As a lifelong fan of the Hellboy comics and having followed the exploits of Big Red through various media adaptations, I must admit my disappointment with “Hellboy: The Crooked Man.” Despite its hefty price tag, the film feels more like an overzealous fan project than a professional production.
The Crooked Man” is a remake with a relatively high budget compared to what seems like a fan-made film. Despite this, it’s puzzling why it costs $20 million. The visuals and adherence to the original comic are very precise, which could suggest a fan project. It’s no surprise that Mike Mignola wrote the screenplay given his involvement with the comic. However, the fact that director Brian Taylor was involved is quite surprising. Known for action-packed films like “Crank” and “Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance”, as well as a dark comedy “Mom and Dad”, Taylor’s movies usually rely on momentum and energy. Unfortunately, “The Crooked Man” lacks both these elements.
In contrast to Ron Perlman and David Harbour, who were perfectly fitting for the Hellboy role, actor Jack Kesy portrays a more reserved version of the supernatural agent. His quips are understated, and his past revelations seem to hold minimal impact on his current actions. The issue with this less engaging and entertaining portrayal of “Big Red” can be attributed to the script, which fails to provide Kesy with substantial material to bring the character to life.
In 1959, Hellboy and B.P.R.D. (Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense) recruit Jo (Adeline Rudolph), following an eventful encounter with a large spider on a train that doesn’t significantly impact the storyline otherwise. The trio then gets lost in rural Appalachia, where they encounter various villagers who are being harassed by witches. A mysterious character known as the Crooked Man also appears, and while his connections to America’s historical wrongdoings are hinted at, these references are not fully explored.
Similar to the mentioned train battle scene, Jo is not featured in the comics, nor does she have a significant role in the movie. Despite her frequent appearances on screen, her function is primarily to watch and occasionally remark on peculiar events as Jo, Hellboy, and Tom (played by Jefferson White) navigate through the forest. Tom, like Jo, lacks charisma. As they journey together, they occasionally encounter eerie occurrences related to folk horror, but these events are not visually engaging. The movie is dull and rigid, with little sense of location during the few instances of action scenes.
The unusual realistic aspect of the movie is enjoyable to observe, reminiscent of a ghost possessing a suit of skin, yet the film largely consists of repeated dialogue unrelated to the visuals. Characters like Hellboy often talk about sensing evil or the stench of death, but the camera rarely shows the actual surroundings they traverse. They move, encounter partially glimpsed witches, continue moving, and meet more – a pattern that becomes amusingly repetitive in its predictability.
Throughout the narrative, there’s no attempt to mimic Richard Corben’s distinctive comic art style or introduce alternative visual influences. Instead, the story progresses with an unusual monotony. Even the psychic visions portrayed in “The Crooked Man” seem more like obligatory additions than creative inspirations. As they approach the titular antagonist, the plot seems to lose significance and the production appears to lack the attention it deserves. Sven Faulconer’s score effectively creates an eerie atmosphere, but unfortunately, the overall visual elements such as lighting, costumes, and set design fail to match this level of quality.
Unlike past Hellboy films, “The Crooked Man” lacks any unique qualities – there’s no sense of enthusiasm for the main character or his unusual universe in its storytelling. One might expect a low budget to emphasize the horror aspects from the comic series, but surprisingly, those elements have been eliminated instead. What we’re left with is essentially the empty shell of the Hellboy brand.
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2024-10-09 20:16