Hellbound: Hellraiser II (1988)

For those unfamiliar with the first film there are a group of Demons called Cenobites.  They are summoned by solving a puzzle box, which opens a door to hell.  Those that summon the Cenobites are mutilated and tortured for all eternity.  The first movie ends with a young woman named Kristy solving and closing the puzzle box, which closes the doorway and banishes the demons.  This sequel picks up the same night with Kristy in a mental institution after explaining all about the demons and why her home is covered in blood.  Unfortunately for her she ends up in the care of Dr. Channard, who is not only aware of the boxes, but possess a few himself.  With help from Kristy’s stepmother, who has been resurrected by Channard after being sent to hell by the Cenobites, and a patient obsessed with solving puzzles the doorway is opened again.  Soon Kristy is facing down Pinhead and the other demons, while trying to escape hell and saver her father (who was banished there in the first movie).

Hellbound has to be one of the best sequels to a horror movie that I’ve ever seen.  The story dovetails nicely with the first movie.  Though if I had to choose one I would actually watch Hellbound rather than the first film (which I do really enjoy).  The Cenobites, especially Pinhead, don’t get much screen time in the first movie, and are far more interesting then the other characters.  This movie not only gives them more screen time, but also starts to create background and mythology for them.  As a casual fan of the series I’m much more interested in the bad guys than I am the victims.  The cast does a fine job and takes the material seriously.  There is nothing worse than a killer horror film ruined by a cast hamming it up.  Here the returning cast Clare Higgins (the evil stepmother Julia), and Ashley Laurence (Kristy) pick things right up from the first movie and do a wonderful job.  Also returning is Doug Jones as Pinhead, who has a much beefier role this time (including some screen time without the iconic makeup).  Jones is one of the most polite movie monsters I’ve ever seen, which is so British and oh so evil!  Added to the story is the Dr. Channard character, portrayed by Kenneth Cranham.  Cranham is a great addition and plays the doctor subdued, but goes all out when he is transformed into a Cenobite.  Love the line, “The doctor is in.” 

I really find the movie enjoyable and a good watch, but there are some technical issues with Hellbound.  First of all the best gore in the movie is either flashbacks from the original using the footage from it, or repeating the shocking stuff (skinless villain) from the first movie with a new actor (and new scenes).  So Hellbound isn’t nearly as innovative or creative from an effects standpoint as Hellraiser.  There are some cool kills, but they don’t get much screen time.  Though the gag with the maggots and worms was pretty gross, and will stick with me for a long time.  When they do try something completely different, like the maze and the giant puzzle box, they don’t look too good and really don’t hold up.  Those effects are really dated 20 years later, which might turn some people off to the movie.  Still I can appreciate the fact that they didn’t try to fix what wasn’t broken, the look of the Cenobites and the nifty Skinless villain bit, which probably they would have screwed up. 

The DVD that I’m reviewing is the new 20th anniversary edition from Anchor Bay Entertainment.  It includes some killer special features like Soul Patrol, and interview with the actors that played the three Cenobites not named Pinhead.  Outside the Box is a fascinating interview with director Tony Randel and goes from how he got his start in the business to how he got the job directing Hellbound.  Also there is a nice interview with Kenneth Cranham (Dr. Channard) called the Doctor is in and a wonderful documentary on the movie itself called Lost in the Labyrinth.  Rounding things out is a killer interview with old Pinhead himself, Doug Bradley.  Anchor Bay really went all out for this 20th anniversary edition and I love it!

Not only is this a great DVD with tons of special features, but I really dig the movie as well.  If you are a Hellraiser fan or just a horror fan in general you need to go out and buy a copy of this DVD when it hits stores and online retailers.  The DVD will be available on December 30th, 2008.

3 ½ out of 4

reviewed by John Shatzer

© Copyright 2008 John Shatzer