Review of Hellbound: Hellraiser II (1988) by Lucas M — 22 May 2010

This movie deserves a better reputation, and is a very worthy sequel to the original; in some cases gorier, more imaginative, and some key players from the original return, of course along with the Cenobites/Pinhead. This movie took the next creative and imaginative step forward, not a step back, from the original. It brought us to the realm of the Cenobites, and was a very worthy way to prolong the series. In some cases it doesn't live up to the original, but in other ways, its differences work for it.

The first movie introduces us to these demons which are some of the most frightening and gory in horror movie history, but the second movie actually goes further to explore exactly the depravity of them, and the hopeless feeling that one has to surrender to if they happen to find themselves in their presence. We get to see exactly, the dire consequences of what happens if one were to toy around with the puzzle-box. The first thing that happens is, the invite of the monsters to earth, to collect whoever opened the box, and then to get tortured to the point where you can find "pleasure in the pain," (a concept explored more in this movie than its predcessor) and finally, all hope fades, as the person become a totally different being in the realm of hell. The full experience is brought here in all of its excruciating glory, with some twists, as we get to see a human side to the Cenobites. This movie is sadistically creepy and in many ways on-par with the original; both are equally strong flicks which compliment each other; you have to see the first to understand the second. This movie also may be more enjoyable than the first because its action and gore sequences go from beginning to end, whereas the first one took a while to build up; it was more suspenseful whereas this one just brings it all out on the table.

In the beginning of this movie we actually get introduced to the human version of Pinhead, Captain Elliott Spencer (Doug Bradley), who unfortunately plays around with the Lament Configuration box, our famous puzzle box, then winds up in hell and becomes the demon that is Pinhead. The movie then successfully ties back in with the ending of the first movie, quenching our curiosity and questions of what happened to the survivors and the whole ordeal. Kirsty(Ashley Laurence), our heroine from the first movie is indeed alive and well, but placed in a Psychiatric institute. She is questioned by a detective, while the police are at the house portrayed in the original, going through it and searching; they find the bloody bed from the original and take it in for evidence. Kirsty at this point knows what is going on, and tries to warn people of the possible dangers of the mattress, and the whole ordeal. We are introduced to a few new characters at this point including Dr. Channard (Kenneth Cranham), Kyle McRae (William Hope), and a young girl Tiffany (Imogen Boorman).

Kirsty meets Tiffany, and later receives false messages which she believes were real from her father, killed in the first movie, that he is in hell; Kirsty feels that she must get to him while explaining her story to Kyle, who seems to be very supportive of her. Kyle sneaks into Dr.Channard's house, but finds unfortunately that he has evil intentions as he has stolen the mattress from the original house, and was obsessed with the Lament Configuration box, and all of its power as being a portal to Hell. Julia (Clare Higgins), who died in the original comes back in this sequel at this point, by still being trapped inside of the mattress, and needed humans to feed on, much like Frank in the original. This concept is covered here in a much more gruesome extent. Bodies are brought in for Julia to feed on, as she rapidly becomes more human with each scene in the movie. Kyle of course escapes, informs Kirsty, and eventually they set upon a mission to go back and see what they could find, possibly stopping the nightmare from happening yet again.

Unfortunately that doesn't happen, and at this point in the movie, the heroes take a serious stumble as Julia manages to kill Kyle, win over Kirsty, and we see that the little girl Tiffany is even brought in as bait of sorts for the Cenobites. She is used to open the box, and bring forth the Cenobites; this opens the portal to hell, and we are then introduced to the imagery and perverse realm of the home of the Cenobites.

Eventually all enter the realm of Hell, some to explore, and others to find answers and a possible way out; this part of the movie is interesting, and a whole new direction from the first. Julia eventually betrays Dr.Channard, who is killed and turned into a Cenobite. The heroes themselves now being the team of Kirsty and Tiffany, wrestle with horrific imagery, have a few run-ins with the Cenobites, and run into more trouble along the way. The original house with Frank is brought back here in hell, inviting Kirsty in yet again for another deathly experience. Drama follows, but Julia is eventually stopped by being pulled out of her skin, and the heroes go back and forth from the hospital and hell, after running in contact with the Cenobites. Fortunately, our demons at this point are killed off ironically by another Cenobite, even including Pinhead; they all get reverted back to human form. This is all depicted in the movie for you to see, and provides one of the movie's strengths; it explores the Cenobites deeper than the original and offers a very human quality to them; we get to see exactly what humans were like before and after hell.

After the entire experience, realizing that it is all a puzzle of sorts, Kirsty and Tiffany decide to close the box once more for good, and retreat back to the hospital; they prevail and survive. The ending is yet another hook/twist, hinting at a possible sequel, and is very reminiscent (paying homage in a way) to the first film.

This film feels like the original's sister, and a strong part 2/sequel; it is a great way to end the series, but of course that wouldn't happen for financial reasons, and perhaps creative ones as well, as more ideas could be explored. That does happen somewhat successfully in the next few sequels. These first two films were arguably the best, but we still had more treats along the way, especially for hardcore fans.