Hellboy: The Crooked Man review
Fans of the original Hellboy films directed by Guillermo del Toro will likely remember his 2004 take on the character, which combined pulp action, dark humor, and occult themes. Ron Perlman’s portrayal of the red-skinned, cigar-smoking Hellboy was pivotal to the success of the franchise, and Selma Blair’s portrayal of Liz Sherman, Hellboy’s love interest, further added to the film’s charm. The sequel, Hellboy II: The Golden Army (2008), also performed well but not as strongly.
However, the 2019 reboot, starring David Harbour as Hellboy, failed to capture the same magic. Despite Harbour’s solid performance, the film’s poor box office performance raised doubts about the viability of continuing the franchise, particularly with such a diminished budget for future installments. This makes Hellboy: The Crooked Man, which has a significantly lower budget, seem like a surprising move. It raises questions about the financial strategy behind this film, suggesting a potential reliance on creative budgeting.
In Hellboy: The Crooked Man, Jack Kesy steps into the title role, but his portrayal is a bit underwhelming compared to previous actors like Ron Perlman and David Harbour. Set in the 1950s, the movie follows Hellboy, now working with B.P.R.D. agent Bobbie Jo Song (played by Adeline Rudolph, a standout in the film), as they chase down a giant CGI spider in the forests of Appalachia. Their search for a phone leads them into a supernatural mess involving hillbilly witches and hellish portals.
Local war veteran Tom Ferrell (Jefferson White) enlists Hellboy and Bobbie Jo to save his former sweetheart, Cora (Hannah Margetson), who has fallen under the spell of a local witch named Effie (Leah McNamara). McNamara embraces her over-the-top role, adding some fun to the otherwise unremarkable antagonist, the Crooked Man (Martin Bassindale), whose only memorable trait is his top hat.
