Quartile rating: 5.5/10 · 1 rating
Hellboy and a rookie BPRD agent get stranded in 1950s rural Appalachia. There, they discover a small community haunted by witches, led by a local devil with a troubling connection to Hellboy's past: the Crooked Man.
Hellboy: The Crooked Man leans into a grindhouse folk-horror aesthetic set in 1950s Appalachia that gives it some genuine atmosphere and a distinctive visual texture compared to the prior Hellboy adaptations. The Appalachian witch mythology and coal-town setting feel closer to Mignola's comic roots than the 2019 reboot. However, the plot is thin and rushed, failing to build meaningful tension or develop its characters beyond archetypes. Acting is mostly passable but unremarkable, with the lead lacking the charisma needed to carry the role. Cinematography has some effective moody moments but is inconsistent. The ending is abrupt and unsatisfying, resolving the central threat too quickly without emotional payoff.