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Visitors Review

2013-05-11 18:56:09

hellraiser 2

This review is from: Hellbound: Hellraiser II (Midnight Madness Series) (DVD) Good sequel, but original was better. A must see to enjoy the series of nine movies so far. Would refinement.

btrocksyoursocks 2013-05-11 09:50:58

The even better sequel

HELLBOUND: HELLRAISER II (1988)cast: Clare Higgins, Ashley Laurence, Kenneth Cranham, Imogen Boorman,Sean Chapman, William Hope, Doug Bradley.plot: Kirsty (Ashley Laurence) has just survived the massacre at herfather's house and is put in a mental hospital. With her luck, herdoctor (Kenneth Cranham) is obsessed with hell and the lamentconfiguration (the puzzle box that opens the gates to hell). Heeventually resurrects the evil Julia (Clare Higgins) and forces young,mute puzzle-solver Tiffany (Imogen Boorman) to open the box, and Kirstysoon follows. Kirsty begs the Cenobites (including the famous Pinhead(Doug Bradley)) to take her to her dead father, but ends up findingFrank (Sean Chapman), Tiffany is searching for her past, and Channardis searching for answers with the help of Julia.the good:This sequel improves on the storyline, the characters, the acting, thegore, the special effects and answers all the questions left by thefirst. The two blend together like one long, great movie.the bad:Same as the first, none.

bh_tafe3 2013-05-06 08:55:35

Very Disappointing film

The Hellraiser guys really pulled a number on themselves here byfollowing up arguably the best horror film of the 80s with one of theworst.This film just doesn't work, but in many ways it does exactly what asequel should do, which is take what we've learnt in the first film andexpand on it in over the top fashion. Unfortunately this film goes soover the top that it's nearly impossible to watch.In this one the audience is taken into hell, with Kirsty, sole survivorof the first film our tour guide. Again this is a terrific idea andthey really go all out to make hell a surreal and horrifying place, butit just doesn't work. I mean Kirsty ends up befriending a young kid andwearing some fake human skin so she can save her life at movie's endand then we have a Disney soundtrack in the background and a feel goodmoment. Who's supposed to be watching this movie? Little kids? I won'tcomplain too much because I'm not a whiner, but there is too muchmeaningless carnage, too much Pinhead and too little story for me torate it as anything but a disappointment.

2013-05-05 13:34:46

RENT IT, BUT DON'T BUY IT

THIS TIME, KIRSTY [ASHLEY LAURANCE] GOES TO HELL IN SEARCH OF HER FATHER. I HATE TO SAY THIS, BUT NOTHING REALLY HAPPENS HERE.THIS MOVIE DOES GET A LITTLE BORING AT TIMES AND ON TOP OF THAT, THEY HAVE WAY TOO MANY FLASHBACKS TO THE ORIGINAL ''HELLRAISER''. THE MOVIE'S REDEEMING QUALITY IS ITS SCENES THAT INVOLOVE THE CENOBITES, WHICH DOES BREATH LIFE INTO THIS MEDIOCRE SEQUEL. FOR ALL FANS OF THE ORIGINAL WHO STILL HAVEN'T SEEN THIS, YOU MIGHT BE BETTER OFF JUST RENTING THIS ONE.

LostHighway101 2013-05-03 13:14:15

So-So Sequel

I'm lenient on horror sequels, and when you compare "Hellbound" toevery other "Hellraiser" film, it's moderately enjoyable.The production design is good (the labyrinth looks great!) the creatureand gore fx are top-notch, and the story tries its best to keep fresh(As much as I enjoyed the insight into Pinhead's past, I just wish itcould have been elaborated on a little further.) The acting is bad,though, and the story isn't as tight a narrative as the first one. Italso gets a little redundant considering the first film (the idea ofClare Higgins having to rejuvenate off of human bodies isoh-so-predictable).Overall though, it's a pretty gritty descent into hell. It may notinvoke Dante, but it's still a chilling sequel. My favorite scene isKirsty's reunion with Uncle Frank -- I wish the whole movie had thatkind of Dante-esquire feeling of Hell's bizarre tortures.Unfortunately, the series was all downhill from here.

PoisonKeyblade 2013-05-03 00:20:54

One of the best of the 80's

Atmospheric, surreal, intensely frightening, incredibly gory, andexpertly written and acted, Hellbound: Hellraiser II is the perfectexample of a sequel that is far superior to the original in bothcharacters and content. The story is better, and even the directing isbetter. The first Hellraiser is always looked at as the instantclassic, but the truth is that Hellbound is better in every way. Thecenobites are more menacing, Pinhead himself seems to be a touch moremenacing, and Kirsty is even more likable in this installment.Definitely not for people who can't handle intenselydisturbing/disgusting material.

rowandt 2013-04-30 02:24:58

If you've got the stomach, SEE IT!

