(1988) ***
Hellbound opens with bitchy yet appealing Kirsty, kept in a mental hospital just after the events of the first movie. Turns out the head doctor is himself an avid fan of the Cenobites' puzzle boxes, which is either a huge coincidence or clear evidence that everyone who works in psychology is a nutty cuckoo-head.
In the film's most inspired storyline, the gonzo doc acquires the mattress that Julia died on and arranges a blood sacrifice to bring her back. If you haven't seen this movie, then this scene alone is enough to give it a shot. Definitely the best horror sequence of any of the 1988 movies I've screened. As in the first flick, the recently returned display a vicious, nightmare hunger that is slick and scary. And this time it's bitchy yet extremely appealing Julia, who struts around the house in blood-spattered white linen and no skin -- ooh, it's stylish.
Meanwhile, Kirsty has gotten the crazy doc's young assistant on her side (little minx!) and has also gotten a plea for help from a skinless apparition she thinks is her father. Turns out it's Frank, of course. Second movie in a row she sees a skinless body and makes that mistake. Shame on her, then.
Unfortunately, once we get to Hell the story loses a lot of focus. Certain aspects are worthwhile, like the Escheresque setting and that big rotating diamond. But after a while it just seemed like just more and more footage of Kirsty and the mute girl running down those stone hallways. The crazy doctor gets transformed into a Cenobite that is at first a major badass and then winds up ripping off his own head by accident.
A lot of Clive Barker stuff I've either read or seen suffers from Hellbound's problem. A decent mood is set, but the story wanders away with itself. The arc of this movie is Kirsty goes to mental hospital, Kirsty goes to Hell, Kirsty goes to mental hospital again, Kirsty goes to Hell again. See what I mean? One trip to Hell should be enough.
1 comment:
I’ve been touting the Freddy-wears-sunglasses scene for years as the moment that horror died in the 80s. I always forget that the Hellraiser films remained faithful to their horror routes. Hellraiser II, especially the unrated cut, is extremely graphic, dark, moody, and actually scary. The idea of being trapped in hell is really freaky and I thought the depiction of hell was perfect. Granted I haven’t seen this film in a decade, but it’s always stayed with me.
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