At 'Dem Flicks w\ Malcolm - Hellbound : Hellraiser II

[Malcolm]

My Netflix queue was underused for a time, but I've started shit back up again. They finally stock Hellraiser III, which is why I've lined up the entire collection.

Synopsis :

After the events of the first film, a chick decides to try to retrieve her father from hell. Being in an insane asylum run by a malevolent doctor makes it difficult, though.

Review :

Hellraiser II picks up (sort of) where the original left off. Clive Barker is not behind the helm, but he was the executive producer & his influence on the depiction of hell in the film is unmistakable. There's half a decent film here. Unfortunately, that half doesn't run in series. To put it succintly, half of the first half is decent, and half of the second half is decent. The first half builds up to a trip to hell. The uninteresting bit is all the shit borrowed from the first film, though the special effects are no less impressive. The background of Pinhead himself gives an already theatrical villain proper depth. There's about half a dozen players involved in the film, which means ample opportunity to characters in entertaining scenarios. The second half's chief attraction is the exploration of Barker's vision of hell. It's vivid, atmospheric, & thoroughly creepy enough for most folk. But there is an obvious point where the screenwriter was either rushed or just started pulling ideas out of his ass cos the last quarter of the film is barely held together with even the most fucked up logic. & the treatment of Pinhead & his group of Cenobites at the end is nigh reprehensible. Oh, & for a puzzle box that unlocks a doorway to hell & is supposed to be of infinite complexity, it seems goddamn near every moderately attractive female between the ages of eighteen and twenty-five can open it on demand w\o breaking too much of a sweat.

Clive Barker summarized the film in the featurette quite well, "I think it's an uneven film. But I think the first film was uneven, too. I liked Hellbound. I think it's a better sequel than most low-budget horror movies get."

Verdict : 2.5 stars. A solid renter if you enjoyed the first film. Otherwise, the amazing (for 1988) special effects & makeup & copious amount of blood-letting and violence should satisfy genre fans. If you aren't in either of those two categories, this flick will prove barely watchable.

[GORDON]

I saw this movie in the theater Christmas night the year it opened.

Oh, & for a puzzle box that unlocks a doorway to hell & is supposed to be of infinite complexity, it seems goddamn near every moderately attractive female between the ages of eighteen and twenty-five can open it on demand w\o breaking too much of a sweat.

I always had the impression that depending on who was trying, the puzzle box wanted to be opened, so it made itself a little easier than for other folks.

[Malcolm]

I've been thinking about that. If it weren't for the fact that the box needs to be solved in order to close the door, I could get behind your theory. But the varied responses the box has to individual people initially solving it would suggest that there are certainly different reactions to different people interacting w\ the same object.

I think Hellraiser III has one of your precious DS9 cast members, G.

[TPRJones]

Maybe the puzzle box just reads the script.

[GORDON]

Which one was III? With the club owner that used women?

[Malcolm]

It's been years since I've seen it, but I believe you're correct. It was not the proudest entry in the franchise.

[DoctorChaos]

the puzzle box wanted to be opened, so it made itself a little easier than for other folks.

My pants work like that. :laugh:

[Malcolm]

It seems AMC has really started playing fast & loose w\ "C" cos this film was on. But it looks like it's against AMC policy to show an impaled child.