“I’d appreciate a prophecy with smaller and more relatable stakes.” —Hellboy
Today’s quick review: Hellboy. For decades, Hellboy (David Harbour), a demon adopted by Professor Broom (Ian McShane), has fought evil alongside the Bureau of Paranormal Research and Defense. But when a prophecy claims that he will usher in the Apocalypse, Hellboy must join forces with Alice Monaghan (Sasha Lane), a young medium, to stop the ancient witch Nimue (Milla Jovovich) from unleashing a plague that will wipe out all life on Earth.
Hellboy is an action horror movie based on the comics by Mike Mignola. Hellboy is a mash-up between epic fantasy and comedic romp. The stakes of the story and the world it takes place in skew towards the dramatic: ghoulish creatures, dire prophecies, and world-ending plagues. But the title character is more comedic, prone to misadventures, complaints, and getting stuck with the dirty work. The result is a patchy, polarzing blend of the two styles.
Hellboy’s distinguishing feature is its attitude. The movie comes out of the gate swinging, packing in as much action, violence, swearing, and humor as it can in the time available. The fights are energetic, CGI-fueled brawls between the nigh-indestructible Hellboy and his monstrous foes. The gags riff off the absurd situations he finds himself in. The plot is a whirlwind tour of his origins, his world, and the variety of beings who inhabit it.
For the right viewer, this adds up to a lot of fun. Hellboy embraces the over-the-top, ridiculous side of the supernatural, as well as the more serious side of things. There are plenty of details that fans of the comics will enjoy, though the overarching story is cut from whole cloth. Ian McShane is the standout among the cast as Hellboy’s brusque, ornery adoptive father, while David Harbour captures the beleaguered side of his character well.
But for all that it gets right, Hellboy is an uneven watch. The jokes miss as often as they hit, usually due to their delivery or placement within a scene. The tone shifts between comedy and drama at inopportune moments, undercutting the tension and robbing the humor of its impact. The action relies too heavily on CGI to carry much weight. The mechanics of the plot come across as a clunky attempt to tie together the film’s disparate parts.
These acute strengths and weaknesses are what separate this adaption of Hellboy from the Guillermo del Toro version. Where the del Toro films focus as much on story, setting, and character as on action and comedy, this adaptation sacrifices everything else to put attitude front and center. It delivers on action and, to some extent, humor, but at the cost of plot cohesion, grounding, and heart. This drastic tradeoff will make the film very hit-or-miss.
Hellboy makes for a fun, popcorn watch for viewers who enjoy schlocky action, reckless violence, and gruesome monsters. The film has plenty of strong moments, from its better gags to its sprawling action sequences to the wilder side of its fantasy world. But it lacks the consistency to win over skeptical viewers, the heart to ground its story, or the plot needed to hold its ideas together. Interested viewers should approach it with caution.
For a take on the character with more heart, try the original Hellboy or its sequel. For monster-hunting action in a similar vein, try Van Helsing, Constantine, or The Last Witch Hunter.
5.4 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.5 to 7.0 for over-the-top action, energy, and plenty of creativity, hurt badly by its weak plot and inconsistent delivery; your score will vary according to taste.