In the final days of World War II, the Nazis attempt to use black magic to aid their dying cause. The Allies raid the camp where the ceremony is taking place, but not before a demon - Hellboy - has...
Hellboy portrays its impossible titular character with blazing fire and childish charm. A superhero blockbuster shrouded in Del Toro's signature darkness, bringing a relatively unknown graphic novel into the spotlight. This accessibly entertaining flick has just enough mindless action to appeal to general audiences whilst offering a dynamic range of genre transitions allowing Hellboy himself to develop as a character. Sure the central plot is extinguished right from the start, but it's all about Hellboy. And, in my opinion, it works. Just. Hellboy, a demonic beast pulled from a dimensional portal, works with other supernatural individuals to keep the world safe from paranormal threats. This time, he must stop a Russian mystic from summoning inter-dimensional colossal creatures.
Part superhero fantasy, part romance and part horror. A mish-mash of dark genres that suit Del Toro's signature style. Whether it be Hellboy traversing damp sewers or prowling the streets at night, Del Toro maintains the overburdening sense of darkness that looms over Hellboy as he struggles to mature. As a character study, Del Toro's screenplay manages to fully flesh out Hellboy's loneliness and, accompanied by Perlman's transformative performance, makes the character instantly memorable. Abe, an amphibious humanoid, and Liz, a pyrokinetic, are introduced in a way that suits Hellboy. They never become central to the story, but represent his adoration for his peers/friends. Bestowing human qualities upon him. The romance is nuanced but effective, the paranormal imagery exhumes imagination and the action is watchable.
Just a shame that the main story has no development whatsoever as the antagonist (and his disciples) are instantly forgettable. The lore of the Ogdru Jahad and the Thule Society felt dense yet never truly explored, ultimately feeling rushed just to relate to the source material. The visual effects were satisfactory for the most part. However due to Del Toro's natural insistence on practical effects (phew...), it does make the CGI more noticeable during fight sequences, ultimately taking you out of the experience. The third act, especially the final fifteen minutes, crumbles into dust. The screen suddenly fills with tentacled behemoths, fiery horns and last minute revivals. It all happens instantly and pretty much has no effect, which is a shame.
Fortunately we were graced with a sequel, as I find this introductory film reminiscent to a seed. A "Seed of Destruction" if you will. Del Toro plants the characters firmly into the ground and presents their origins and destiny defying arcs well. Now it's time to let these characters grow and focus on an involving central story, as this film was absent of that entirely. Still, Del Toro's fantastical style bursts through the screen in what is an often overlooked superhero flick.
