Synopsis
The newest addition to the Hellboy franchise is set to release in 2025—“Hellboy: The Crooked Man.” This supernatural horror film will be directed by Brian Taylor with adaptational supervision from Mike Mignola to ensure the original vision of the franchise is preserved. The tone of the new addition will be a stark contrast compared to the previous films; it will be profundamente rooted in gothic horror.
A younger self of Hellboy will be portrayed by Jack Kesy and set in the 1950’s Appalachian wilderness. During the era, he is met with a supernatural mystery that needs solving, prompting him to investigate. Driven towards the secretive backwoods dwelling due to rumors of supernatural activities, he stumbles upon a village shrouded in secrecy. Until a certain evil force, referred to as The Crooked Man, is slain, the villagers fear being tormented by witches and an ancient evil spirit inflicted by their past sins.
The Crooked Man is a demonic figure that enslaves souls of the damned underneath him. Spirituous witches are forced to serve him, further deepening his control over the region. A twisted soul once trapped within a human body; he is the reflection of corruption and decay owing to the haunting figure controlling his realm. Now this portion of hell will be the Crooked man’s dominion.
Alongside Hellboy, we have Tom Ferrell (Jefferson White), a local who tried to escape the village, but is now returning after many years. Tom must come to terms with the dark legacy of his home which includes the dark puede his family once made. While Hellboy and Tom try to uncover the truth, they must battle witchcraft, treachery, and otherworldly monsters, all of which leads to a final showdown with the Crooked Man.
Different then earlier installments of the films, which focused on grandiose action scenes or attempts at world-ending cataclysms, The Crooked Man centers around personal themes, feeling more atmospheric. The story it works with is blind moral corruption, redemption, and the consequences of extreme greed.
Cast is led out by Jack Kesy who plays Hellboy for the first time. He portrays this character in a different way than his predecessors. Kesy adds his twist to the role, portraying a younger Hellboy who isn’t as battle-ready, still figuring out his place in the world. Unlike past portrayals, he softens the edges and adds a sense of fragility — vulnerability.
Tom Ferrell, who portrayed part of the character in Yellowstone, gets a more emotional arc – Kreger returns to the franchise from a different installment. The character of Tom is a blend of guilt and morals and so his story is deeply intertwined with the main characterization of Hellboy.
Chilling Adventures of Sabrina and Resident Evil are Adeline Rudolph’s prior works, from which she has greatly risen due to her role as Effie Kolb. Effie is tied to the witches that serve the Crooked Man, portraying an epic dynamic with regard to temptation, betrayal, and the power of the supernatural.
Brian Taylor, who directed the movie, is known for his work on Crank and Gamer, which also happens to be his prior work. He applied a more kinetic and high-energy approach while constructing the projects. Here, Taylor changes his pacing to a more slow and methodical tempo, building atmosphere, dread, and emotional depth into his work.
Of great significance is Mike Mignola, the creator of the Hellboy universe, who joins as a co-writer and creative consultant. His involvement signifies a massive change for the franchise, which will now have The Crooked Man aligned with the spirit of the comics. Mignola himself stated that the reason he picked this story was because it was one of his most personal and favorite arcs. It tells a story that is perfect for Hellboy in the context of gothic horror and folklore.
Cale Finot’s cinematographic depiction of the Appalachian wilderness sets eerie and gloomy vibe, aiming for everything to appear drowned in shadow and mist. From old cabins to gnarled trees and decaying graveyards, scenes become a definition of profound dread.
The music for the film, which was done by Jed Kurzel, blends folk and horror with fiddles, creaking woods and whispered chants. It gives an unsettling yet ancient feeling.
Expected HellBoy Movie Reception on IMDb
Because the movie has not been released yet, it does not have an official IMDb rating. The buzz around the movie from critics, and fans of horror and Hellboy comics is off the charts.
There is a measured expectation that the movie will manage to be the desired Hellboy adaptation with it being dark, mythic, eerie and respectful to the original comics instead of overly using CGI with undermined action sequences. The combination of the faithfully adapted comic arc, talented cast and a director who does not shy away from horror and actually delivers on the promise makes one believe The Crooked Man will in fact become a surprise hit in 2025 for horror and dark fantasy.
Comments from early set photos and interviews have praised the commitment to old-school horror atmosphere, the use of practical effects over CGI, and Jack Kesy’s portrayal of a more grounded Hellboy.
The Crooked Man, if executed properly, could not just breathe new life into the franchise, but also set a new precedent for future Hellboy installments as smaller, anthology-style tales of horror drawn from Mignola’s chilling comic universe.
Closing Statement
So far, Hellboy: The Crooked Man looks like a much-needed adjustment for a franchise that has struggled to symphonize its vision and tone for quite some time now. Focused on one of Mike Mignola’s darkest and most haunting tales, the film aims to deliver something closer to the Gothic heritage folklore roots of the source material.
With Jack Kesy’s younger, grittier portrayal of Hellboy, audiences have the chance to reassess the narrative they know as a woeful monster forced to slay others — now, he becomes a tragic soul teetering on the brink of two worlds. He is poised to become the most notable villain in horror cinema, and as The Crooked Man, he combines physical grotesqueness with a deeply unsettling form of evil.
Hellboy: The Crooked Man is not a reboot for followers of horror, supernatural, or dark fantasy. Rather, it is a return to the legend of Hellboy—a lore centered around spine-chilling myths of forgotten realms, the haunting consequences of yesteryears, and ghoulish nightmares spawned from human depravity.
Once the movie drops, fans will embark on an adventure into the witching southern forests of Appalachia, where unspeakable perverse evils lurk in the shadows.
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