Hellbound: Hellraiser 2 (1988)

47% of critics liked it
(19 reviews)
66% of users liked it
(45,951 ratings)

Horror fantasist Clive Barker, director of the original Hellraiser, maintained creative control over this worthy sequel as executive producer, but was unable to occupy the director's chair due to his involvement on other projects. His creative touch is still quite evident here, as the original… More Horror fantasist Clive Barker, director of the original Hellraiser, maintained creative control over this worthy sequel as executive producer, but was unable to occupy the director's chair due to his involvement on other projects. His creative touch is still quite evident here, as the original film's story is expanded in scope and intensity. The story picks up immediately after the events of the original, with the mentally unbalanced Kirsty (Ashley Laurence) confined to a mental hospital after her experiences in the hellish domain of the grotesque Cenobites, which included the gruesome death of her father. Her case attracts the attention of hospital director Dr. Channard (Kenneth Cranham), whose marked interest in her story has more than a little to do with his research into the occult. The chief focus of this extracurricular activity seems centered on his impressive collection of puzzle boxes, many of which are versions of the Lament Configuration -- the device which opens the gateway to the Cenobites' dimension. To further realize his diabolical obsession, Channard conducts grisly human sacrifices to resurrect the body of Kirsty's evil stepmother, Julia (Clare Higgins) -- who has literally been through hell and back. He also recruits mute autistic patient Tiffany (Imogen Boorman), an expert at solving puzzles, to decipher the correct version of the box. Haunted by visions of her mutilated father suffering in hell, Kirsty joins Tiffany in hopes of rescuing him from the Cenobites' dimension. Tiffany gains them access to the portal, and they make the nightmarish journey down the corridors of hell. Narrowly escaping the diabolical Pinhead (Doug Bradley), they come face to face with Julia, who has already handed Dr. Channard over to the Cenobites to be transformed into a hideous new creation. First-time director Tony Randel acquits himself nicely, and seems to have a real flair for the surreal material; the script by longtime Barker collaborator Peter Atkins elaborates on elements only hinted at in its predecessor. It should follow that the slightly larger budget would allow ample room for this expansion, but the production values actually appear somewhat slimmer. What the film lacks in refined style it makes up for in utter dementia, particularly in its depiction of graphic bloodletting -- numerous scenes were trimmed or deleted altogether in order to obtain an R rating from the MPAA. ~ Cavett Binion, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 36 min.
Directed By: Tony Randel
Written By: Peter Atkins
Genres: Horror

In Theaters: Dec 23, 1988 Wide
On DVD: Sep 19, 2000
Studio: New World Video

Critic Reviews

Variety Staff, Variety
A maggotty carnival of mayhem, mutation and dismemberment, awash in blood and recommended only for those who thrive on such junk.
Richard Harrington, Washington Post
Even if you discount the cliche's, there are enough bizarre and shocking effects here to satisfy all but the most demanding genre fans.
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
It is simply a series of ugly and bloody episodes strung together one after another like a demo tape by a perverted special-effects man.
Tim Brayton, Antagony & Ecstasy
A thoroughly worthy successor to the freakishly original Hellraiser.
Felix Vasquez Jr., Cinema Crazed
A mixed bag that I just didn't fully embrace in the end...
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
The film collapses into a bloody mess of bravura set pieces that never add up to a satisfying whole.
, Film4
Gory but lacking in purpose, this sequel benefits from the return of Higgins and the new addition of Cranham, yet fails to do much with the premise other than deliver a reactionary AIDS parable.
Eric Henderson, Slant Magazine
It's probably a stretch to surmise that, just as the first film's subtext dealt with health fears, the sequel mines its dread from the horror of malpractice.
Bill Gibron, Filmcritic.com
as part of the ongoing Hellraiser legacy, Hellbound is an excellent sequel
Derek Adams, Time Out
Simply performs cosmetic surgery on the original.
Luke Y. Thompson, New Times
It's great up until the end, which is so bad as to undermine all that came before.
Widgett Walls, Needcoffee.com
In franchise history there have been a lot worse sequels than this turned out to be. Yes, that's a bit of a compliment.
Alex Sandell, Juicy Cerebellum
More gore than lore, but still a fun film, if you can stomach it.
Alex Keen, Trades
Fun Fun Fun :P
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
Visually striking, sometimes disturbing
Walter Chaw, Film Freak Central
delivers an amazing amount of discomfiting imagery on an extremely limited budget
Scott Weinberg, Apollo Guide
Icky, slimy and nauseating. I loved it!

