After a severed hand from the destroyed wax museum frames Sarah for murder, Mark and Sarah leap through parallel dimensions of classic horror and fantasy stories to gather proof of her innocence.
Writer-director Anthony Hickox offers another imaginative outing, opening with a recap of the predecessor's fiery climax before an Addams Family Thing-like hand escapes the ruins and sets the chaos in motion. Gremlins' quirky lead Zach Galligan returns as Mark, but stunning Monika Schnarre's takeover of the Sarah role proves a jarring recast that takes time to settle.
The supporting cast is an endless parade of famous and familiar faces: Martin Kemp as Baron Von Frankenstein, Bruce Campbell as John Loftmore, Power Station's Michael Des Barres, Young Sherlock Holmes' Sophie Ward, Star Trek: TNG's Marina Sirtis, a young Drew Barrymore, John Ireland as King Arthur, Patrick Macnee returning as Sir Wilfred, Die Hard's Alexander Godunov, character actor legend George "Buck" Flower, and David Carradine.
Rather than simply revisiting classic monsters, Hickox abandons the wax museum for a dimension where fictional stories have become realities-Frankenstein, The Haunting, Alien, Godzilla, Nosferatu, Dawn of the Dead and more. Much like the original exhibits, Mark and Sarah are pulled into each new world and take on the personas of its characters.
As well as the time-door/portal device - the artefact that allows Mark and Sarah to travel through time - the film features a series of pop-culture objects and artefacts. These include Jason Voorhees' hockey mask from Friday the 13th, the Ark of the Covenant crate from Raiders of the Lost Ark, a Norman Bates-style wig and a knife resembling Norman Bates' murder weapon from Psycho, the key to Cabin 1 (a direct Bates Motel reference), and silver bullets (a werewolf nod that also humorously alludes to McKnee's role in The Howling and callback to the first Waxwork film).
The film then moves beyond isolated objects into full sequences and visual/audio references drawn from Psycho, Frankenstein, Nosferatu, Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, House of Wax, Jack the Ripper lore, Godzilla, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, Die Hard, The Haunting, The Legend of Hell House, Dawn of the Dead, Alien and Aliens, 2001: A Space Odyssey, Evil Dead II, The Shining, Monty Python and the Holy Grail, and Alice Through the Looking-Glass.
Gerry Lively returns behind the camera and improves the atmosphere throughout. Even though part two went straight to VHS, it looks more filmic than the theatrical-run original. Steve Schiff's music is solid at times yet doesn't always seem to fit. The film again benefits from some practical effects and, even though released in 1992, manages to retain a strong 1980s vibe.
While enjoyable, Hickox's Hellraiser III: Hell on Earth turned out much better. Faulty and flawed in places, but still good nostalgic fun for fans of the first.
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