Hellboy The Crooked Man Trailer Weird Way

Hellboy: The Crooked Man aims to adapt a classic comic arc faithfully, but low budget and amateurish look raise doubts.

I absolutely adore Mike Mignola's Hellboy and all its various spinoffs. The combination of Gothic, cosmic, and monster horror with a touch of dark humor really resonates with me. Guillermo del Toro's Hellboy movies with Ron Perlman were enjoyable in their own way, but they didn't quite capture the essence of the source material, especially the second film. The 2019 Neil Marshall adaptation with David Harbour stayed true to the source material, but unfortunately, the movie itself fell short.

Now, we have Hellboy: The Crooked Man, which is based on a three-issue arc from 2008 by Mignola and artist Richard Corben. This story follows Hellboy on a mission in 1958 Appalachia where he encounters witches and the sinister Crooked Man, a hanged war profiteer from the 18th Century who has returned from Hell to wreak havoc.

The upcoming movie appears to be a faithful adaptation of this chilling tale, which is a positive step. The previous film tried to cram too many storylines into one, losing focus. By concentrating on a single adventure and maximizing the horror elements, The Crooked Man seems to be on the right track.

However, the low budget is evident in the first look we've been given. The fact that the movie is from Ketchup Entertainment doesn't inspire confidence. Brian Taylor is directing, with Mignola and Christopher Golden handling the screenplay. Jack Kesy as Hellboy looks a bit underwhelming compared to previous portrayals.

It remains to be seen if The Crooked Man can capture the true essence of the comics and deliver a satisfying live-action adaptation. The focus on horror is promising, but the initial impression leaves much to be desired. We'll have to wait until the movie's release later this year to see if it can truly do justice to the beloved source material.