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[Review] Sluggish ‘Hellraiser: Judgment’ Still Has Grotesque Charm
While some horror franchises get trapped in development hell, others are forced into production in order to retain the rights. Dimension Films is part of the latter group, having made several half-assed Hellraiser sequels since 2000’s Inferno. This isn’t to say that the filmmakers weren’t trying their best, but it’s important to understand the extreme lack of resources that were available to them. Hellraiser: Judgment, out through Lionsgate on February 13, 2018, is the latest sequel to be tormented by the Weinstein Company. Special effects master Gary J. Tunnicliffe directs this tenth installment that, while far from perfect, feels like the most authentic Hellraiser since Bloodline (1996).
Tunnicliffe comes out throwing haymakers. After a wicked shot of Paul T. Taylor as the new Pinhead (he’s quite good, really), Judgment opens with a man being questioned by The Auditor. There’s an entire process at work, and it’s disgusting. The footage is ugly, pulling the grit and grime out of Nine Inch Nails’ Broken VHS and delivering a revolting series of sequences that tapped on my gag-reflex. At this moment it became clear that Judgment was made solely for fans of Hellraiser with complete disregard for mainstream audiences.
Following the exceptional bile that opens Judgment, the next hour drags to a crawl as the film unintentionally becoming a SAW sequel parody. It turns its attention to three detectives on the hunt for a serial killer, who is slowly going through each of the Ten Commandments. While sluggish, it at least serves a purpose by setting the stage for a wild finale that makes it all worthwhile. Everything comes full circle in the final moments, adding an entirely new dimension to the Hellraiser franchise. Tunnicliffe delivers on his promise with an overly ambitious conclusion that beautifully ties it all together.
Overall, the lack of resources soak the screen, but it adds to the film’s grotesque charm. And even with budgetary limitations, the special effects never suffer. Solely for Hellraiser apologists, Judgment does just enough to warrant its existence.
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Watch the Opening ‘Mortal Kombat II’ Battle Scene Now Ahead of Physical Media Release in July
Sequel Mortal Kombat II is now available to watch at home on Digital before heading to physical media in July, but you can test your might now and watch the opening scene.
Mortal Kombat director Simon McQuoid returns to the helm for the new sequel from a script by Jeremy Slater (“Moon Knight,” Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire).
In Mortal Kombat II, the fan-favorite champions — now joined by Johnny Cage (Karl Urban) — are pitted against one another in the ultimate, no-holds barred, gory battle to defeat the dark rule of Shao Kahn that threatens the very existence of the Earthrealm and its defenders.
Adeline Rudolph, Jessica McNamee, Josh Lawson, Ludi Lin, Mehcad Brooks, Tati Gabrielle, Lewis Tan, Damon Herriman, Chin Han, Tadanobu Asano, Joe Taslim, and Hiroyuki Sanada are also part of the ensemble cast of Mortal Kombat II fighters.
Watch the opening below, which introduces a young Kitana (Sophia Xu) as Emperor Shao Kahn (Martyn Ford) prepares to conquer her father, King Jerrod (Desmond Chiam), and her kingdom of Edenia. It sets the sequel’s entire plot in motion.
From New Line Cinema, James Wan’s Atomic Monster, Broken Road Productions, and Fireside Films, Mortal Kombat II is rated R for “strong bloody violence and gore, and language.”
Look for Mortal Kombat II to arrive on 4K UHD, Blu-ray and DVD on July 28, 2026.
The physical media release contains the following special features, as unveiled by IGN:
- Mortal Kombat II: Evolving the Saga (Featurette)
- Returning characters, new alliances and even bigger fatalities! Go behind the scenes to learn all that went into creating the latest chapter in the Mortal Kombat film saga and how the sequel expands the universe to bolder, bloodier heights.
- Building the Realms of Mortal Kombat (Featurette)
- From the decaying streets of Edenia to the terrifying Pit featured in the iconic video game series, discover how the Mortal Kombat II design teams blended practical sets with groundbreaking VFX to create the legendary realms in the film.
- Mortal Kombat II: Choose Your Fighter (Featurette)
- Awaken your Arcana as you meet the cast and explore the brutal weapons, epic costumes and fierce training that went into bringing their characters to life.
- Klose Quarters Kombat (Featurette)
- Cast members and key creatives share insights into how the stunt preparation, intense fight scenes and weapons training shaped both classic moves and new, merciless combat styles.
- A “Boon” to Gamers Everywhere (Featurette)
- Sit down with chief Mortal Kombat mythmaker and creator Ed Boon for a deep dive into the franchise’s storied history and ongoing evolution that spans three decades of near-infinite games, films and comics, culminating with the live-action sequel.
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