PLOT: The Cenobites return for Kirsty after the head physician at the mental hospital she’s being held at summons them.

You heard it here first: Hellbound: Hellraiser II is the most underrated horror sequel of all time. In the grand scheme of things, I don’t think this series gets its rightful attention in the history of horror. Granted, I haven’t seen the countless direct-to-DVD sequels of the past ten years, but the first two are quality horror films as far as I’m concerned. They’re gory, twisted, and creepy as hell; it’s exactly what you’re looking for in a horror movie.

This one takes place an indeterminate amount of time past Hellraiser, but the first film’s effects are still being felt, as lead girl Kirsty is still reeling from the events and has been admitted to a psychiatric ward. Unfortunately for her, the doctor that runs the psych ward is an occult freak and it’s not long before he’s resurrecting Kirsty’s crazy stepmom and feeding her mental patients to regain her full form. You know, that old chestnut.

Hellbound: Hellraiser II closes the gap between the Hellraiser series and The Nightmare on Elm Street series. The trip into Hell is very much like something you would find in a Freddy-controlled nightmare and Pinhead, although he never achieves the charisma of Freddy, up until this point at least, he’s not a cartoon. This sequel takes the ball from the first one and runs with it, making it a quality outing for all involved.

 

Skinless bodies are just the beginning in this series. Hellraiser always has a high gore quotient and this one does not disappoint.

Gore Rating: 5 out of 5

 

The first two Hellraiser films still hold up in terms of the creep factor. The disturbing sexuality of the films and the no-nonsense style of Pinhead make this a quality scare fest. Not too high on the jump scares, but a natural, overall unnerving viewing experience.

Scare Rating: 3.5 out of 5

 

Despite the original film’s sadomasochistic tendencies, this one dials it back just a bit. There’s some quick nudity, and some recycled sex scenes from the original, but that shouldn’t really count.

Sex/Nudity Rating: 2.5 out of 5

 

OVERALL

As I said in the beginning, this is an underrated horror sequel. It picks up where the first one left off and amplifies the stakes. That’s usually all you ask for when it comes to a sequel and this one achieves just that. It’s definitely worth your time.

Overall Rating: 7 out of 10