Read all 17 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Jeff "

The follow-up to Clive Barker's Hellraiser is a terrific horror flick with a great cast, great effects and very good directing provided by Tony Randel. As far as sequels are concerned, Hellbound is one of the better sequels in a horror franchise. Usually a sequel tends to lack… More
The follow-up to Clive Barker's Hellraiser is a terrific horror flick with a great cast, great effects and very good directing provided by Tony Randel. As far as sequels are concerned, Hellbound is one of the better sequels in a horror franchise. Usually a sequel tends to lack the power of the original film, however this is not the case for Hellbound. Though not as great as Hellraiser; this film has all the necessary elements to create the effective terror that Hellraiser fans have come to expect. This film is designed to disturb its audience and like the first film, it does it very well. Though Clive Barker didn't direct this film, you can still see his imagination run wild throughout the film. The film succeeds at delivering dark images of melancholic painful terror. This film is a worthy enough sequel to Clive Barker's original masterpiece, and it continues where the first left off. Lead actresses Clare Higgins and Ashley Laurence reprise their roles from the first film, and it brings an even greater sense of continuity to the film. Fans of the first film will most likely enjoy this film, and like the first Hellraiser, it remains a must see film for fans. This is the best sequel in the entire franchise, and as the series progressed; it's easy to see why. If you've enjoyed the first film, then give this one a view, you'll most likely going to enjoy it as much as Barker's classic of terror.
Dean !

I think I prefer the story line of this one over the first. The first film did drag a bit until the end. It was good to see more of the Cenobites in this one. Parts of it were repetitive though, still very gory and unusual though. If you liked the first check it out.
Melvin W

The first one was just good enough to get me interested in seeing the sequel. The sequel was bad enough to make me never want to see any of the other sequels. Unlike the first movie, this one has no redeeming qualities. The first Hellraiser was cool and inspired. Hellbound seemed… More
The first one was just good enough to get me interested in seeing the sequel. The sequel was bad enough to make me never want to see any of the other sequels. Unlike the first movie, this one has no redeeming qualities. The first Hellraiser was cool and inspired. Hellbound seemed to just be cashing in on the success of the first one.
David L

A year after the events of the first movie, Kirsty (Ashley Laurence) has been confined to a psychiatric ward for no one believes that creatures from hell killed her family. However a pretty patient girl named Tiffany (Inogen Boorman) who is good at solving puzzles is a favorite… More
A year after the events of the first movie, Kirsty (Ashley Laurence) has been confined to a psychiatric ward for no one believes that creatures from hell killed her family. However a pretty patient girl named Tiffany (Inogen Boorman) who is good at solving puzzles is a favorite patient of a doctor named Dr. Channard (Kenneth Cranham) who has an obsession with finding ways into another dimension. He discovers the bloody mattress where Julia (Clare Higgins) was murdered as he resurrects her to help Dr. Channard summon the forces of evil. However Pinhead (Doug Bradley) and his Cenobite minions have returned unhappy as they seek revenge with now Kirsty being the only one that can stop this evil madness once again even if she literally has to go to hell. A brilliant and macabre sequel to Clive Barker's 1987 cult horror fantasy masterpiece! Tony Randall does his directorial debut has done a splendid job of crafting this follow-up. Barker serves as executive producer and this sequel gives the goods just like the original with surreal stunning imagery, graphic gore, torture, S&M and good atmosphere. In fact, the film is so gory that back in 1988 it was threatened with an "X" rating but luckily the uncut unrated version got to see the light of day on video in 1989 and DVD now, the movie offers plot twists with really cool special effects and creature effects for it's time. This installment even offers the origin of Pinhead who is every horror fanboy's favorite nail-headed creature from the abyss of oblivion and Christopher Young's score is chilling as always. Here is a satisfying follow-up that won't disappoint.
AJ V

