Hellboy and a rookie end up in the Appalachians and decide to help a family in need against a local demon that terrorises the area.
Flawed yet effective! It’s one of those reviews where I cut right to the chase. The visual effects are the film’s downside. They are not convincing, but they do not degrade the film either. The other downside is the money. Hellboy: The Crooked Man is not a Hollywood production. The budget is low ($20 million), and it shows; it also contributes to the low-quality visual effects.
Having said that, the story is wicked, and the script is solid. Budget aside, it is a great adaptation and writer/director Brian Taylor has done a very good job bringing to life that script that he co-wrote and produced with Mike Mignola himself – the creator of Hellboy! If the money were more, it would be a more effective adaptation than Guillermo Del Toro’s. It is dark, eerie, atmospheric and faithful to the graphic novel. Pay attention to the things Hellboy says about himself and how he perceives his existence. These are the details that matter.
Jack Kesy is a great Hellboy, but keep an eye out for the amazing Adeline Rudolph (Bobbie), as we will see her as Katana in Mortal Kombat II (2026) and in numerous other upcoming productions. All the cast does a great job, and notable credit also goes to editor Ryan Denmark for stitching it together.
Making a film has never been an easy or straightforward process. Taylor and Mignola made a faithful adaptation, and you’ll only see that if you don’t compare it with previous Hollywood adaptations. It will not blow your socks off, but it is an intense, on-screen horror/graphic novel experience.
Thanks for reading!
Please, don’t forget to share. If you enjoy my work and dedication to films, please feel free to support me on https://www.patreon.com/kaygazpro. Any contribution is much appreciated and valued.
Solidarity for all the innocent lives that suffer the atrocities of war!
Stay safe!
