Review of Hellbound: Hellraiser II (1988) by Johnathon W — 13 Oct 2014
Solid sequel to the horror classic that falls apart a bit in the third act but still a worthy addition to the franchise. The returning cast continue their fine work from the first film, with Ashley Laurence giving Kirsty the same intelligence & bravery that makes her one of the best heroines of the genre while Clair Higgins relishes getting to play Julia as a full on villain this time.
The standout, of course, is the great Doug Bradley (finally credited as Pinhead) who establishes his character as one of movies great monsters. He gets a nice run for his money, though, with Kenneth Cranham in his chilling performance as Dr.
Channard (his line "To think, I hesitated" is one of the creepiest of the series). Behind the camera, director Tony Randel does a good job expanding the universe (the fact the Cenobites were once human & they're are rules to Hell are a nice touch) but it isn't completely realized (Hell is just a maze with a bunch of empty hallways).
The final act ignores many of the rules previously established & the Cenobites get short-changed. Overall, a very good horror film and solid sequel to the classic original.
This review of Hellbound: Hellraiser II (1988) was written by Johnathon W on 13 Oct 2014.
Hellbound: Hellraiser II has generally received positive reviews.
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