The first film was definately an aquired taste, and while it was graphic,italso had complex characters and a clever plot. Of course, all horror filmsof the time need a sequel, and most are terrible. But not thisone...Hellbound: Hellraiser 2 really is a great sequel. Possibly better than thefirst (but much MUCH sicker), and although it has some rather poor specialeffects, its damn clever, and reveals a lot of interesting stuff aboutwhereCenobites come from and who they are.Be warned: This is a very very gory film, but if you can stand it, you'llsee its great.

atomic_age57 2013-04-29 20:55:53

One of the Goriest Horror Films of All Time

The Hellraiser series of horror films has always been one step ahead ofits peers in the gore department, and Hellbound: Hellraiser II went allout to prove this in probably one of the goriest, nastiest, mostdisgusting scene ever filmed. I'm referring to, of course, the horrificscene of a mental patient slashing himself repeatedly with a straightrazor to "rid" himself of the hallucination of being covered with bugs.The premise is that the mattress that Julia from the original film diedon is possessed with her spirit, and that she needs blood to resurrectherself. Well, she gets plenty via the poor mental patient, who unloadsbuckets of it onto the mattress, thus bringing Julia screaming anddripping right out of the middle of it. It is a very difficult scene towatch; I have to give the director/producer credit for the sheer horrorof it as is extremely effective. Definitely not for the squeamish!

ary luiz dalazen jr. 2013-04-26 02:24:53

Violent, shocking and brutal

This grotesque movie is a rare example of a sequence that is better than theoriginal. With an interesting and brave storyline, that mixes such differentelements, like pain and pleasure, excellent special effects (the ending is avisual show, with bombastic scenes, like the Leviathan), terrificperformances (good part of the original cast is back, including talentedEnglish actress Clare Higgins as Julia, and Ashley Laurence) and a daringfilmmaker, Tony Randel. The storyline places Kirsty into a psychiatrichospital, commanded by the equally brilliant and evil dr. Channard (KennethCranham, excellent. His part is unique, and Cranham makes his character aHumphrey Bogart type. Everything in Channard resembles Bogart). Channardmanages to bring Julia, the evil stepmother, back, through the mattress,andnot only he brings Julia back, but he also unleashes the cenobites. Countingwith the help of a mute girl named Tiffany and Kyle,a medical assistant wholearns too much too late and who ends up suffering a lot inside julia's arms(William Hope makes his even small interpretation one of the best things inthe film), Kirsty decides to put an end in the cenobites. What is so goodabout Randel's direction and Peter Atkin's script is that both are notafraid to shot this sick, but interesting, story in a realistic and cruelway. Hellbound Hellraiser 2 is a strong entertainment.

2013-04-25 12:18:11

An Inferior Sequel

After Clive Barker's Hellraiser made a substantial amount of money at the box office and introduced a new horror icon in the form of Pinhead, a sequel was inevitable. The sequel, which is only executive produced by Barker, boasts increased production values, more blood, and more Pinhead. Unfortunately, it also has a weak plot and an embarrassing new cenobite.The film opens with a quick recap of how #1 ended, before we see (briefly) how Pinhead came to be his nail-studded form. Kirsty (Ashley Laurence) from the first film is now in a psychiatric hospital after the carnage is discovered at her father's home. Kirsty tells the police and staff what happened, but not believes her of course. Soon, however, the malevolent Dr. Channard (Kenneth Cranham) who runs the hospital has succeeded in resurrecting Kirsty's step-mother Julia (Clare Higgins), who (like Frank from the first film) has no skin. Also along for the ride this time is Tiffany (Imogen Boorman), a patient at the hospital with a talent for solving puzzles. And, of course, Pinhead and his fellow cenobites have much more screen time.Pinhead's entrance is so grandiose; it's almost comical...But, a worthy (second) introduction to the character.Now, the makeup effects are much more gruesome this time around. Julie does look frightfully grotesque. I advise you not to eat while watching this movie. Seeing her does make one's stomach churn. Although, it's worth noting that nothing about this movie is disturbing, but much of it is disgusting.There is some pretty good imagery in this film though and the set/art direction is certainly more finely crafted. Some of the visual effects are, however, incredibly 80s and as such have not aged very well.As for the character's, Channard is a caricature. He has a foreboding voice and is instantly untrustworthy. When he appears in cenobite form, I shook my head a little. He looks like a cross between a Power Rangers villain and a creature from Beetlejuice.With that said, I still find the cenobites to be some of the more unique creations to emerge from 80s horror. The fact that their whole existence is shrouded in mystery makes them all the more fascinating...And what makes it so disappointing that they had to dig deeper into the Pinhead character. He was such a menacing presence in the first film; I think the decision to expose his humanity wasn't very wise. It doesn't bring much depth to the character and succeeds only at making him less frightening and therefore less effective.Overall, it's the plot that breaks this film. While the direction by Barker protégée Tony Randel is even-handed, Peter Atkins' tedious, extraordinarily weak plot struggles to fill its 96-minute running time. While not a complete failure it doesn't succeed as a sequel or even on its own merit. Yes, parts will satisfy the gore-starved horror fan of America and much of it looks pretty cool but all-in-all it's pretty inferior to its much better predecessor.GRADE: C