If you loved the first Hellraiser movie, you should definitely see this sequel, it's slow at first, but you get to see Hell, and there are a some surprises in the end you wont want to miss. I really liked this movie.
Conner R

The cenobites are back for revenge. This time you get sucked into their world and see the chaos. It's a nice follow up to the original, while it can't stand on its own it's still fun. You learn a little more about the box, as well as Pinhead. I liked that they brought… More
The cenobites are back for revenge. This time you get sucked into their world and see the chaos. It's a nice follow up to the original, while it can't stand on its own it's still fun. You learn a little more about the box, as well as Pinhead. I liked that they brought Frank back, even though it was only for a little. My only complaint is that the effects and look of the movie wasn't as good as the first, but it by no means ruined the experience.
Lady D

A little more gory than a lot of Horror films around this time and despite forgetting completely what the prequel was about, there is enough content in the sequel to refresh your memory. It didn?t start out too badly and thought it looked a little promising, but soon enough we… More
A little more gory than a lot of Horror films around this time and despite forgetting completely what the prequel was about, there is enough content in the sequel to refresh your memory. It didn?t start out too badly and thought it looked a little promising, but soon enough we entered a ?should I switch off or continue watching? moment, stayed with it, but was completely bored.
Anthony L

This is a mess of a film. Style over content, it never seems to know what it wants to achieve. It does have some really good moments but they never feel intentional and they are always overshadowed by terrible acting, pointless scenes and stupid story lines! Good special effects/ gore… More
This is a mess of a film. Style over content, it never seems to know what it wants to achieve. It does have some really good moments but they never feel intentional and they are always overshadowed by terrible acting, pointless scenes and stupid story lines! Good special effects/ gore though!
Bruce B

Everyone know about Hellraiser, this is the 2nd in the series, I thought the Special Effects in the 1st Hellraiser were just a little better, but this one had some wild effects also but then what Clive Barker Film doesn?t. Does Pinhead come back I hope so he?s my hero. How can you not… More
Everyone know about Hellraiser, this is the 2nd in the series, I thought the Special Effects in the 1st Hellraiser were just a little better, but this one had some wild effects also but then what Clive Barker Film doesn?t. Does Pinhead come back I hope so he?s my hero. How can you not have it in your collection, if your into horror you need this one.
_kelly .

The first reel of this movie is a recap of the last movie - and it's just the same footage played again, not anything new. The rest of the movie tries to be Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors. The script is not only bad, the acting and editing are awkward to fit it. The… More
The first reel of this movie is a recap of the last movie - and it's just the same footage played again, not anything new. The rest of the movie tries to be Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors. The script is not only bad, the acting and editing are awkward to fit it. The only things I liked about this movie were a few shots of the Cenobites, especially where the main four are in their chain room, and again their world/philosophy is underexplained. I like them showing a Pinhead origins time lapse shot of his lines and nails being imposed on his face. Loving the gut-face Cenobite but disappointed by the mad shrink Cenobite. I like the Escher style labyrinth, but why only a few angles of it? I don't care about any of these characters, and I think continuing the storyline from the first was a horrible idea. The effects and blood are at least WAY better in this one compared to the first, but not enough to cover the brittle boned tale it hangs upon. Don't bother with this whole movie; just look up the best clips on youtube or summat.
Cassandra M

