Hellboy: The Crooked Man movie review
scroll down to watch movie
Hellboy: The Crooked Man movie review
“Hellboy” is a rare comic book movie that truly feels like a comic book. Directed by Guillermo del Toro and based on the comics by Mike Mignola, it pulses with energy, seamlessly blending bizarre makeup, preposterous plotlines, and a host of special effects into an exhilarating, fun experience. Rather than lumbering through its action sequences like many CGI-heavy films, “Hellboy” zips along, lighthearted and full of zeal, making it clear that everyone involved had a blast creating it.
At the center of it all is Ron Perlman as Hellboy, a devilish character with horns and a tail, raised to fight the forces of hell. Perlman doesn’t just play the part—he revels in it. His Hellboy is rough around the edges, chomping cigars and battling demons with a mischievous glee that makes his superhero persona feel both larger-than-life and entirely relatable.
The story begins in World War II, with Nazis (reliable comic book villains) attempting to summon the Seven Gods of Chaos through a portal, only to be stopped by U.S. soldiers and Professor Bruttenholm (John Hurt), President Roosevelt’s psychic adviser. Through this portal comes baby Hellboy, whom the professor raises as mankind’s protector against dark forces. Meanwhile, Nazi ally Grigori Rasputin (Karel Roden) is pulled into the portal and later returns, intent on bringing chaos to the world.
Fast-forward to the present day. Hellboy now resides in a secret FBI facility alongside his team, which includes Abe Sapien (Doug Jones), an aquatic creature with a dreamy demeanor, and pyrokinetic Liz Sherman (Selma Blair), with whom Hellboy shares a complicated romance. Together, they battle an assortment of monsters summoned by Rasputin’s Nazi allies. The film excels in these comic book-inspired action sequences, with Hellboy getting pummeled only to snap his bones back into place and dive back into the fight.
Despite his demonic appearance, Hellboy is a lonely, relatable figure. He files down his horns every morning in an attempt to fit in, but his towering red frame and large stone hand ensure that he never will. His softer side shows through in his affection for Liz and his love for cats, while his gruff, tough-guy exterior seems plucked straight from a Brooklyn dock.
Del Toro brings his signature dark, gothic flair to the film, with unforgettable sequences like the moment when Hellboy kisses Liz, and she literally bursts into flames, only for Hellboy to shrug it off—he’s fireproof, after all. The chemistry between the two adds depth to the film’s heart amid all the chaos.
While the action is thrilling, there are moments where the plot seems to leap without explanation, such as a transition that leaves Hellboy and company suddenly captured by Nazis after seemingly escaping danger. It’s a minor quibble in a movie that largely delivers the kind of frenetic, escapist fun that comic book fans crave.
Perlman’s portrayal of Hellboy is the film’s anchor, making an impossible character not only believable but lovable. There are shades of Frankenstein’s monster in Hellboy’s tender moments, particularly in his scenes with the FBI’s bumbling director (played by Jeffrey Tambor), where Hellboy’s rough charm shines through.
Overall, “Hellboy” doesn’t just adapt a comic book—it embodies one. It’s packed with bizarre creatures, outlandish villains, and non-stop action, but it carries all that weight with a sense of fun that’s infectious. Guillermo del Toro’s vision of Mignola’s creation brings to life a story where demons, Nazis, and reluctant heroes clash in a spectacle that never forgets to have a good time.
_11zon.jpeg)
.webp)
Comments
Post a Comment