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Based on my knowledge of the Hellraiser franchise and the search results, I can provide detailed insight into which characters audiences root for and against in Hellraiser: Bloodline (1996), and the specific actions that shape these perceptions.
Paul Merchant (Bruce Ramsay) is the primary protagonist audiences support.
Paul is the first and only human male to defeat Pinhead in the original series, which makes him unique among Hellraiser protagonists. Several factors make him sympathetic:
Being the last of his bloodline, Paul is the only one who can permanently close the gateway to Hell his ancestor opened centuries ago.
Dr. Merchant's mission is to close the gates to hell forever. Because his ancestor, a toymaker in the 18th century, built the evil puzzlebox that opens the gates to hell. And through the generations, the family of the bloodline has tried to stop it.
Paul tells her of his family's history, telling her he must complete his work or else everyone on the station is doomed. He deliberately puts himself at risk to save humanity.
Ultimately Dr. Merchant succeeds in his goal and traps the Cenobites in the Elysium Configuration, blowing it up and destroying them.
Rimmer (Christine Harnos) becomes a secondary protagonist.
At first disbelieving of Paul, Rimmer, when it becomes apparent that something really is aboard the Minos, decides to aid Paul in his plans. She evolves from skeptical captor to ally.
John Merchant (Bruce Ramsay) in the 1996 timeline gains some sympathy as he's being played by Angelique while doing what he can for his family.
<span class='error-major' data-annotation='11' data-tooltip='[Critical Error: John did not sabotage the portal. He was forced by Pinhead to use the incomplete Elysium Configuration to keep Hell's gateway open, but the prototype failed. Pinhead then killed him for the failure.]'>Forced into working on a larger portal to Hell by his family's captors, John sabotages the portal and is promptly killed afterward by Pinhead - his attempt to undermine the demons while protecting his family makes him sympathetic.
Pinhead (Doug Bradley) serves as the primary antagonist, though the major problem with Bloodline is like Hellraiser III, Bloodline tries to make the cenobites the primary antagonists and much like how it fell flat there, it also doesn't work here. While Pinhead may be the "face" of this series, he really only works in a supporting capacity. His villainous actions include:
Parker is killed by Pinhead, Carducci by Angelique, Chamberlain by Chatter Beast, and Edwards by Twin Cenobite
Pinhead tells Angelique that the best way to make John go along with their plans is to threaten his child, Jack
He gets John to use the Elysium Configuration, but it fails, prompting Pinhead to kill him
Angelique (Valentina Vargas) functions as a secondary antagonist, though she's frankly so similar to Pinhead that even though the character acts as a succubus for the various Merchant descendants there's really nothing she does all that different from Pinhead aside from seduction. Her manipulative seduction of John Merchant through John Merchant has sex with the villainess Angelique in his dreams, which she deliberately sends John in an attempt to seduce him makes her particularly insidious.
Duc de L'Isle and Jacques in the 1796 timeline are clearly villainous. Mickey Cottrell playing the despicably evil Du de L'Isle and his equally reprehensible assistant Jacque played by Adam Scott. Their evil is established through He and his apprentice, Jacques, kill a peasant woman who was never baptized and remove her skin. L'Isle uses the dark magic conjured by the Lament Configuration to summon a demon princess named Angelique to inhabit the woman's skin.
The film suffered from audience perception problems, with Variety called it "a pointless mess" without a likable protagonist. However, this assessment seems unfair given Paul Merchant's heroic arc. The film's troubled production likely hurt character development, as Kevin Yagher's version contained much more graphic imagery, plot, and explained everything that happened in the film.
The audience ultimately roots for the Merchant bloodline's redemption through Paul's sacrifice, while opposing the Cenobites' eternal torment and the human villains who originally unleashed hell on Earth.
Multiple sources indicate that Angelique has grown accustomed to decadent life on Earth and wants to use the Elysium Configuration to destroy Hell and free herself from its imperatives. She initially cooperates with Pinhead but becomes opposed to him. This adds significant complexity to her character that the summary reduces to simple villainy.
The summary doesn't mention Phillip LeMarchand from 1796, who is the toymaker ancestor that unknowingly created the cursed puzzle box. He's a victim of Duc de L'Isle's deception and is killed by Angelique after trying to steal back the box. His innocence and victimhood are important for understanding the family curse.
The film suffered from severe production issues, with director Kevin Yagher using the 'Alan Smithee' pseudonym. It was not screened for critics, received negative reviews, and became the last theatrical Hellraiser film. This context significantly impacts how audiences perceived the characters - the muddled execution made it hard to connect with anyone.
In the original workprint version, Paul refuses to join Angelique and stays aboard the Elysian Configuration, dying alongside Pinhead and the Cenobites to end the bloodline forever. This is a more sacrificial ending than the theatrical version where he escapes with Rimmer.
In Hellraiser: Bloodline (1996), audiences are designed to root FOR the Merchant family bloodline across three time periods, though the film's critical failure and production problems muddy this intention:
PROTAGONISTS:
Paul Merchant (2127) - The primary hero audiences support. He is the first and only human male to defeat Pinhead in the original series. His sympathetic qualities include: (1) Noble mission to permanently close Hell's gateway and end his family's curse; (2) Self-sacrifice, warning others of danger while risking himself; (3) Ultimate success in trapping and destroying the Cenobites using the Elysium Configuration. He escapes with Rimmer in the theatrical cut, though in the workprint he dies alongside Pinhead to end the bloodline.
Rimmer - Secondary protagonist who evolves from skeptical captor to ally. After the Cenobites kill most of the security team, she releases Paul and helps him destroy the demons, including killing the Chatter Beast.
Phillip LeMarchand (1796) - An innocent victim rather than hero. The toymaker unknowingly creates the Lament Configuration for Duc de L'Isle, horrified when he discovers its true purpose. He attempts to steal it back and create the Elysium Configuration to undo his work, but is killed by Angelique and cursed by Jacques.
John Merchant (1996) - A victim who gains sympathy. Haunted by dreams of Angelique, he's manipulated and threatened (Pinhead says to threaten his child Jack). Forced to use the incomplete Elysium Configuration, it fails and Pinhead kills him. His wife Bobbi then banishes the Cenobites back to Hell.
ANTAGONISTS:
Pinhead - Primary antagonist whose villainy includes: (1) Systematic murder of security guards; (2) Threatening John's family, particularly his child; (3) Cold execution of John after the Configuration fails. However, critics noted making Cenobites primary antagonists didn't work well.
Angelique - A complex antagonist, not simple villain. Initially cooperates with Pinhead but has her own agenda. She seduces the Merchant descendants through erotic dreams and manipulation. However, having grown accustomed to decadent life on Earth, she opposes Hell's 'new fanatical austerity' and actually wants to use the Elysium Configuration to destroy Hell and free herself from its control. This creates conflict with Pinhead.
Duc de L'Isle and Jacques (1796) - Clear villains who kill a peasant woman who was never baptized, remove her skin, and summon Angelique to inhabit it. Jacques curses the LeMarchand bloodline before ordering Angelique to kill Phillip.
CRITICAL CONTEXT:
Variety called it 'a pointless mess' without a likable protagonist, suggesting the intended audience sympathies failed. The film suffered severe production issues - director Kevin Yagher used the 'Alan Smithee' pseudonym, it wasn't screened for critics, and became the last theatrical Hellraiser film. This muddled execution made it difficult for audiences to connect with characters as intended.