maybe i'm just projecting my own asexuality onto kirsty cotton, but i firmly believe that she survived the first hellraiser because she's ace.
like, i think when she opened the lament configuration for the first time, it was out of curiosity rather than desire. i mean, who wouldn't open the magical puzzle box that was stolen from the skinless, undead uncle in your attic who was determined to get it back??
i also want to point out her reaction to chatterer sticking his fingers in her mouth after she opens the box. she was afraid, unlike frank in the beginning of the film who was curious and willing to give into the cenobites. i mean, sure, who wouldn't be afraid of demons who had seemingly come from nowhere, but her reaction is just so much different than frank's that it makes me wonder if it's more than just the standard reaction of what the fuck is that?
kirsty is also the only (main) character in the film that doesn't have a sexual relationship with anyone. julia, frank, even larry (larry more so in the novel but even then kirsty doesn't) all have sexual relationships and yet kirsty... doesn't.
the last thing that makes me believe that kirsty is asexual is the way pinhead allows her to make a deal with him. in the (many) sequels, whoever opens the box either dies or becomes a cenobite. kirsty is the exception. he allowed her to make a deal with him to save her soul not just once, but three times. the first being in the hospital in the first film, the second being in hellbound when she gives the photo of elliott to pinhead, then finally for the third time in hellseeker where she sacrifices her husband, his friend, and her husband's three mistresses to save herself.
pinhead is always willing to let her make a deal with him, which is never the case with any of the other characters.
in the sense that kirsty is ace, it makes sense for pinhead to allow her to keep making these deals to save herself because he knows that she doesn't have the same need for more unique pleasure than the other people who have opened the box do.
looking at kirsty through the asexual lens is interesting because it makes her story more complex but also makes complete sense.
