Disclaimer: Contains spoilers!
Plot Summary: The psychotic doctor treating Kirsty uses a resurrected Julia to help him discover the world of the cenobites.
Review: Despite the noticeable flaws, plot holes, and major contrivances, I actually like this entry the best in the franchise. That doesn't mean this is the better film compared to part 1--it isn't--yet it seems the scope and vision are better realized; the lore of this franchise is greatly expanded upon as well. For me, I saw this entry before seeing part 1, and it had a significant influence on my thinking and creativity. This notion of a labyrinth dimension (hell if you will), where your worst fears or nightmares come to life, gives the viewer much to ponder when compared to traditional portrayals of hell. On top of that, this abstract entity, the Leviathan, that oversees the labyrinth with the help of cenobites establishes a bizarre, existential realm. It's all really intriguing!
I'll start with the negatives, because they become abundant right out the gate. Seemingly picking up only a day later after part 1, Kirsty is rightfully being interrogated by the police and being kept at a mental hospital. Three plot points in conjunction all annoy me at this point: 1) Kirsty knows plot details she could not possibly know 2) the film opens with scenes from part 1 only to show more as flashbacks anyway(?!) 3) Julia's subsequent resurrection is a retread of the events of part 1 to boot! Also, to a lesser extent, they wrote out of the plot that dumb Cosby-sweater-wearing boyfriend which I'm perfectly fine with. Next up, Julia runs around like she's some expert on hell and the Leviathan despite being dead for, what, two, three days at that point? Bitch, you don't know shit, shut your pie hole! As the story unfolds, many contrivances begin to add up like Kirsty being spared by the cenobites...again...or all the characters crossing paths in, what should be, an endless labyrinth. Of course, there are plain moronic scenes too such as Kirsty screaming "daddy" the moment she goes to hell. Yeaaah...because there aren't millions (maybe billions) of "daddies" in hell, sweetheart. Other nonsense is the ease to which the cenobites are dispatched with...again, why Channard is killed by the Leviathan, why does solving the puzzle box in hell do anything, why would Julia be working for the Leviathan if she isn't a cenobite, etc. Come to think of it, there are numerous story issues tacked on needlessly. Other than those grievances, there are still shoddy effects, but I can forgive a lot of that given how epic of a scope the filmmakers attempted to depict; that Escher-esque design is awe-inspiring.
As for the positives...I've already discussed the imaginative aesthetics of hell and how it has affected me. For that matter, calling this dimension hell is an oversimplification. This is a realm where pain and suffering are mixed with pleasure in a way that is hard to comprehend unless you're in the mind of Clive Barker. Another aspect that worked wonders was the expounding of this dark fairy tale vibe. You could easily describe "Hellraiser" as the most fucked up, twisted fairy tale out there with the whole evil stepmother thing, but part 2 fully embraces this idea. There is a whimsical, downright magical force at work in hell that allows for the warping of reality. And when an even better score by Christopher Young accompanies these events, it truly pulls you into this world whether you want to explore it or not. Unlike the first film, I'm satisfied with the actors this time around. Ashley Laurence steps up her game as Kirsty, Julia is better as a full villain, Pinhead and crew are fleshed out, and Channard is the kind of crazy villain that makes you smile. I may have ragged on the story considerably, but there is a lot to love and enjoy about this film. It's almost like going on an adventure...except it's into hell...
"Hellraiser" gave us a small taste of hell, but part 2 actually takes us there! For that, I choose this film over part 1 regardless of the increased story problems. If you can ignore the gripes--the same way I force myself to ignore the shot of Kirsty leaning up against a wall in the labyrinth and it shakes--then you will come to realize that this is a fantastic sequel. Maybe the characters should have spent more time exploring the depths of hell, but the grand scope and vision are successfully captured to a degree that allows the viewer to take things further. I would say part 2 was more ambitious than its predecessor while not deviating from the material that made part 1 iconic. Finally, no other sequel in this franchise ever again demonstrates they understood the core concepts of part 1 and 2. They are all either completely idiotic with Pinhead as a cliched slasher villain or try to take scripts that weren't meant for the franchise and add in Pinhead. To me, these two are the only entries worthy of your time.
Notable Moment: When Channard faces off against Pinhead and crew. The fight definitely could have been longer and filled with more action, but it's still an awesome moment. Plus, that line about "your suffering will be legendary, even in hell" is badass!
Final Rating: 6.5/10
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