After the strange events of the first movie,Kirsty is sent to a Institution for the Mentally Sick, commanded by the mysterious Dr. Channard,a crazed psychologist who is willing to open the doors of hell by manipulating the Puzzle Box.In doing so,Channard brings Kirsty's perverse… More
After the strange events of the first movie,Kirsty is sent to a Institution for the Mentally Sick, commanded by the mysterious Dr. Channard,a crazed psychologist who is willing to open the doors of hell by manipulating the Puzzle Box.In doing so,Channard brings Kirsty's perverse stepmother Julia back to life,and consequently he provokes the rage of the dreadful cenobites,the cruel and evil creatures that give pleasure and pain in the same measure.Hellbound Hellraiser 2 is an extremely well-done film,thanks to the generous budget given to newcomer filmmaker Tony Randel and a first-rate production.The special effects are simply terrific (specially considering the time in which the movie was done,1988) and they create a bombastic,scary visual.I never saw a movie with such an incredible scenery and imagery,except maybe for Dark City.Clive Barker's vision of hell is brought to life with mastery through the work of Randel and Director of Photography Robin Vidgeon. The plot sustains the tension and keeps you on the edge of your seat from start to finish,though the first half hour of Hellbound: Hellraiser II is a little bit slow and descriptive (but never boring); a great portion of the action and the terror is concentrated in the last minutes. The last thirty ones are a realistic and gutsy "tour de force" through fear,violence and suffering.This is definitively a masterpiece, but not for the squeamish.Hellbound: Hellraiser II is rated R for extreme violence and sex scenes,it runs 99 minutes(uncut version released by Anchor Bay).It stars Clare Higgins as Julia, Ashley Laurence as Kirsty, Imogen Boorman as Tiffany,William Hope as Kyle McRae and Kenneth Cranham as Dr. Channard.If you like this movie, you might also enjoy Phenomena and Suspiria.
Lafe F

There's a lot packed into this sequel; we get to go to Hell and see how demons are made. Kirsty (Ashley Laurence) is back from the first Hellraiser, and so are Julia, Frank, Pinhead and the other Cenobytes. Joining the conundrum are a puzzle-solving girl and her doctor, for lots… More
There's a lot packed into this sequel; we get to go to Hell and see how demons are made. Kirsty (Ashley Laurence) is back from the first Hellraiser, and so are Julia, Frank, Pinhead and the other Cenobytes. Joining the conundrum are a puzzle-solving girl and her doctor, for lots more freaky skin-tearing pleasure and pain. Nice imagery of Hell, like a giant labyrinth. More mysteries of the cube are presented. The story is larger in scope than the one-house Hellraiser #1. It had a few scary encounters, and felt a bit like "Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors", which was made around the same time.
Dr Blood

Even nastier than the original. There are moments in this which will make you wince and put you off body-piercing for life!
danny d

terrible
xGary X

Inventive sequel that adds some flesh to the bones of the original's idea. Some very disturbing images and definitely not for the weak of stomach, but fans of this kind of thing will love it.
James A

The only other Hellraiser movie in my opinion.
Matthew Y

Hellbound is a direct sequel to the original. It continues the storylines set-up in the first film and brings them to a satisfying conclusion. It also gives us more details on the backstories of the Seno...Ceno...Senobits....Cenobites? Whatever, the creepy demonic S&M guys and… More
Hellbound is a direct sequel to the original. It continues the storylines set-up in the first film and brings them to a satisfying conclusion. It also gives us more details on the backstories of the Seno...Ceno...Senobits....Cenobites? Whatever, the creepy demonic S&M guys and their leader Pin-Head. This was the last major theatrical release the series ever had, all six subsequent sequels were TV or video releases. I haven't watched any of them before but I suspect an ever decreasing production value is only going to hinder the overall quality of the product. Hellraiser never lit-up the box-office, it never reached the acclaim or appeal of other major Slasher films (Halloween, Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Nightmare on Elm Street, etc.) but a rabid fan-following has kept it above water throughout the years and it's one of the only Horror films they're talking about remaking that I'd be interested in seeing.
Jacob P

More cheesier than the first...not the best sequel out there. I'd just skip this one if I were you...and I really wouldn't watch any of the other Hellraiser movies.
Sylvester K

A good come back, fans of the first film would love it
Quinto W

Very muddled, they seem to be just throwing a lot of ideas (and later forgetting them) just to see what sticks; but again, it's a lot of gory, bloody fun and the make-up department and special effects, though more dated than the first time around (mainly because there are more)… More
Very muddled, they seem to be just throwing a lot of ideas (and later forgetting them) just to see what sticks; but again, it's a lot of gory, bloody fun and the make-up department and special effects, though more dated than the first time around (mainly because there are more) are still solid.