Jack Kesy as Hellboy and Adeline Rudolph as Bobbie Jo Song in "Hellboy: The Crooked Man."
Millennium Media/Ketchup Entertainment
All four "Hellboy" movies are based on the Dark Horse Comics character by Mike Mignola.
The demon detective has been played by Ron Perlman, David Harbour, and Jack Kesy.
Here are all the "Hellboy" movies ranked, including 2024's "Hellboy: The Crooked Man."
Millennium Media and Dark Horse Comics are taking a second stab at rebooting the "Hellboy" franchise with 2024's "Hellboy: The Crooked Man." The new film, adapted from the Dark Horse Comics storyline of the same name, stars Jack Kesy as the titular demonic detective.
The "Hellboy" reboot takes place in the Appalachian mountains in 1959. The titular character, played by Kesy, meets a vicious spirit called (you guessed it) the "Crooked Man, played by Martin Bassindale, and the community of witches who follow him.
The film, which is a second attempt to reboot the "Hellboy" franchise, is a much different beast than previous versions. The most recent iteration focuses on the horror element of the comics rather than a huge apocalyptic storyline.
But how does "The Crooked Man" stand up against the other three films? Here's every "Hellboy" movie ranked from worst to best.
4. "Hellboy" (2019)David Harbour as Hellboy.
Lionsgate
There's no question that the 2019 "Hellboy" movie is the worst of the lot. David Harbour was a solid choice for the character, but the film turned him from a monster-fighting hero into a whiny brat.
The story is based on "The Wild Hunt" arc in the comics, in which Hellboy tries to stop the Blood Queen (Mila Jovovich) from starting the apocalypse.
However, the action quickly descends into mindless violence for the sake of violence, and none of it has any impact.
The film's biggest crime is that it has no real identity.
The first reboot relies on its rock music soundtrack to tell the audience how to feel in every scene, rather than letting them engage with the (poorly written) story. The only attempts to disguise this laziness are accurate depictions of moments from the comics. It was a complete misfire.
3. "Hellboy: The Crooked Man" (2024)Jack Kesy as Hellboy.
Yana Blajeva/Millennium Media/Ketchup Entertainment
Just because "Hellboy: The Crooked Man" comes in third place does not mean it's a bad film. It's a good horror movie that happens to have Hellboy in it. It's not solely focused on Big Red, which is a strength.
Director Brian Taylor brings "The Crooked Man" storyline to life in a superbly creepy way. Taylor has given the ghostly villain a "Jaws"-esque treatment.
Similarly to the infamous shark, Taylor's villain doesn't show up constantly, but when he does, he makes one hell of an impression.
Some CGI moments look rough, like a raccoon climbing through a window or the first train shot. But for the most part, Taylor relies on practical effects, make-up, and creature designs to bring the monsters and gore to life, which is a welcome treat.
By embracing the horror genre more than previous iterations, audiences can relish the film's more extreme creative choices.
A spine-chilling moment involving a skin suit is sure to get audiences talking thanks to Hannah Margetson's ear-splitting performance.
Stepping into Hellboy's shoes is not an easy job given the widespread love for Perlman — but thankfully, Kesy has perfected the gruff reluctance of the monster hunter.
Anyone expecting something similar to the del Toro movies will be disappointed, but if you leave those expectations behind, there's much to love about "Hellboy: The Crooked Man."
2. "Hellboy II: The Golden Army" (2008)Luke Goss as Prince Nuada and Ron Perlman as Hellboy.
Universal Pictures
"Hellboy II: The Golden Army" is the sequel to Guillermo del Toro's 2004 "Hellboy" movie. The nightmarish fairy-tale plot introduces the elf, Prince Nuada (Luke Goss), who wants to use an ancient mechanical army to raze the planet because of how humanity has treated the Earth.
During the conflicts, Hellboy (Ron Perlman) fights on the side of the humans. This causes him to reckon with his place in a world where he'll always be seen as a monstrous outsider.
It's a testament to del Toro's writing and direction that the sequel balances Hellboy's inner conflict against ambitious fight scenes, sprawling practical sets, and deep mythology.
It's obviously disappointing that fans didn't get to see the hero become a dad in "Hellboy 3" after the cliffhanger ending. But the audience's enduring love for Perlman's Hellboy shows just how well del Toro adapted the character.
1. "Hellboy" (2004)Ron Perlman as Hellboy.
Sony Pictures Releasing
Of course, the original movie takes the top spot. It introduces Hellboy's origin story, explaining that he arrived on Earth in 1944 when a secret Nazi group attempted to open a portal to get demonic Lovecraftian creatures to help them win the war.
From there, it mainly takes place in the present — as Hellboy tackles the sorcerer Rasputin (Karel Roden), who wants to use the hero to bring about the apocalypse.
For such a bombastic plot, del Toro flourishes in the smaller moments between Hellboy and Liz Sherman (Selma Blair), a troubled woman with pyrokinetic abilities.
The director effortlessly weaves a unique love story into a plot studded with immortal hellhounds, a Nazi assassin with a surgical addiction, and giant tentacle monsters. The contrast of these arcs is deeply effective.
This is all before broaching the film's visual style, which makes audiences feel like they've plunged into the pages of the original comics. It's an utter treat that still holds up 20 years later.
Icon Film Distribution presents Hellboy: The Crooked Man in UK cinemas from 27 September.
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