There are a handful of films that simply flat out don’t get sufficient credit score for what they carry to the desk. This might be as a result of they’re remakes which are overshadowed by the unique property, one thing just like the remake of The Crazies, got here out the identical yr as one other scorching property, I’m considering Close to Darkish getting buried by The Misplaced Boys, or be saddled with the heavy burden of being a sequel to an all-time basic like right this moment’s subject. Hellbound: Hellraiser II got here out only a yr after the primary one was launched, in reality, it was greenlit whereas the primary movie was nonetheless in post-production, and whereas that might have been a recipe for catastrophe, this film is one thing particular. Not solely is that this the final Hellraiser that basically adheres to its supply materials till the 2022 iteration got here out, however it’s really a extra entertaining time than its hallowed predecessor. I’ve such sights to indicate you as we revisit Hellbound: Hellraiser II.
As I discussed, Hellraiser II was put in manufacturing earlier than the primary one even had its first exhibiting however that was a big gamble that paid off as Hellraiser would get good critiques and made 30 million on its meager 1-million-dollar funds. The unique funds, which I can’t discover wherever, was going to be a lot larger at first however was then slashed after the studio checked out what they wished to do. It in the end didn’t matter because it nonetheless seems prefer it has the next funds than the primary one and will get inventive on making the film really feel prefer it has extra places and a grander scale than the primary. Actually, its wonderful what they have been in a position to do with it contemplating the chief architect stepped away significantly from his position in Hellraiser. Clive Barker was the author and director on the primary film however the stress of it made him take a step again since this film was shot so quickly after the primary one wrapped.
Barker would assist with the story, however the screenplay duties have been handed to Peter Atkins. Atkins took over for Michael McDowell who had written Beetlejuice and a handful of horror episodic TV however needed to step away as a result of well being points and Beetlejuice rewrites. Atkins hadn’t performed something on display screen however had been a playwright with Barker and would go on to put in writing Hellraiser III, Hellraiser: Bloodline, and even the primary Wishmaster. To take over directing duties for Barker can be Tony Randel who was a very long time New World Photos worker and had edited the primary film whereas working extremely shut with Barker. This may even be his first credited director gig however he would go on to helm each Amityville 1992 and Ticks. Have a look at these credit from the author and director and inform me why this film works so properly. Theres no logical cause behind it, not less than till you look deeper.
Whereas the author and director have been each model new, a lot of the remainder of the solid and crew returned. Results designer Bob Eager got here again to provide us the disgusting issues seen all through the film whereas cinematographer Robin Vidgeon and composer Christopher Younger would additionally come again of their roles to not solely make the film really feel proper at house sitting subsequent to the primary entry but additionally enhance on issues. In entrance of the digicam, we might see Ashley Laurence come again as Kirsty, Sean Chapman as Frank, Clare Higgins to headline as Julia, and Doug Bradley as his iconic Pinhead with cenobites in tow. The whole manufacturing feels uncomfortably snug.
The fundamental story, with recycled footage as a recap to start out, is that Kirsty is in a psychological hospital attempting to clarify to police the unexplainable. Dr. Channard who’s on the hospital along with her and is obsessive about the Lament Configuration, you already know, the important thing to the cenobites and hell, hears her story and brings Julia again. Julia follows the steps Frank did to get his type again within the authentic and the 2 plan to make use of a number of the different sufferers on the hospital to open the doorways to hell for energy. This occurs however in fact it’s greater than both bargained for and we se a battle between a newly highly effective Dr. Channard, the cenobites, and a few surprising visitors. Kirsty and a younger affected person named Tiffany come out on prime, however the cycle is doomed to repeat itself.
