Hellbound: Hellraiser 2 (1988)

Definitely not one for the weak of stomach, Hellbound takes up where the first Hellraiser left off, piling on the gore to near camp levels. Luckily, the 1988 sequel retains enough of British horror-meister Clive Barker's macabre wit--like the original, it's based on a Barker story--to save it from the schlock-heap. Hospitalized following her last misadventure, Kirsty (Ashley Laurence) implores authorities to destroy a bloody bed at the carnage scene, but the enigmatic Dr. Channard (Kenneth Cranham) brings an addled patient there and unleashes a dread Cenobite instead. As if that's not bad enough, Kirsty's getting distress calls from her father, who begs her to rescue him from hell. When she journey through hell's dark labyrinths with a mute puzzle solver, however, Kirsty only finds the evil Pinhead (Doug Bradley) and other bizarro creatures, plus her nasty former stepmother and lascivious Uncle Frank. Much maniacal laughter and skin shedding later, the newfound compadres unlock the puzzle box again to safety. Hellbound isn't genius, but it does have flair, which goes a long way toward offsetting Laurence's leaden acting and occasionally over the top gore. --Diane Garrett Amazon.com

Time to play!

The blood, gore, "the box", and the cenobites continue. The movie picks up right were the first one ended. Kirsty made a deal with Pinhead, who is the leader of the cenobites, to give them Uncle Frank (he escaped them) in exchange for her. After they took Frank, the female cenobite goes after Kirsty until she is able to use the box to send them all back to Helll. Her father's home then gets destroyed....

Kirsty is now in a psychiatrist's hospital. Dr. Chinnard is fascinated with the mind, the brain, and the other dimension. He was able to take the bloody bed with the chains in it from Kirsty's house. He also has the box which summons the cenobites. Chinnard unknowingly helps Kristy's stepmother Julia to escape the cenobites as she comes out of the bloody bed the way Frank looked in the first Hellraiser (all blood, bones, muscle but no skin). Together the conspire to get Julia back her skin and in return, Julia would show Dr. Chinnard, the other "place" including her god, the lord of flesh and desire; Leviathan. But she has other plans for him as well.

Kristy is hell bent (sorry for the pun) on trying to get her father out of hell as she sees a message in blood in her hospital room. With help from Chinnard's assistant, Kristy is able to get out of the hospital as Chinnard's assistant, Kyle was able to see that Kristy was telling the truth about the box and the demons it caries. Kristy learns that Pinhead as well as his cenobites use to be human. She finds a picture in Chinnard's house of Capt. Elliot Spencer (played by Doug Bradely) and belives it is Pinhead himself. Earily, one of the cenobites is a little child (I'm not going to give up the whole plot). Kristy, even though she didn't open the box, runs into her old "friends," the cenobites, who let her explore as Kristy and a mute girl who loves to solve puzzles are being chased by another demon (not going to give it away) with alternate plans. Pinhead is looking to "play" with Kirsty and get to know her flesh. He also stops his troops from killing her mute friend as Pinhead says," It is not curious hands that summon us, it's desire." As he points to Chinnard's secret room because Chinnard was using the mute girl as a gineau pig. This leads to the ultimate showdown between Pinhead and his troops against the other demon. Will Julia be able to do what Frank couldn't? Escape!

Julia had a great couple of lines when she faces off with Kirsty. "Come on Snow White! Take your best shot!" Who would of thought you would hear the words, Snow White, in Hellraiser (Hellraiser 2 to be exact)!

I thought Hellraiser was slightly weaker than the first one, third one (Hell on Earth) and the fourth one (Bloodlines). I was a little disappointed towards the end (not going to give it away). Don't get me wrong, it's still one of the best horror movies back in the time when horror movies relied more on acting than on special effects/CGI. Pinhead once again shines as the angel/demon of mercy looking to explore peoples flesh and desires while taking their souls. The way to dial his number is by solving the "box" which is known as the Lament Configuration. The boxes history is explained in more detail in Hellraiser: Bloodlines.

I would give this movie a 4.5 but still a great addition to your horror collection. The picture is great and no extras that would make you go, WOW! April 25, 2008

Sick and twisted - who dreams this stuff up!?

Watched "hellraiser 2" last night. What a sick film full of graphic violence and torture - loved it! Makes films like "hostel" look like a family film. Visions of hell that make would make a christian fundy proud! Good story, solid acting and I love the cenobites. Although some of the special effects look dated it's still a great ride, highly recommended.

Oh, and if you think this stuff is sick you should read some of what those X'tian's made up in the bible! (and if you a christian reading this - shame on you, watch little house on the prarie or touched up by an angel or go pray for my soul or something!) December 3, 2007

The Story Continues!

Pinhead is back for more! I have not seen this movie in years, but I have been a big fan of the first 2 Hellraiser movies for years. It's cool to relive the story in DVD format and see the twisted mind of Clive Barker at work. I have no idea what he was thinking when he wrote these stories, but they are classic. Get this movie! November 13, 2007

Better than the first...faster moving

I like the first one, don't get me wrong, it was just kinda slow moving. I love the visuals in the second, since it takes place in Hell. I like that we learn about Pinhead's origins and that Kirsty reminds him of who he is. I thought that scene was intense, especially the first time I saw the movie. Don't listen to people who say it was horrible, or who say it was fantastic. Its worth a rent for sure. October 18, 2007

"Trick us again, and your suffering will be legendary, even in hell."

Can you die again in hell? Play a game with the Cenobites and you will find out. Kirsty (Ashley Laurence) is now in an insane asylum after her involvement with the Cenobites in the first Hellraiser movie. There's evil afoot in the asylum, in the form of Doctor Philip Channard (Kenneth Cranham). Instead of throwing away the mattress Julia Cotton (Clare Higgins) died on, Dr. Channard brings it to his home along with a mental patient, for the sole purpose of spilling fresh blood onto it. The fresh blood brings Julia back from hell, and she's thirsty for more. "All we need now ... is skin."

Meanwhile, Kirsty is receiving messages from her father, written in blood on her walls, telling her he's trapped in hell. Together with an autistic puzzle-solver named Tiffany (Imogen Boorman) Kirsty uses the Lemarchand's Box to enter hell, trying to save her father. But Tiffany has been used by Dr. Channard, and the good doctor finds his own hell.

While the movie focuses on Kirsty, Tiffany, and Dr. Channard's trials and travails in hell, it in no sense of the way becomes boring. The doctor wins over Pinhead in sheer grotesquerie, traveling through hell from a large gooey worm attached to his head and snakes with different talents extending from his palms. Julia shines as the evil temptress she is, unveiled in her hellish realm. At the center of hell is a diamond shape oracle, emitting a hellish negative-light that is fantastically frightening. Kirsty reveals insight into Pinhead, and Pinhead faces off with the good doctor.

This second installment in the Hellraiser series is directed this time by Tony Randel rather than Clive Barker, and contains much more graphic (if that's possible) scenes of what it would be like in hell. The creation of hell in this movie is pure genius. If this movie doesn't scare you straight, nothing will. Enjoy!

February 11, 2007

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