HellBoy: The Crooked Man Review
HellBoy was great with Ron Pearlman, the reboot had some really cool demons and monsters. This next installment however, is a huge miss.
Okay, so I finally sat down to watch 'Hellboy: The Crooked Man 2024,' and honestly, I had such high hopes! The early buzz and even the striking movie poster I saw online made it seem like we might finally get a Hellboy film that could stand on its own, perhaps even rival the beloved Ron Perlman era. I was genuinely excited to see this adaptation come to life, especially given the promise of a more horror-focused take. But after seeing it, I'm left feeling pretty disappointed, and unfortunately, it looks like the general consensus from a quick glance at IMDb might agree. My biggest issue really boils down to the execution. While the idea of adapting 'The Crooked Man' storyline from the comics is fantastic—it’s a genuinely creepy and atmospheric tale with deep roots in folklore—the film just felt… flat. The pacing was off, and I found myself struggling to connect with the characters or the stakes. Where was the grit? Where was the dark charm that makes Hellboy, well, Hellboy? It felt like it was trying to be a proper horror film but then pulled its punches, leading to a rather inconsistent tone that left me wanting more. The visual effects, while okay, didn't quite capture the unique aesthetic I've come to expect from the Hellboy universe. And speaking of Ron Perlman, it's impossible not to compare. His portrayal had a certain gravitas, a world-weariness, and an underlying warmth that instantly made you root for the character. That version felt like it stepped right out of the comic pages, fully realized. This new rendition, while trying to capture some elements, just didn't land for me. The humor felt forced, and the emotional beats didn't resonate with the same depth. It makes you appreciate just how perfectly cast Perlman was, and how Guillermo del Toro crafted a world that felt authentic and lived-in. When a film brings up more nostalgia for its predecessors than excitement for itself, that's often a big red flag. I was particularly interested in seeing how they’d handle the titular Crooked Man himself, given his unsettling presence in the comic source material. While the creature design was decent, the impact he had on the story felt diluted. It felt like a missed opportunity to truly lean into the folk horror elements that make the comic so memorable. The narrative seemed to rush through key developments, preventing the horror from building organically and leaving the scares feeling unearned. It’s a shame, because the potential was definitely there for a truly chilling and unique take on the Hellboy universe, especially with the 2024 release promising a fresh start. Overall, if you're a die-hard Hellboy fan, you might still check it out just for completion's sake or out of curiosity. But if you're looking for a compelling and satisfying adaptation, especially one that lives up to the high standard set by the earlier films, 'Hellboy: The Crooked Man 2024' unfortunately falls short. It's tough to say, but I'd strongly suggest rewatching the Ron Perlman movies if you're craving some quality demon-hunting action. My honest take is that this installment struggles to find its footing and charm, leaving much to be desired and frankly, a bit of a disappointment for long-time fans like myself.