So, what else makes Hellbound so good? The primary cause is the understanding of what makes a Hellraiser film particular. Kirsty has to cope with the resurrected Julia, an influence hungry Channard, the loss of life of her boyfriend who I at all times overlook is Gorman from Aliens, and no one desirous to imagine her story. It takes 50 minutes to go within the runtime earlier than we see Pinhead and his cohorts, in addition to the mini backstory in the beginning of how Pinhead got here to be. They aren’t even the most important villains of the film with a trapped Frank working round, Julia reincarnated, and particularly Uber Channard after he will get his transformation. That’s one of many largest issues. Clive knew that within the first film and those who took over comprehend it right here. The Cenobites must be the vacation spot, not the entire journey. Whereas the direct to video lineage of those films are probably the most egregious of their overuse of Pinhead particularly, some even turning him right into a 2-bit slasher villain, even 3 and 4 make it some extent to have these villains entrance and heart. The film is known as Hellraiser, not The Cenobites Bogus Journeys.
That brings me to my subsequent level of what makes this film higher than its predecessor. Its hell may be very a lot an thought, greater than a spot. We don’t want the circles that Dante launched in his inferno to be scary. Frank’s private hell is being caught with ladies that he can’t have in a spot he’s caught without end. It’s not hearth and brimstone that hurts him bodily again and again, it’s an emotional torture that gained’t depart his thoughts and that he bodily can’t do something about. I’m curious what we might have seen in Julia’s personal private hell and even somebody like poor Larry who was initially presupposed to be dragged into this place too. Within the authentic script, they have been sort of stitched collectively till Kirsty was in a position to save her dad and even escape with him on the finish of the film. This was all modified however it did result in that unusual scene that was on the again of the VHS and early DVD bins that confirmed the Cenobites as surgeons. It’s a deleted scene you possibly can watch on any of the newer field units that lastly give readability to the thriller of what that scene got here from. Anyway, hell here’s a complicated and scary place however extra importantly it’s a really private one.
Whereas the funds ended up being greater than the 1 million that the primary one had, it was nonetheless lower down which modified the script and sure scenes round, however it’s definitely doesn’t really feel like they took that funds out of the gore. From Julia taking her flip as a skinless zombie to the loopy affected person slicing imaginary bugs off of himself, Hellbound delivers on the products. That affected person by the best way can be the identical man who performs skinless Frank. Actually although the entire film seems like a Halloween Horror Nights walkthrough and I imply that in the absolute best means. All of the our bodies hung up that Julia took the life pressure from, the hospital itself with the opposite sufferers attempting to unravel the varied bins, the complicated structure of hell, and the leftovers of the home within the first film all are nice set items that I can envision strolling round in.
The rating is simply as crisp and epic as the primary film and matches in with the gorgeous matte portray of the middle of hell. Whereas I loved seeing Frank once more and Julia having her very personal Frank second, Channard is a greater villain. He appears meek at first as he tries to determine what precisely waits for him on the opposite aspect and is trusting Julia to get him there however when he’s remodeled, and boy is it ever a change, he turns into a pressure to be reckoned with. He even asks himself why he hesitated. He has blades which are sharper than any scalpel he’s accustomed to utilizing and the look is becoming for what he has change into. If there’s something I can complain about, it’s that he turns into virtually a Freddy-like one-liner spitting dangerous man, which doesn’t match. It is smart with the place we have been at with the Nightmare on Elm Road sequence, however it isn’t wanted right here. The battle he has with Pinhead and his cronies is nice if a little bit quick and it’s superior to see the Cenobites flip into the individuals they have been earlier than agreeing to be hell’s private ache military. The Chatterer as a baby is horrifying and so deliciously surprising.
Hellbound: Hellraiser II shouldn’t work. It misplaced its author and director, had its funds slashed in the midst of manufacturing, and was rushed to come back out simply the next yr from its predecessor. It’s additionally a horror sequel and everyone knows the trail that these entries often take however by some means, despite all its obstacles, the film turned out to be sooner paced, gorier, and much more horrifying than the primary. It’s higher as a result of it took what made the primary one good and made the weather nice. Even with recycled footage and comparable concepts it by some means manages to really feel recent and fascinating whereas audiences have been nonetheless grappling with the primary one. It’s unlucky that it will get misplaced within the pantheon of nice horror sequels however even above that it sits in an much more unique and elusive class of being a greater film than the unique. Hellbound is the very best Hellraiser film and must be given the eye its due. Give it a revisit and revel in questioning about what your personal expertise can be in the event you solved the field they usually got here.
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