to transform them into different people. Boris Karloff endured a lot to create his beloved monster, so much so that he helped to establish the Screen Actors Guild so that actors have a voice when it comes to harsh treatment on film sets.

I am not a fan of Pinhead. I read this book because I am a fan of the classic horror films from Universal and Hammer Studios. Except for a very interesting chapter at the beginning on the history of mask use in the theater and the chapters on older monster film legends, this book was disappointing. Bradley is a good writer and he kept my attention throughout the book, but it is geared toward the fans of Bradley’s work and I am not a fan. If you like both the older and newer horror films especially the films of Doug Bradley then you will enjoy this book much more than I did. show less

The perfect kick-off to Halloween season. Five of the six stories were new to me, and the sixth was Poe's TTH, which never gets tired. Unlike most audiobooks of classic short story collections, the production was wonderful. The narrator is lively and clearly having fun with the material, the sound is crisp and clear, and the music and sound effects add atmosphere rather than intrude on the consciousness. I will keep an eye out for the other volumes in this series.

I like the stories that Doug Bradley narrated, the stories are interesting & written by various authors/poets.
I'm a big fan of Doug Bradley, he is especially well known for his portrayal of Pinhead in the Horror film Hellraiser (1987)
I wish more horror related actors narrated short horror stories, it's fun & entertaining to listen to.

My favourites short horror stories for Volume 1 of the Doug Bradley's Spinechillers are the following short stories:
The Tell Tale Heart-Edgar Allan Poe
The show more Signalman-Charles Dickens
I like Doug Bradley's narration, the sound effects that are used throughout the narration.
If you like classic, gothic horror stories, or you are a fan of Doug Bradley & audiobooks with sound effects then you'll love Doug Bradley's Spinechillers Audiobooks. show less

Doug Bradley's Spinechillers Volume 2 includes the following short horror stories narrated by Doug Bradley.
The Dream Woman(1855)-Wilkie Collins
The Oval Portrait(1850)-Edgar Allan Poe
The Ring of Thoth(1890)-Arthur Conan Doyle
The Tomb(1920)-H.P. Lovecraft

My favourite short story was the Oval portrait by Edgar Allan Poe, it was a unique & creepy short story, about the possessive hold a oval portrait had on the person looking at the oval portrait,
Over time, their lifeforce is drained, every show more time they look at the portrait.
I've always loved Edgar Allan Poe's style of writing, his very vivid & dark imagination, he was a visionary person, but he also seemed quite unhappy, while he was alive, his death is shrouded in mystery that has never been conclusively solved which is frustrating and intriguing. show less