Bleeding-Skull 2013-04-21 18:17:02

* * out of 4

After having survived the Cenobites from the first film, Kirsty Cotton(Ashley Laurence) finds herself in a psychiatric hospital, as no onebelieves her story. Dr. Channard, (Kenneth Cranham) the head of theinstitute, arrives to treat her, but like the others, doesn't believeher story. As certain elements become more believable, he decides toinvestigate more fully, eventually finding the mystical LamontConfiguration. In so doing, Julia Cotton, (Claire Higgins) is broughtback into the world. When Kirsty discovers this, she finds theCenobites, lead by Pinhead, (Doug Bradley) are behind the whole affair.Dr. Channard and Julia are also along, trapped in Hell with Pinhead andthe others in an intense fight for survival.Pretty much a remake of the original, but with better differences.Features plenty of the gruesome special effects that made the originala sleeper hit. Eventually, it gets better after the first half-hour.Unrated for Extreme Graphic Violence, Sexual Situations, Profanity andBrief Nudity.Awesomely Bad Scale: * * out of 4.

2013-04-21 08:41:44

Why Torture Yourself?

I like horror movies. Almost too much. Let's not go into the reasons why. There are too many. And some of them aren't pretty.But I also like plots, character development, and complexity. After watching the first Hellraiser, I began to suspect that the series was created as an excuse to watch people get tortured with hooks. If you're not aware of the basic mythology, it is this: there is a box (called the Lament Configuration -- but you only know this if you've read the book) that, when it is opened, unlocks the gateway to another dimension filled with grotesque creatures called Cenobites who's only purpose is to inflict an eternity of endless suffering and pain on the person who opened the box.I began to wonder early on why on earth anyone anywhere would ever create such a box, let alone open it. See, all of the Saw movies operate on the same basic principle -- "Let's kill a bunch of people in graphic and horrifying ways!" -- but the deaths are (at least partially) connected to a larger theme: cherish your life. The Hellraiser films are like the exact opposite. They function as visual sadomasochism, inviting you to cherish death. Or not even death, because the victims of the Cenobites never really die.It's complicated, and I'm going somewhere with this. HELLBOUND picks up right where the first film left off. It even offers you a completely nonsensical recap at the beginning. This turns out to be unnecessary, because young Kirsty from the first film now finds herself in a mental institution, and she kindly spells out every little detail of the first film to her creepy psychiatrist, Dr. Channard. Channard, who is a closet Hellraiser junkie, is intrigued by her story and sets in motion events that will open for him the gates to the Cenobite world.Why on earth? Why would someone do that? Is he mad? Yes, he is. But he is more than that.When Channard finally visits the "fourth dimension" and sees it for what it is, he is horrified. Naturally. But then he begins to understand, and the nature of that world is made painfully clear. Why do I like horror movies? Why do insane psychiatrists insist on opening the gates to hell? It's really the same question.This sequel succeeds in ways that the first could only dream of. Barker's sadomasochistic universe is lovingly realized, and captures not just the essence of Barker's twisted brain, but also the twisted essence of why horror movies exist to begin with. Whether you like a little spank with your sex, or enjoy the "burn" of an extra hard workout at the gym, or simply can't look away when you pass a particularly nasty car accident on the street, the basic point is that pain is almost never without pleasure. Pain releases endorphins, it fine tunes the mind, and Barker is fiddling with that visceral clarity that comes from watching something horrible happen to someone else. Horror movies, after all, are the result of a little sadomasochism in all of us, and HELLBOUND takes that point and expands on it until you have an entire universe built on the pleasurably painful line separating life and death.It's not an easy movie to watch in many respects (and not just because both Ashley Laurence and Kenneth Cranham are some of the worst actors I've ever seen), but it finally answers some niggling questions and becomes more than just an excuse to watch torture. In fact, if you haven't seen the first film, I suggest you skip it and start with this one. If you like horror movies, you've got no excuse not to.

2013-04-17 09:10:57

Just as good, if not better than the first.

I was expecting the sequel to Hellraiser to be a retarded knock-off of the original, but I was definately shown not to judge a movie by it's cover. This movie continues where the first one left off and reveals more of the origin of Pinhead and his comrads. Just watch it, but only if you've seen the first Hellraiser.

