In 1950, Hellboy (Jack Kesy) travels by train with precious cargo: a dangerous spider that can fester into something far more sinister and evil than anyone can imagine. But when an altercation occurs on the train, and the spider manages to escape, Hellboy and a fellow BPRD agent, Bobbie Jo Song (Adeline Rudolph), find themselves in unknown territory in rural Appalachia.
While searching for the escaped cargo, Hellboy suspects evil lurks within this community. The longer they search, the more they learn about numerous strange and unexplainable events. Soon, Hellboy discovers that the innocents in this region are being tormented by a mysterious figure who controls them, known as The Crooked Man. Can Hellboy uncover the truth about The Crooked Man and defeat its evil hold, setting the innocent free once and for all?
Hellboy: The Crooked Man is the fourth instalment of the popular franchise and serves as a prequel. Unlike the previous films, this one has far less action and more focus on folk horror combined with a some thriller aspects. The movie was directed by Brian Taylor, who also directed Crank (2006), Crank: High Voltage (2009), and Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance (2011).
I’m not a die-hard fan of Hellboy and I wasn’t familiar with the comic this story was based on. In the first act, it becomes clear that Hellboy’s character is quite different. He’s not as loud and outspoken as other iterations, and there are still many adventures and missions that he has yet to undertake. However, Hellboy is also carrying a sense of heaviness due to his past and his relationship with his mother. I enjoyed Jack Kesy’s portrayal of Hellboy, especially his mannerisms. However, moments in the dialogue throughout were quite cringeworthy.
The film’s opening is engaging, and I loved seeing Hellboy being forced into an unknown community with an evil presence lurking about. However, I found the story uninteresting and dull as the film progressed. I also found myself unsure of what was happening at times. Side characters were forgettable, and most were only there to be victims or add to the film’s body count. The quality of this film felt like a combination of a fan-made film and TV series. Putting the quality of the film aside, the story is simply perfect, but only if you are a Hellboy fan and familiar with the comic this is based on. If you’re neither of these, this film will be less than exciting.
Overall, if you are a Hellboy fan familiar with the character from the comics and stories, Hellboy: The Crooked Man is tailored for you. However, despite the fan-centric approach and the good start to the story, the storyline quickly becomes disjointed, dull and extremely uninteresting. Some parts of the film do not make sense, and I found many aspects here confusing. The dialogue is disappointing, and the supporting characters seem to exist merely for exposition or to be killed off. Jack Kesy has some standout moments as Hellboy, and it’s interesting to see how he brings his unique mannerisms and attitude to the character, especially considering that this is a prequel. Ultimately, I believe this film will be more enjoyable for die-hard fans, but if you’re a movie enthusiast looking for action and adventure, it’s a “hell” no from me.
Hellboy: The Crooked Man (2024) is available in Australian Cinemas starting October 10th!
3.5/10
10th October 2024
Written by Peter Walkden
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