This is an excellent sequel that picks up right where the original leaves off. I give this the same score as the original but I actually find myself to have enjoyed this one a bit more. Though it feels a bit undercooked and a good chunk of this film is a recap of the original film, the concept and everything else are way weirder without losing on what made the original so memorable and effective. I like that the main focus here is exploring the world and mythology rather than the perversion, and it provides way more special effects and disturbing visuals that I crave from the original. I'm curious to see where the series goes from here.
Hell is a bunch of corridors apparently. Never liked this installment, it feels rushed to film, doesn't have much to say, the setting spoils a lot of mystery and is a massive let down. I don't know why shade gets thrown at part III when at least it's fun to watch.
I'm all for scoring with demonic chicks but I sirrrr, draw the line at fleshless titties
The story is slow and even cheesy. It could be a plot from an kids cartoon show. But the movie is saved by the sounds and visual effects; they put you in a nightmarish hell. More brutal then the first but more illogical.
Haunting imagery. Not talking about the gore, either.
"WE HAVE SO MANY SITES TO SHOW YOU"
That new villain was lame and there were enough plot holes that really didn’t help this film out.
An immersive experience with great music and killer visuals.
There’s more padding in this film than gauze wrapped around Julia. Half the movie could be edited without losing anything. The plot is extremely weak. Only the motivation of the female lead is clear. The evil doctor’s background and how he became obsessed isn’t explored. The actions, or lack there of, by most characters are inexplicable. What happens in the film is easily anticipated and the one-liners are eye-rolling. I wanted the Lore configuration and received nothing.
In some ways better than the original but in many ways it falls far short. In originality, for one thing; this sequel seemed like it was about 50% retread, where they literally just inserted footage from the first Hellraiser film. Without that additional footage, I'm not sure they would have had enough to produce a full-length motion picture...more of a mini-movie, perhaps. I also have mixed feelings about the whole "Tiffany" character. Maybe it's because the movie (and the acting) was dated but it was difficult (for me, at least) to feel anything at all for the "Tiffany" character. And Kirsty was cute as a button back in the 80's when this was made but dang, she was annoying and couldn't act. I have every intention to keep watching this whole franchise but ... I don't know. At this point, it's hard to see it getting any better than the original. And that was the problem with all of those horror franchises from back in the day: they milked that cash cow for as long as they could, with absolutely no thought to producing GOOD stories.
A surprisingly stellar sequel, keeping the brutal special effects intact while also infusing the proceedings with a dark and gothic fantasy tone. There's still a ton of scenes that left me wincing, but there's also some stunning backdrops that harness the surreal. There's even a dip into psychological horror with the personal hells. This film really lets the cast shine too. Laurence is given the chance to really explore Kirsty's grief and trauma, giving her the depth I wanted to see in the first film and truly solidifying her as one of the upper tier final girls. Higgins is having an absolute ball going full tilt evil, displaying Julia's turn into her best worst self with such confidence and pleased aplomb you almost cheer for her. And Doug Bradley, while great in the first film, really shows what makes Pinhead so iconic with his performance here. The expressions flickering across his face as his past dawns on him, and the look he shoots Kirsty as he accepts his fate as a human being is surprisingly affecting. This film trades some of the grounded and sadistic darkness from the first film for the gruesomely and high concept fantastical, but that's not a bad thing. It stands in equal footing with the first as a visceral thrill of painful pleasures.
“It is not hands that summon us. It is desire.”
Bloody, crazy, and more fetish than ever.
While not a good movie by any means. The film is a mess, and it got to a point where I had no idea what was going on. Scenes just happen where characters do stuff that you have no choice but to accept. Although, with that in mind, another “hot take” is that I enjoyed this movie a little more than the first. I spent the entire time trying to follow the story structure, which felt like a roller-coaster of ups and downs. I enjoyed how wild, gory, and sickly creative it got.
3 Thoughts After Re-Watching ‘Hellbound: Hellraiser II’:
I love the vibes. I love the potential. I hate the story, or lack thereof. It was a complete mess and utter nonsense. I welcome the upcoming reboot. There is so much to improve upon.
That mattress scene with Julia was absolutely disgusting.
Two words: more Pinhead. Doug Bradley is wasted in these first two films.
A Classic Horror from the 80's
Hellraiser II is a sequel that isn't to be missed. Full of haunting images (One Cenobite especially) this is certainly one to watch one halloween (or whenever) with fellow horror fans
What is your pleasure?
Way better then the first one. Takes the concepts of the original to their logical extreme. A psychotronic, weird tale of pure cosmic horror. Everything the first one should have been.
It's a good continuation of the first one and should be viewed consecutively. Kirsty is the lead in this one and she does a superb job.
"Your suffering will be legendary, even in hell!"
Not many horror movies get good sequels, so I was pleasantly surprised when this one turned out to be just as insane as the first one. Once again, practical effects are what make this movie great. The first one is about the victims, whereas this one dives into the world of Hellraiser (or should I say Hell?).
Amazingly, it's all down hill from here for the Hellraiser series.
Shout by DRNKMNKYBlockedParent2015-07-27T07:56:44Z— updated 2020-08-18T06:25:05Z
For me, this sequel is definitively not on par with "Hellraiser". It's also cheaply made, has only a few scary moments and is even more gory than part 1, but the real problem IMHO is the strange and sometimes incomprehensibly way the rather weak plot is told!