37 Years Ago, a Shocking Horror Sequel Debuted Two Days Before Christmas (And It’s the Best in the Series)

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Lots of movies come out around Christmas time, and even with the challenges facing movie theaters today, a Christmas release is almost guaranteed to draw an audience. People expect new films to be available, and there usually are! It’s common to see several movies open on Christmas Day, with a few more released in the days leading up to it. This is when you’ll find major blockbusters, lighter comedies, and even big-budget films studios are unsure about – they figure a busy holiday release might help them earn back some money, like with the film 47 Ronin.

However, some movie releases just don’t make sense for the holiday season. A good example is Hellbound: Hellraiser II.

Hellbound on the Big Screen & What Makes the Second Hellraiser a Winner?

Eleven Hellraiser movies have been made, but only four were released in theaters. The next six went straight to video, and the most recent film was a Hulu exclusive. Given that Hellraiser has always appealed to a specific audience, this isn’t too unexpected. It never achieved the same level of mainstream success as franchises like Friday the 13th or Halloween.

Despite this, the original movie earned $14.5 million in 1987, which was enough to warrant a second film. The sequel opened on December 23rd of the following year, grossing just over $12 million. Roughly a quarter of that total came from its first four days in theaters. While it didn’t open as strongly as the first movie, it was still a respectable debut.

New World Pictures intentionally released the film as something completely different to what was already popular in theaters. Releasing it only fifteen months after the first film also allowed them to benefit from that movie’s success. It proved to be a good strategy, especially considering the other big movies that were dominating December – like Rain Man, Twins, The Naked Gun!, and the simultaneous releases of Beaches and Working Girl. December was also packed with Dirty Rotten Scoundrels and Tequila Sunrise.

Simply put, Hellbound faced tough competition when it was released. Releasing it during Christmas was a gamble, but it ultimately earned four times its $3 million budget – a successful outcome. This is even more impressive considering Hellraiser II has gained a devoted fan base similar to the original film. It’s not hard to see why; the first sequel was the only one that truly matched the dark and distinctive style of the initial movie.

The original Hellraiser film is widely considered the strongest, but Hellbound is a very close second. They almost feel like two halves of a single, three-hour movie.

Many aspects of Hellbound are effective. Christopher Young’s music remains excellent, and his new compositions perfectly capture the film’s unique vision of Hell, creating a truly haunting atmosphere. The depiction of Hell itself is remarkably interesting. Rather than the traditional fiery landscape, it’s portrayed as a series of empty, echoing hallways with occasional rooms offering temptations that are forever out of reach. This unusual setting is particularly memorable.

Although Julia Cotton’s plan to bring men back to life for her uncle Frank remains the most compelling storyline in the series, Hellbound revitalizes Julia’s character, giving actress Clare Higgins a lot to work with. She fully embraces her role as a cunning and manipulative villain, demonstrated in moments like her deception and murder of Dr. Kyle MacRae (William Hope from Aliens) and her elaborate scheme to sacrifice Dr. Phillip Channard.

Dr. Channard is a fascinating villain, almost as captivating as Julia. He’s driven by a desire to experience a world beyond his reach, but isn’t ready for what happens when he gets it. Initially frightened by the results, he quickly accepts them, famously declaring, “And to think I hesitated.” Like the first movie, Hellbound focuses on creating complex, well-developed villains. We also see more of the Cenobites in this film, and they even have their own character development.

Kirsty Cotton isn’t sidelined in Hellbound – her story is actually more prominent than before. This time, she’s determined to go into Hell to save her father. Throughout the chaos, she remains kind and caring. Plus, we see a new side of Kirsty as she takes on a motherly role with young Tiffany, giving Ashley Laurence the chance to portray even more depth and maturity in her performance.

Hellbound: Hellraiser II successfully continued the story from the first Hellraiser film. It’s a shame the series never reached that same level of quality or captured the original’s atmosphere again. And, unsurprisingly, Hellraiser isn’t exactly known for its festive, holiday cheer!

Stream Hellbound: Hellraiser II on Prime Video.

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2025-12-24 03:41