Hellbound: Hellraiser II 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		0.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		5.0
Overall		4.5

Hellbound: Hellraiser II 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman November 3, 2023

Note: This version of this film is available as part of Arrow's Hellraiser: Quartet of Torment 4K collection.

The problem with those pesky portals to other dimensions is that there's evidently no way to keep them permanently closed, which may be why Arrow is revisiting the Hellraiser franchise just a few years after it brought out the rather extravagantly packaged Hellraiser: The Scarlet Box. The good news is, while Arrow can almost always be counted for rather luxe packaging one way or the other, they've seen fit to offer fans new 4K restorations of the first four films (note that the aforementioned Scarlet Box only offered the original triptych), as well as at least some new supplements augmenting previously produced bonus features, though not all of the legacy supplements from The Scarlet Box have made it over to these releases, for those keeping track. Maybe sometimes it's a good thing when a multidimensional portal won't stay closed.

Those interested can find several reviews of the various Hellraiser films on the site, but for purposes of this particular review I'll point those interested to my own Hellbound: Hellraiser II Blu-ray review of The Scarlet Box version, since that provides the chance to compare screenshots and see how supplements stack up between the releases.

Hellbound: Hellraiser II 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Note: Screenshots are sourced from Arrow's standalone 1080 release. This set does not include 1080 discs.

Hellbound: Hellraiser II is presented in 4K UHD courtesy of Arrow Video with an HVEC / H.265 encoded 2160p transfer in 1.85:1. Arrow provides the same hardback book for both its 4K UHD and 1080 releases, and it contains the following information on this latest restoration:

Hellbound: Hellraiser II is presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.85:1 with stereo 2.0 and 5.1 sound. The original 35mm negative was scanned and restored in 4K resolution at Silver Salt Restoration, London. Sections of a 35mm interpositive were also sourced for sections removed from the negative. The film was graded in SDR, HDR10 and Dolby Vision by Silver Salt Restoration, London.

This may be another case of "glass half full/glass half empty" for 4K UHD aficionados. As with Arrow's new 1080 version, this 4K UHD iteration boasts a somewhat darker look than Arrow's old 1080 version, something that adds to the perception of suffusion and may help to moderate some of the more ungainly grain resolution. On the flip side, the increased resolution of this format tends to exacerbate that same chunky grain, making it even more noticeable at times than it was even on Arrow's old 1080 release. It's rather interesting in a way to see the grain field ebb and flow, as it seems to be largely detached from any lighting choices. A lot of the hospital/asylum material can be very heavily grainy, and yet there are other moments where grain tightens considerably. Similarly, some interior shots have a very tightly resolved grain field, and there are others, notably some scenes with Julia in the second act where grain is pretty yellow and chunky looking. All of this said, as with the first film, and the 1080 release of this film, there are manifest variances in densities, clarity and grain structure, and this film's third act "special effects-o-rama" approach in particular may not be particularly "helped" by the increased resolution of this format. In a lot of the more brightly lit scenes, things pop extremely well and fine detail is outstanding. As with the first film, HDR and/or Dolby Vision offer some interesting new highlights (even the New World masthead has some nuanced changes segueing from orange to red in this version), and shadow detail is at least marginally improved. In some ways, this offers perhaps surprisingly some of the more noticeable differences when compared to Arrow's older 1080 release. The entire transfer this time is just a tad darker which may add to the perception of better suffusion, and again maybe a little surprisingly without any attendant loss of shadow detail. The somewhat darker aspect tends to minimize some of the slightly dirty, gritty looking grain that could occasionally accrue against brighter backgrounds in the older 1080 release. Detail levels are excellent throughout the presentation, though fine detail can certainly ebb during some of the composite effects or some of the more phantasmagorical moments that are on the "misty" side. The palette looks great throughout, though as with the first film, there are some abrupt variances in densities, clarity and grain structure, not necessarily dependent upon lighting conditions or opticals.

Hellbound: Hellraiser II 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

While this release supplants the older 1080 version's LPCM 2.0 track with a DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 option, in addition to the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track offered, both struck me as interchangeable with the tracks on Arrow's older 1080 release. The surround track nicely opens up the sound field in terms of both score (Christopher Young retreads some of his work on the first film while offering new cues) and effects. The long "fantasy" sequence that takes up the bulk of the film's second half has some nice effects which are placed smartly in discrete channels. Dialogue is rendered cleanly and clearly and there are no issues with damage. Optional English subtitles are available.

Hellbound: Hellraiser II 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Note: I've tried my best to identify supplements new to this edition with an asterisk (*), but with so much to go through and the added challenge of Arrow having authored or titled things differently for this release, I may have missed something.

• Audio Commentaries

  Commentary with critics Stephen Jones and Kim Newman (2023)*

  
  

  Commentary with director Tony Randel, writer Peter Atkins and actress Ashley Laurence (2000)

  
  

  Commentary with director Tony Randel and writer Peter Atkins (1996)

• He Was What They Wanted!* (HD; 1:25:19) is a fun appreciation of the film and Barker by horror authors Kit Power and George Daniel Lea.


• That Rat Slice Sound * (HD; 11:56) doesn't just have my current favorite featurette title, it also has Guy Adams discussing Christopher Young's scores for the first two films.


• Behind the Scenes

  Clive Barker on set interview (HD; 3:20)

  
  

  Cast and Crew on set interviews (HD; 4:47)

  
  

  Behind the Scenes Footage (HD; 1:53)

• Archival Special Features

  Under the Skin: Doug Bradley on Hellbound (HD; 10:53)

  
  

  Being Frank: Sean Chapman on Hellbound (HD; 11:35)

  
  

  Lost in the Labyrinth (HD; 17:03)

  
  

  Deleted Surgeon Scene (HD; 4:49)

• Trailers

  Theatrical Trailer 1 (HD; 1:54)

  Theatrical Trailer 2* (HD; 1:21)

  Theatrical Trailer 3* (HD; 1:34)

  Red Band Theatrical Trailer (HD; 1:33)

• TV Spots

  TV Spot 1 (HD; 00:33)

  TV Spot 2 (HD; 00:33)

  TV Spot 3* (HD; 00:33)

• Galleries

  Storyboards (HD)

  Alternate Ending Storyboards (HD)

  Stills & Promo Material (HD)

  Draft Screenplay* (HD)

Hellbound: Hellraiser II 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

This is the rare sophomore effort in a franchise that manages to retain a lot of the original's force and creativity, even if large swaths of Hellbound: Hellraiser II are patently crazy. The gruesome special effects of this second entry in the franchise have made it a favorite of horror fans, and while I'll offer the same caveat as I did with regard to the first film that some fans may actually prefer Arrow's new 1080 version to this one, this release sports generally solid technical merits and outstanding supplements. Highly recommended.