Hellbound: Hellraiser 2 (1988)

10/10

This sequel to "Hellraiser" is my favorite film in the entire series. You learn a lot about the history of the puzzle box (which changes every so often depending on which sequel you are watching), there is a new Cenobite, and we get to see what Hell looks like. It is like a picnic with the family, if your family was composed entirely of hellspawn.

This time the film is directed by Tony Randel ("Amityville 1992", "Fist of the North Star"). Ashley Laurence ("Blood Run", "Warlock III") reprises her role as Kirsty. So does Clare Higgins ("The Golden Compass") as Julia and Sean Chapman ("Transmutations") as Frank. Our new characters include Dr. Channard (Kenneth Cranham, "Tale of a Vampire", "Hot Fuzz"), his assistant Kyle (William Hope, "xXx", "Dark Floors"), and one of Dr. Channard's patients, Tiffany.

After a quick review of the first movie, we begin with a flashback of a captain in the British(?) Army solving the puzzle box (we later learn its proper name is the 'Lament Configuration' box, or the 'Lemarchand Configuration' in Barker's stories). We quickly learn the origins of Pinhead. We also learn why he is always in such a bad mood.

We fast forward in time to right after the events of the first film. Kirsty has been placed in the Channard Institute for 'Really Messed Up People' after her family disappeared, yet left a lot of blood behind, and she told the police that demons from Hell took them all. Dr. Channard becomes very interested when Kirsty tells him her story, especially the bit about how the bloody mattress Julia died on must be burned or Julia may be able to escape from Hell. Dr. Channard also likes to experiment on peoples' brains.

Kirsty meets up with Tiffany. Tiffany has a special gift of being able to solve puzzles. If you don't see where that subplot is going, go dunk your head in a bucket of cold water now. Later on that night a bloody message is supernaturally written on Kirsty's wall: "I am in hell. Help me." Kirsty thinks this is a message from her dad. Possible plot point. Kyle sneaks into the Doctor's house and discovers all kinds of artifacts involving the Lament Configuration box, including Pinhead's original persona and three more boxes. He hides and watches as the Doc brings a seriously deranged patient into the room, places him on the mattress, and gives him a straight razor. The patient begins cutting himself, subsequently reviving a skinless Julia. Later the Doc kisses the skinless freak. Ick.

Kyle warns Kirsty, but it is too late. Julia has now sucked up enough blood to replace her skin and the Doc has given Tiffany the Lament box. Box opened, Cenobites appear, and Pinhead gets another great line as he stops the other Cenobites from killing Tiffany: "It is not hands that summons us. It is desire." The way he says 'desire' always gives me a shiver down the spine.

Things now go to Hell, literally. The Doctor gets a facelift, Julia loses her skin, and Kirsty gets a nice reunion with Frank. There is a lot of freaky imagery. Hell looks like an Escher nightmare and is also run by a gigantic double pyramid that exudes black lasers. We even get fighting Cenobites! Of course there is a nice set piece at the end leaving the door open for a third "Hellraiser".

The first half of the movie is slow to develop, but when the action starts it never stops. There is some brief nudity. The violence and gore are upped from the first film. The FX are much better here than in "Hellraiser", likely due to a much larger budget. The new Cenobite is badass. The acting is good all around, and Pinhead gets to flex his acting chops more this time around. Channard is flat out creepy. The music is great again.

I love this movie. Buy it. The beginning is slow for a party, but the second half would work well.