Hellboy: The Crooked Man (2024)
Review 'Hellboy: The Crooked Man'
Hellboy: The Crooked Man is set to release this week, and I had the chance to catch an early viewing. Unlike its predecessors, this film leans heavily into the horror elements of the comic, rather than the action-packed spectacles fans might expect. If you're hoping for large-scale fight scenes like those in Guillermo del Toro’s adaptations, you may leave disappointed. While there are a few witch and demon battles, they pale in comparison to the grandiosity of the previous Hellboy films.
One of the standout aspects of The Crooked Man is its fresh take on Hellboy’s world. Jack Kesy takes on the role of Big Red, and he fits the part well. The movie has a creepier, more serious tone, but Hellboy’s character still retains his signature humor, delivering a few one-liners while maintaining that tough-yet-likable persona. Despite the shift toward horror, Kesy’s portrayal keeps Hellboy grounded, and fans will likely appreciate his presence.
That said, this isn’t the kind of Hellboy many are used to. It’s less about explosive action and more about building a spooky, atmospheric sense of dread. Throughout the film, you feel the looming danger faced by Hellboy, Tom Ferrell, and Bobby Jo Song. The villain, The Crooked Man, is genuinely menacing, adding to the tension and making the stakes feel high for our heroes.
The film has an old-school vibe, almost reminiscent of 1970s horror, particularly with its score, which I found to be a nice touch. At around 90 minutes, the film moves quickly, though it can feel slow at points. Personally, I would have liked to see more of Hellboy in action, as at times he feels more like a secondary character, with Tom Ferrell getting a lot of screen time.
While the film’s budget seems smaller than previous installments, the grounded approach works in its favor. However, fans of del Toro’s films might miss the larger-than-life set pieces and the epic feel of those earlier adaptations.
In the end, Hellboy: The Crooked Man takes the series in a bold new direction, one that horror fans will likely enjoy, though action enthusiasts might be left craving more. Its shorter runtime is refreshing, but the film could have benefited from a few more demon-slaying scenes to truly satisfy Hellboy fans. While I don’t expect it to make a huge splash in theaters, it has the potential to find a loyal following on streaming platforms, eventually cementing its place as a cult favorite.
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