An animatronic creature head used in the production of the the Guillermo Del Toro fantasy action adventure Hellboy. Recovered from a Nazi ritual site during World War II, Hellboy (Ron Perlman) grows to maturity in the care of the Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defence (BPRD). When Rasputin (Karel Roden) returns to try and complete the ritual that brought Hellboy to Earth and bring about the end of the world, it’s up to the BPRD to stop him before it’s too late.
This practical animatronic head was used for the terrifying creature Sammael, a demonic hound-like creature that terrorises the New York subway tunnels and kills many FBI agents before facing off against Hellboy and Liz (Selma Blair). The head is constructed with a fibreglass core over which a latex and urethane skin has been applied to create the creature’s skin and fang-filled mouth. Three eyes, surrounded by sticky silicone material and with the remains of animatronic eye lids, are fitted into sockets on either side of the head. Runes are etched into the horns protruding from the sides of the skull, with the whole head given a finish in a mix of blues, greens and greys.
A safety helmet has been built into the rear of the head to allow it to be worn by a creature performer on set. The animatronics fitted allowed for the remote control movement of the jaw and eyeballs, with servos and present still present and cables running out the rear, though these remain untested. A tube is also present, running from the rear of the head to the mouth, allowing the flow of fluid and further adding to the realism of the creature when the creature opens its jaws.
In good condition, the head is presented on a custom polystyrene display base finished to replicate the appearance of a stone slab with a rune on the front.