People are always looking for the scariest and best horror movies. For me, my go-to movie is Hell House LLC, released in 2015 which is Stephen Cognetti’s origin film in what became a horror movie trilogy. On October 30, 2023, a fourth film was released titled Hell House LLC Origins: The Carmichael Manor. This review serves as a recap and opinion on the second movie, “Hell House LLC II: The Abaddon Hotel also known as Hell House 2.”
Abaddon Hotel Tragedy True Story
Firstly though, let’s talk about the real Abaddon Hotel. The hotel is called the Shanley Hotel. The Shanley Hotel is located in New York, in the USA. It’s a traditional bed and breakfast and is open to the public. This spooky hotel is where the movie for Hell House was made and its setting is the perfect backdrop for a found footage film. In the movie, 8 years have passed since Hell House LLC had its grand opening. A new group returns to the Abaddon Hotel and this time they want to figure out what happened there all that time ago. Is there any truth to the rumors?
Where Was “Hell House LLC 2” Filmed?
Hell House LLC II was filmed in Leighton which is a part of Pennsylvania in the USA. The second film plants its feet in one location, The Abaddon Hotel.
Moving on to the sequel, Hell House 2 provides decent chills right from the beginning. The concept of showcasing people who recorded themselves venturing into the eerie Abaddon Hotel, never to return, amps up the scare factor. Overall, the sequel continued to deliver on the suspense and mystery established in the first movie, focusing on a presence within the hotel that actively seeks and entices people inside. This direction made sure I was always invested in uncovering the secrets of the haunted establishment.
In Hell House II, the scares take on a more aggressive approach, as if they are hurled at the audience with force. The new crew consists of two distinct groups who inexplicably separate once inside the house.
However, unlike the previous installment, Hell House II shifts away from subtle shadows and eerie faces in the background. Instead, the scares come in the form of haunted individuals running through hallways and directly confronting the camera, breaking the fourth wall. This departure from atmospheric chills diminishes the mystique that made the clowns so captivating in the first film. And let’s face it, I was here for the Clowns.
Additionally, a downside to the film is the occasional interruption caused by informational placards, which momentarily disrupt the immersive experience. The inclusion of numerous crossovers with a talk show set felt somewhat excessive, which potentially affected the overall cohesion of the narrative.
Despite these elements, the cast of Hell House II delivers solid performances, with Jillian Geurts, who portrays Jessica Fox, stealing the show. However, it’s worth noting that not all the actors in the film deliver equally compelling performances.
The Hell House LLC II Ending
Finally, when the film came to the Hell House LLC ending, I felt that it just felt like there was too much stuff crammed in. Too much detail and too much spoon-feeding of a narrative around much of what was speculative in the first film (Hell House LLC [2015].) Good for an Abaddon Hotel history lesson but not good for scares.
In Hell House II: The Abaddon Hotel, the sequel struggles to live up to the brilliance of the original. While the first film struck me with its ability to announce eerie movements from seemingly lifeless objects in an effortlessly creepy way, the sequel falls short of replicating or bettering this. The anticipation leading up to the haunted house’s grand opening, which lent an air of authenticity to the original, is somewhat lacking here.
Hell House II: The Abaddon Hotel is rated
2.5 the gates of hell are a lot brighter than I expected out of 5
Watch All the Hell House Movies Streaming Online
The second Hell House LLC movie is streaming for free on the Shudder platform and TubiTv in most countries. The third Hell House LLC III: Lake of Fire is also streaming on Shudder. Mother of Movies recommends watching the trilogy back to back on Halloween. You can watch Hell House LLC 4 on October 30, 2023, on Shudder.
Film Production and Budget Information For Hell House LLC II
- Release: The title dropped on Shudder first on September 20th, 2018.
- Director and writer: Stephen Cognetti.
- Hell House LLC 2 cast includes: Vasile Flutur, Jillian Geurts (Oceans Eight 2018), Joy Shatz (Happy TV Series 2017), Dustin Austen, and, Kyle Ingleman (Angel 2003.)
