The story opens in war-torn Germany where the Nazis have combined technology and black magic to open up a portal that would release the Seven Gods of Chaos and complete their plans of world domination. Needless to say, their plan is foiled and the Americans in the process discover a small demon-boy, curiously named Hellboy.
Fast-forward 50 years and Hellboy (Ron Perlman) has been brought up by the zealous Professor Broom (John Hurt) and trained by the Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense as an agent employed in the ongoing fight against darkness. Alongside Abe Sapien (Doug Jones and voiced by David Hyde Pierce), a fish-man with the power to see into the past or future, the fire-starting Liz Sherman (Selma Blair) and FBI agent John Myers (Rupert Evans), Hellboy has been sent back out into the field to stop an army of legendary monsters and the return of the Nazi wizard, Rasputin (Karel Roden).
Del Toro’s script is smart and funny and never tries to undermine its original inspiration. While “Hellboy” loses some steam midway through, it quickly jumps back into action for a killer finale. Nazis have always made the best movie villains and Rasputin’s invincible assassin ranks as one of the coolest film goons ever. While the relationship between Hellboy and Liz seems forced, Perlman’s performance as the title character rivals Hugh Jackman’s brilliant portrayal of Wolverine. “Hellboy” takes everything you’d hope for in a comic book film and makes it happen. With a solid cast, plausible story line and enough action to fill three movies, “Hellboy” is an experience you can’t miss.
4 / 5 Stars
Starring: Ron Perlman, Selma Blair, John Hurt
Director: Guillermo Del Toro
