Horror History: HELLBOUND: HELLRAISER II Hit Limited Theaters in 1988
Mike Sprague
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On this day in horror history, Tony Randel’s Hellbound: Hellraiser II opened in 1988.
The sequel picks up with Kirsty Cotton, now confined to a mental hospital. She insists her father is stuck in hell after being betrayed by his evil, occult-obsessed wife, Julia. So Kirsty and fellow patient Tiffany head to hell for a rescue.
Ashley Laurence returned as Kirsty Cotton along with Clare Higgins as Julia Cotton. Kenneth Cranham joined them as Dr. Phillip Channard with Imogen Boorman as Tiffany and Sean Chapman as resident asshole Frank Cotton.
Doug Bradley also returned as Pinhead/Captain Spencer along with Nicholas Vince as Chatterer, Simon Bamford as Butterball, and Barbie Wilde as Female Cenobite.
Barker returned to executive produce the sequel. Tony Randel was chosen to take over as the film’s director due to his experience of working with Barker on the first film. Randel claims the film’s dark tone reflected his own mindset at the time.
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Randel directed the film from a screenplay written by Peter Atkins based on a story by Clive Barker. Christopher Figg produced with David Barron. Christopher Young (Drag Me to Hell, The Exorcism of Emily Rose) once again provided the killer score.
Hellraiser II was set to have a much larger budget than the original. But then New World Pictures decreased its budget due to financial issues.
Initially rated X by the MPAA, Hellbound: Hellraiser II premiered at the Toronto Festival of Festivals in September 1988. It then hit Los Angeles and New York in December. During its theatrical release, Hellbound grossed $12M in the States.
The film sports a 50% approval rating over on Rotten Tomatoes with a Critics Consensus that reads: Hellbound: Hellraiser II retains the twisted visual thrill of its predecessor, although seams in the plot are already starting to show.
Do you dig Hellbound: Hellraiser II?
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