5 of the Most Scarily Underrated Sequels in Horror History
#4: Tony Randel’s Hellbound: Hellraiser II (1988)
“Your suffering will be legendary, even in hell!” – Pinhead (Doug Bradley)
Rising from hell at number 4 on our list is Hellbound: Hellraiser II. Debuting only a year after Clive Barker’s 1987 classic, Tony Randel’s Hellbound: Hellraiser II is a prime example of a stellar sequel going mostly unnoticed.
OK, so I wouldn’t say completely unnoticed, but it still doesn’t get the love it deserves. Picking up after the events of Hellraiser, Kirsty is admitted to a psychiatric hospital after having trouble with her past. After it’s revealed Dr. Chanard is hunting the infamous puzzle box from the previous film, Kirsty and newcomer Tiffany must do what it takes to stop the Cenobites for good.
One of the things that makes Hellbound so good is its adherence to the first film. Much like 1981’s Halloween II, the sequel wants to play in the world of the original. Its insistence on drawing from the film that started it all gives it a leg up. Then, the second film becomes its own thing and knocks it out of the park.
Featuring a great villain in Dr. Chanard, Hellraiser II is greatly plotted and highly satisfying. With great turns by Doug Bradley (Pinhead), Ashley Laurence (Kirsty), and Clare Higgins (Julia), Hellbound is a film any sequel can look to for inspiration.
