"Hellboy: The Crooked Man" tries to revive the iconic character's universe but faces serious challenges that prevent it from reaching the heights of Guillermo del Toro's films. The low budget is not enough to capture the grandeur and complexity of Hellboy's world, resulting in a rather limited effort overall. It feels like they tried to reboot Harry Potter with a budget equivalent to an episode of a mediocre CW show. While the production team clearly made their best effort to address the shortcomings, it was a tough task.
Additionally, the supporting cast is another weak point. The performances are weak and often unconvincing, even less realistic and more frightening than roles in "Power Rangers." However, Jack Kesy as Hellboy is one of the few positive aspects. I hope this role opens doors for him, as it is one of the few things that really work in the film.
The makeup and special effects also appear cheap and uninspired, failing to create an immersive experience and making the attempt to build a scary atmosphere fall short, giving it an amateurish feel.
On the other hand, the film's atmosphere, though limited, is a positive aspect, along with the soundtrack featuring eerie melodies that contribute to the dark and mystical tone the film aims for. However, the sound editing, especially the jump scares, is overly excessive.
"Hellboy: The Crooked Man" is a film that tries to capture the essence of a complex universe with limited resources, resulting in a movie that feels more like a fan-made project than a true reinvention of the character. It is an example of how a low budget can severely compromise a film's potential, even with genuine effort from the production team.
