Hellraiser 2: Hellbound (1989)

Let me just start off by saying that in terms of sequels, “Hellraiser 2” promised a lot, delivered some, and fell flat on it’s ass the rest of the way...sort of. It had the backing of a much bigger budget than the first film, many of the same actors returned, and story wise, promised to answer many questions raised by the first one.

Kirsty, now in a nuthouse from her experiences in the first film, is sure that her dad is in hell doing the whole suffering thing and what not. Her shrink, Dr. Channard, has a bit of a personal obsession with the puzzle box and seems well schooled on all things pertaining to it. He of course wants to “experience” what the box brings to those who solve it so he goes about resurrecting Julia and giving the box to a mute patient at the hospital who specializes in puzzles. She “solves” the box and Kirsty, Julia, Channard and our puzzle solver all find themselves in hell for various reasons.

So where did the filmmakers succeed and where did they fail? First off, let’s talk about the good stuff. Appearance wise, the film looks beautiful. The whole thing has an extremely dreamlike atmosphere to it and at times reminded me of a cross between an Argento film and a “Nightmare On Elm Street” flick. While the first film was plenty bloody, this one raises the gore quotient even higher. If you can sit through the scene where a mental patient takes a razor blade to himself without flinching or uttering a single “ughh”, you are one jaded bastard. We also get the usual hooks into flesh, skinless people and such that one would come to expect. Make sure you get the unrated version to properly soak all this in. The acting is also decent by all, and I think I’m developing an unhealthy attraction towards Ashley Laurence, the chick who plays Kirsty. All four Cenobites from the first film show up and look as cool and menacing as ever. They still are in a “supporting” role, and that is what makes them effective.

As for the negatives, that would fall entirely on the story. Lots of stuff is thrown into the mix, and none of it even makes any type of sense. Towards the middle of the film I found myself asking, “what the hell is going on here?” what with everyone running around hell like headless chickens. How does Channard know so much about the box and the Cenobites? Where did he get the box from, and why does he have 5 other boxes in his room? And why the hell would anyone want to have hooks and shit stuck in em? Channard, you’re a kinky bastard! Also, why don’t the Cenobites track down Julia for escaping, as they did to Frank in the first one? Back to Channard, I did dig his character as a new Cenobite, particularly all his little one-liners he spits out, funny shit to be had there. I just wish the “showdown” scene with Pinhead and the gang would have been a little better. That was over way to fast, and I did not care for the Cenobites change of heart at the end either. There, I said it.

If this one would have had a decent story to support all the effects work, this one could have been pretty damn good. As it is though, it feels like nothing more than a cash in on the first film. Maybe with the third film they’ll get it right?