When the first ten minutes of this sequel has someone's head explode in a hospital emergency room, you know there's going to be some pleasing grue. And sure enough this second sequel to Clive Barker's original delivers in that department.

After the disappointing and mostly muddled Hellbound: Hellraiser II, they've brought Pinhead back to modern day (and given the character probably the most screen time of any of the films in the series) as a sleazy nightclub owner buys the statue that everyone's favourite demon is trapped in and soon, after finding blood will release him, Pinhead is getting human sacrifices in order to return.

In the meantime junior reporter Terry Farrell (who's looking for her big break) decides to investigate the opening hospital sequence and ends-up getting involved in the goings-on and has to help the ghost of the solider (Doug Bradley, getting a chance to act outside of the make-up) who would go on to become Pinhead.

Muscular entry works a lot better than expected and manages to stay watchable throughout thanks to the well done effects (there's a quite impressive nightclub slaughter moment) and steady direction by genre veteran Anthony Hickox.

Sure it gets a little bit chaotic in the finale and Farrell isn't the greatest heroine, but it's still an entertaining follow-up. Trots out a whole new batch of Cenobites in the finale, one who even uses compact discs as weapons. (Chris Hartley, 5/16/04)

Directed By: Anthony Hickox.
Written By: Peter Atkins.

Starring: Terry Farrell, Doug Bradley, Paula Marshall, Kevin Bernhardt.