Hellraiser 2 Hellbound 1988

Hellraiser 2 Hellbound (1988)

Contains spoilers!

The sequel to Hellraiser. The style hasn't changed too much despite the change in directors. So if you liked the first films atmosphere you'll like this one's too.

Still classically full of blood and gore, creepy blue lighting and even more hell creatures.

Again you are following Kirsty who after witnessing the events in the first film has now been institutionalised.

This is where she meets Tiffany a mute woman who solves puzzles all day.

Kirsty is trying to put everything behind her but after a vision from her father in hell, asking for help, she becomes obsessed with saving him.

In the meantime the head of the facility where Kirsty is being held, Dr Channard, is a fanatical occultist who is also obsessed with opening the box, so much so that he buys the bed Julia died on and after bringing a mental patient to his home and allowing the man to cut himself over the mattress, revives the evil stepmother.

The plot then echo's the first, men and women are brought to Julia who sucks them dry in order to gain her own skin back, this time succeeding where Frank never.

This is all witnessed by a young doctor who has befriended Kirsty, who then helps Kirsty escape the institution in order to find out what's happening.

The dialogue and timing of the film seems a little off, almost as if the plot was heading one way but the characterisation wasn't able to keep up, so they just jumped a lot of scenes forward. However this being a horror movie and not a drama it doesn't really detract too much, you do get the gist of what is supposed to be happening.

Whilst Kirsty is escaping, Dr Channard (plus a fully skinned Julia) get Tiffany to solve the box, opening the doors to hell and releasing the Cenobites.

Now this is where the plot gets a little thin and not as well rounded as the first, Dr Channard and Julia take a stroll around hell, Tiffany also decides to have a look round and Kirsty arriving at the house moments before the doors open, follows everyone in looking for her father.

The cenobites are as creepy as ever though, and the lead cenobite really does make a great bad guy. They really do take over any scene they're in.

Julia betrays Dr Channard and gives him over to hell, which decides to change him in a cenobite too.

This process is very cheesy however and especially the end result which doesn't really mirror the other cenobites at all. It does have some good points though, the tentacle like growths that can bloom flowers or turn into razor sharp knifes is creepy and well done graphically.

This changed Channard now decides to kill everything, including the original cenobites and change the world into hell. The plot gets very thin from here but does offer soon very interesting scene changes, the creepy insane asylum hell being one of them.

Kirsty and Tiffany team up and eventually save the day and the world, walking off into the sunset together.

The dialogue with the original cenobites is as good as ever, with them having the best phrases in the film.

The film is a horror so does have the right level of blood, moodiness, gore and no plot sense. It's a good film to stick on if you want to get a horror atmosphere going.

Best phrases/dialogue:

'Aah, the suffering... the sweet suffering'

'They changed the rules of the fairytale, I'm no longer the wicked stepmother... I'm now the evil queen! So come on... give it your best shot, Snow White!'

'It is not hands that call us... it is desire...'

'So eager to play... so reluctant to admit it!'

Cheesiest Scene:

The Doctor being changed into a cenobite

Scenes to watch for:

Hells dream/vision sequences

They Live 1988

They Live (1988)

Contains spoilers!

If you're looking for a classic horror film then this isn't for you. More an action sci fi thriller it does have some horror story elements; Aliens, controlled population and some very entertaining fight scenes.

A great thought provoking movie that is incredibly watchable.

It also has some of the best dialogue in an 80's film.

Set in America during a recession, you follow Nada, a blue collar worker/drifter who accidentally discovers, through special sunglasses, that aliens have come and taken over most of the world and that the majority of the human race are 'asleep' and being controlled via cleverly placed subliminal messages on bill boards, in magazines, on tv and even on money.

It's a classic case of money is your overlord and thus making everything based on economy evil, if you're not into films making a political status then this film does something unique in that just watching for watching sake is rewarded. The film has fantastic dialogue especially for the 80's where it seems catchphrases are ten a penny and it also has some of the best action/fight scenes in a film.

After discovering the alien species, Nada does everything he can to convince other people, however as thinking makes your head hurt, most people don't want to know. It takes a very large and very painful looking fight scene for Nada to convince his best friend Frank of the danger.

The fight scene is incredibly realistic and does have you cringing as some of the hits connect. 

Now the plot comes together, Nada and Frank team up with a resistance group only to be betrayed from inside, causing everyone to panic, flea or die fighting. It is during this battle that Nada and Frank find themselves inside the alien base along with several human members who have sold out and now work for the aliens. 

The movie ends when Nada blows up a communications beacon that hides all the messages and the aliens true forms, so that the whole world can see for themselves what has been happening.

The film is done with 80's style action and dialogue all the way through and although it isn't a classic horror it is enjoyable and the messages the film tries to show can be classed as horrifying.

The aliens true faces are well done and they, along with the subliminal messages, do seamlessly appear and disappear when the sunglasses get taken on and off quick.

Even with it's 80's acting and catch phrasing the film does have a slightly grim atmosphere that runs all the way through.

It's a great film even if it isn't strictly horror.

Best phrases/dialogue:

'I have come here to chew bubblegum and kick ass.. and I am all out of bubblegum!'

'Fuck it!'

Scenes to watch for:

The fight scene between Nada and Frank.

The end scene when Nada blows up the communications tower.

Maniac Cop 1988

Maniac Cop (1988)

Contains spoilers!

Classic bad guy against good guy's, stalk and chase slasher horror with a bit of originality thrown in for good measure.

It has plenty of deaths, not a lot of gore and of course a bad guy that just won't die.

Set in New York you follow Jack (Bruce Campbell), a young NYPD cop framed for a series of murders, committed by what the press dub as the 'Maniac Cop'. Jack is helped by his vice cop mistress Teresa and seasoned detective McCrae.

Together they discover that the real killer is an ex cop thought dead Matt Cordell, who after being sent to prison gets stabbed to death (or so it is assumed) only to be secretly released brain dead and mangled to his girlfriend on the outside.

This of course leads to the inevitable killing spree with the now mentally deranged killer who can't be killed.

The rest is pretty standard, once the heroes know who the killer is and once the failed attempts to get everyone else to recognise the truth is over they take on the killer themselves. Apparently killing him again even though his body is never recovered.

You even see the killer's hand rear up out of the water at the end. Standard horror bad guy ending.

The whole film has a decidedly moody feel, the attacks mostly happen at night and so most of the film is shot in the dark and with the backgrounds neon lighting really sets the mood. The music is fantastic especially if you like moody eerie pieces and works well with the films tones.

The killers facial injuries do look a little fake and cheesy but to counter this, you do only see his face once, the rest of the time all you see is the silhouette of a large policeman which again just adds to the dark gloomy feel of the movie.

Although there is no gore there are plenty of deaths scenes, none of them really using too many effects so the film doesn't seem that out dated compared to some.

If you're looking for a film with a solid plot, creepy music and gloomy scenes then this is the one for you.

Best phrases/diaglogue:

'What happened to your hand? - 'I cut myself shaving'

'Always take a leak with a gun? It's a good way to blow your balls off!'

Scenes to watch for:

The prison bathroom fight scene.