[psycho d]

Hellbound: Hellraiser II (1988). This second installment begins almost where the original left off. And with some of the same cast but a new director, instead of a fits-n-starts transition, it smoothly makes its way into the deeply bizarre and wonderfully disturbing realms of Clive Barker's vision of Hell.

The story was a perfect continuation of the original. It answers some of the questions left out of its predecessor. Character development for protag and antag alike is included for our amusement. The introduction of new characters seems fitting and appropriate, though I must admit that I was quite relieved when one of them came to his demise, almost as if his horrific acting was offensive even to the bowels of Hell. The remainder of the acting was decent, far from lamentable at least. At times hammy and histrionic, it was enjoyable none the less. Even the Cenobite's expansive roles enjoyed some decent acting.

Though we'll probably never know whether or not newbie director Tony Randel was responsible for the improvements in the acting, his success in making a sequel arguably better than the groundbreaking and viscous original is a monumental achievement in film history. Together with an impressive cinematographer, he has undoubtedly created a technically and visually superior sequel. Even more so, the abstract and disturbing visuals combine to dishevel the viewer, and a sense of the underworld is fashioned as a place barely tolerable onscreen, thereby unimaginable were it to be real.

The sound in the beginning was splendidly grating to the ears, a combination of sounds that lent themselves to machines and growls alike, barely perceptible and yet ostensible. As the depth's of this movie were penetrated, the sounds changed into classic monumental and cheesy climaxes, and delightfully so.

Of course, a movie such as this could not end with doors closed to further franchise opportunities, though many a disappointed fan could have been spared unnecessary cruelty had these doors not only been closed but securely dead-bolted, chained, and then boarded-up.
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