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1988 - 99m.
USA-Britain

Kirsty (Ashley Laurence) finds herself in a mental institution after the events of the original and finds herself having to team-up with an eccentric puzzle-solving fellow paitent (Imogen Boorman, who shows no screen presence whatsoever) to go through the labyrinths of Hell to try and stop a resurrected Julia (a returning Clare Higgins who's bitchy performance is good) and the nutso Dr. Channing (Kenneth Cranham, who's also fine in his role) from taking over Hell.

This first of two many sequels gets points for trying to keep the story going from the original (and suceeds at times) and for having some good ideas (such as when the Cenobites turn back into human form when killed) but taking the story into the labyrinths with minimal explanation for it just doesn't work and it all ends-up becoming muddled, a bit slower than the original and just not that watchable. This is just a sloppy and, I suspect, quickly thrown together sequel that disappoints more than anything.

Bordering on ** because of the aforementioned good ideas, some elaborate "skinless" effects and one unsettling moment involving Julia's return. Review based on unrated version.

Followed by Hellraiser III: Hell On Earth.

Directed By: Tony Randel.
Written By: Peter Atkins.

Starring: Clare Higgins, Ashley Laurence, Kenneth Cranham, Imogen Boorman.