Search - Hellbound: Hellraiser 2 on DVD

Content Advisory: Violence, Nudity, Strong Sexual Content, Not For Children, Adult Language, Profanity, Gore Movie Release: 1988 DVD Release: 07/24/2001 Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV Audio Tracks: English SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 1 hrs 48 mins Studio: Anchor Bay Members Wishing: 6 Genres: Horror, Supernatural Horror See Also: Hellbound: Hellraiser 2, Hellbound: Hellraiser II [20th Anniversary Edition]

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, All Movie Guide

Clare Higgins - Julia
Ashley Laurence - Kirsty Cotton
Kenneth Cranham - Dr. Channard
Imogen Boorman - Tiffany
Sean Chapman - Uncle Frank
William Hope - Kyle Macrae

Pinhead makes his return in the first sequel to the terrifying Hellraiser series, Hellbound: Hellraiser II. Anchor Bay has done a very impressive job on this 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer (as well as an optional full frame version). The colors all look vibrant and well saturated with the black levels appearing solid and dark. While a small amount of grain shows up in a few scenes, it's never distracting to the viewing of the film. If this transfer isn't perfect (due to its age and budget), it's at least a commendable effort by Anchor Bay. The audio is presented in Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround in English and is a great example of a well-produced 5.1 remix. There are many instances of surround sound usage during many of the scenes, and with blood oozing and flesh tearing during almost every scene, this soundtrack shouldn't disappoint fans of the series. Except for a small amount of distortion in the dialogue, this soundtrack is clear of any excessive hiss or distortion. No subtitles or alternate soundtracks are included on this disc. Fans will be thrilled to see a bountiful array of extra features available on this disc. To start with, there is a commentary track by director Tony Randal, actress Ashley Laurence, and writer Peter Atkins. This is a very fun and informative commentary that should please those looking to learn more about the film's production. "Lost in the Labyrinth" is a retrospective featurette featuring interviews with creator Clive Barker, and star Ashley Laurence, among others. Much like the commentary track, this featurette delves into the concepts and production of the film. Finally, there is a fairly interesting still gallery, a THX Optimode test, and a theatrical trailer for the film. ~ Patrick Naugle, All Movie Guide