2013-04-16 18:29:20

Blew-Ray-Very disappointed

This review is from: Hellbound: Hellraiser II (Midnight Madness) [Blu-ray] (Blu-ray) I'd be completely fine with a bare-bones "just the movie" release if the movie looks great. It doesn't. It looks like an upscaled DVD. Some scenes don't even look centered properly on the screen, and some scenes have a "jitter" for a few seconds after a transition. Soft picture overall. Fuzzy, grainy and stunning lack of detail. Been looking forward to a Blu-Ray release of this movie for a long time. Looks like I'm still waiting.

2013-04-16 05:27:33

HELLBOUND: HELLRAISER 2 � a gory and dark sequel

"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."True, true, true... The blood and gore truly piles up, and you begin to think of ALL humans are nothing more than a means to see blood. It is, however, still fresh and original, despite tedious moments, and Clive Barker keeps it darks and brooding.Hospitalised 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.The patient's bloodshed is truly gruesome, as the doctor purposely lets the man cut himself. But, as the movie convention goes, he is quickly and resourcefully tortured in the depths of the Cenobite hell. Clare Higgins returns, and she doesn't have any skin. Luckily, once she gets it back, Kirsty, at some moment, puts it on and has it slip off.`Nuff said. It isn't meant to be groundbreaking - just a throwaway second part, letting us watch some great effects and watch the makeup artistry.RECOMMEND? Yes - but don't take it seriously. Not for the haters of gore.

Prolox 2013-04-15 21:02:53

A gore hounds dream!

Second (& my personal favorite) of the Hellraiser series, has KIRSTYCOTTON traveling through hell, looking for her dead father that shebelieves is trapped in there. But she encounters trouble, first fromher re-animated, evil stepmother JULIA, who sucks the life out of thepoor unwary human in order to obtain their skin. Second, from her uncleFRANK who's still a little ticked at Kirsty after she led the Cenobitesright to him. Third, she also has to deal with the evil Cenobites &their leader PINHEAD whom also have a vendetta to settle with Kirsty &last but not least there's the evil DR. CHANNARD who's visit to hellhas transformed him into an evil & very mean cenobite, who's about tomake sure that Kirsty & the mute girl TIFFANY don't get out of hell!This sequel is a gore hounds dream! all the trademarks of the series ishere, the good acting, the well drawn characters, the deliciously evilhuman/non human characters, the colorful monsters, skinless corpses,all sorts of sadistic bloody murders, good directing & an alwaysinteresting storyline to keep you hooked is all here!. Were also givena back story for the lead demon Pinhead, where he came from & how hecame to be etc. Now if only the later sequels were as much fun &interesting as this one! an excellent well made horror movie sequel,but if you are squeamish, stay well away from this, there's severalbrutal kills in this movie, that may cause you to either flinch or barfincluding the scene where a mental patient cuts away at himself with astraight razor!. Followed by a sequel, HELLRAISER 3: HELL ON EARTH **** stars

2013-04-06 15:49:18

i see something..yeah! it's another hellraiser

for real,i love this one....what more can i say?i just think it's f**king cool

2013-04-06 01:18:07

Dont suport crappy releases!!

Yet again a gready company tries to flog consumers by releasing a crappy release.The movie itself deserves a decent release on Blu-Ray NOT an upscaled dvd.Do not buy this release. Save your money antil a decent release is out there.

CMRKeyboadist 2013-03-30 22:31:23

Best Horror Movie Ever

This movie is quite simply the best horror movie I have ever seen. Themovie is flawless in every way as far as I'm concerned. I first sawthis movie back in the theaters when I was just about nine (my parentsgot me into the theater) and I remember being blown away. Thisinstallment was not directed by Clive Barker like the first one was butdirected by Tony Randell and starring much of the same cast from thefirst also. The film takes right off where Hellraiser 1 leaves off andthrows you into a world of Gothic horror, self mutilation, betrayal,and at times, I think, has a Shakespearean undertone. The film moves atan interesting pace as the first half of the movie introduces some newcharacters and interesting plot twists. It really tends to pick upthough during the last 45 minutes of the movie as the cenobites bringyou into their own world which to this day still gives me nightmares. Ithink the most original thing about this movie is the Chanard characterwho in the second half of the movie is probably the most terrifyingcharacter to ever appear on the silver screen. I highly recommomendthis film to anyone who likes any type of horror. You won't bedisappointed.

2013-03-30 03:48:05

A special treat for the best Hellraiser installment

To me, Hellbound: Hellraiser II is the best of the Hellraiser mythology. Though hellraiser is more scary, and certainly more original, I find the second to be more pleasing in sense of narrative and characters interaction. Doug Bradley delivers his best Pinhead performance, and the film preserves the visual dark, grainy and disturbing look of the original (due to Robin Vidgeon Bsc). Christopher Young's score of the seance scene is the best in this series. I wish the DVD had a seperate music- only audio track (as Mars Attacks! does).