#20 - Hellbound: Hellraiser II (1988)
Alright, let’s talk about Hellbound: Hellraiser II, the sequel to one of the most twisted horror movies ever made. Now, I’m gonna be real with you—this movie is wild. Like, if you thought the first Hellraiser was weird, this one cranks it up to eleven. It’s definitely not perfect, but there’s a lot to love about this crazy, gory, nightmare fuel of a sequel. Let’s break it down.
First off, what I appreciate about Hellraiser II is that it doesn’t waste any time trying to be subtle. Nope! It’s like, “You came for some messed-up stuff, and we’re gonna deliver.” This movie dives right into the deep end of hellish madness. And while the first movie gave us a taste of the Cenobites and their whole deal, this one? We actually go into hell. And that’s where this movie shines—it expands the world in such a cool, creepy way. The labyrinth, Leviathan, and the way they portray Hell as this endless, tormenting maze? It’s like a horror fan’s fever dream.
The production design is absolutely top-tier. The sets look incredible. Sure, some of the special effects are dated, but man, they nailed that grim, surreal atmosphere. Hell looks like something straight out of a nightmarish painting, and it’s the kind of thing that sticks with you. You’re not just scared of what’s happening, you’re scared of the world they’ve built. It feels oppressive, like a place you’d never want to be caught in, even for a second.
Now, the characters. Kirsty’s back, and I gotta give her credit—she’s still a badass. She spends this entire movie running around in this hellish landscape, trying to save her dad, and honestly, she’s more proactive than a lot of horror protagonists. But the real MVP of this movie is Julia. She’s so much more interesting in this one. In the first Hellraiser, she’s just kinda creepy, but here? She’s a full-on villain. She’s like, “I’m back from the dead and I’m about to rule Hell.” That scene where she peels off her bandages? Gross, but also, she looks iconic! Julia’s basically the evil queen of Hell, and I love it.
And then, of course, we’ve got the Cenobites. Pinhead and his crew are back, and they’re just as terrifying as ever. But here’s the thing: they’re not really the focus. They’re more like these looming, ominous figures in the background, while the movie dives into the lore and the crazy hellish world. And that’s both a good and bad thing. On the one hand, I love that they didn’t just rehash the same stuff from the first movie. But on the other hand, I kinda wish we got a bit more of Pinhead being Pinhead. He’s cool in every scene he’s in, but he’s not the main villain this time around. That role goes to Dr. Channard, who’s honestly way creepier once he transforms into this Cenobite-like monster. He’s got all these weird tentacles and surgical tools coming out of him—it’s super unsettling.
Now, I won’t lie—this movie does have its issues. The plot gets pretty messy. Like, there’s a lot going on, and at times, it’s hard to follow. The whole thing with Kirsty’s dad and the messages from Hell? That gets a little muddled. And Tiffany, the mute girl who solves the puzzle box—she’s cool, but they don’t really give her much to do outside of opening the box. It feels like they could’ve fleshed out her character a bit more. Plus, some of the effects... yeah, they’re rough. That floating diamond thing, Leviathan? Cool concept, but it looks like the matte painting it is.
But honestly, the vibe of this movie is what makes it work. It’s all about the insane visuals, the disturbing concepts, and just how unrelenting the whole thing feels. It doesn’t hold your hand, it’s just like, “Here’s Hell, and it’s gonna mess you up.” And for that, I respect it. It’s bold, it’s ambitious, and it’s so much more than just a typical horror sequel.
So yeah, Hellraiser II might not be perfect, but if you’re down for some seriously weird, dark, and gory horror, it’s definitely worth checking out. It expands the world in a cool way, gives us more of that twisted, Clive Barker goodness, and it’s a visually striking trip into Hell. It’s flawed, but in the best kind of way. If you liked the first one, you owe it to yourself to experience this nightmare of a sequel. I took a long time to get into this series and the only thing I can say is…” and to think…I hesitated.”