Review of 'Hellboy: The Crooked Man'

In the 1950s, Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense (BPRD) agents Hellboy (Jack Kesy) and Bobbie Jo Song (Adeline Rudolph) are left stranded in the Appalachian Mountains when a supernatural spider they are transporting grows to enormous proportions, causing the train car to overturn. They meet local Tom Ferrell (Jefferson White) who wants to speak with Cora Fisher (Hannah Margetson), a witch and Tom's ex-girlfriend but they discover her house is empty. While waiting her return Tom tells the agents that years earlier after being turned towards witchcraft years earlier by local witch Effie Kolb (Leah McNamara) had a run in with an entity known as “The Crooked Man” (Martin Bassindale) that did not go well. When a demonic familiar returns with Cora's body Effie arrives on a horse to take her soul but is scared away by Hellboy. The horse turns out to be the bewitched form of Tom's father who passes away with the group agreeing to take his body for burial at the local church…but the Crooked Man is soon on their trail.

Having seen previous big-screen Hellboy outings (Hellboy (2004), Hellboy II: The Golden Army (2008) then the more recent, but underwhelming, remake Hellboy (2019)) I was expecting loads of action and big-screen special effects. There is none of that to be found in this lower-budget film that instead leans towards supernatural horror with much of the running time consisting of fog and sinister characters creeping about…or talking about sinister characters creeping out. Hellboy is for the most part limited to walking around, talking ominously with only the occasional quip and big gun usage. Yes, this is a far more restrained film outing for the demonic demi-God but is it for the better? I would say no as I found the pace horrifically (pun intended) slow and the talents of Hellboy wasted here for what is a fairly basic, though incredibly confusingly plotted, horror story (just think “Crooked Man” - big baddie, Hellboy et all - goodies, and that is all that matters). The effects are not too bad but it is really a small story on the big screen more suited to an extended television episode than a film.

Not really my cup of tea and quite a disappointing outing for the son of Azzael though the effects are not that bad don't expect a lot of action except, of course, at the end where it gets quite…bloody and violent.

Rating: “Average, but who wants to be average?”

Review Date: 2025-05-04

Directed by: Brian Taylor

Studio: Bulgarian National Film Center

Year: 2024

Length: 99 minutes

Genre: Action/Adventure

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt26757462/