Comics To Film: Hellboy (2004)

Cast: Ron Perlman, Doug Jones, Selma Blair
Director: Guillermo del Toro
Country: USA
Genre: Action | Adventure | Fantasy
Official Trailer: Here

Editor’s Note: The following review of Hellboy is apart of Umar’s ongoing series entitled Comics to Film.

Guillermo del Toro does a great job of bringing an obscure and complex character from the comics and making an origins story that is both interesting and imaginative. However, del Toro cannot take the full credit for Hellboy’s success, since it really is Ron Perlman’s depiction of the demonic hero that is the true treasure to see.

The film opens in 1944, where the Nazis are working with Rasputin, to release ancient demons imprisoned in another dimension, so they can gain the power to defeat the Allies. Professor Trevor Bloom is along with a group of Allied forces sent to stop them and are successful. However, a portal was opened and sucked in Rasputin, but something also came out. It turns out to be an infant red demon that is affectionately named Hellboy and adopted by the Professor.

However, del Toro cannot take the full credit for Hellboy’s success, since it really is Ron Perlman’s depiction of the demonic hero that is the true treasure to see.

The story then jumps to the present day, where FBI agent John Myers is assigned to the secret Bureau of Paranormal Research and Defense (BPRD) division to be the new handler to the now adult Hellboy. Through Myers’ eyes, the audience is able to see the world of the paranormal and how Hellboy, along with a much older Bloom and a psychic amphibious humanoid named Abe Sapien, investigate and eliminate paranormal threats. Myers also learns of another member of the BPRD, a pyrokinetic named Liz Sherman, who has left the Bureau and committed herself much to Hellboy’s displeasure due to his love for her. Myers brings Sherman back, for his own romantic feels, and a humourous love triangle emerges between the new agent, the big red Demon and Liz.

Unfortunately, Rasputin, due to his acolytes, has returned and has gained enough power and resources to fulfill his original plan on his own. He first releases an immortal hellhound to distract Hellboy and the BPRD, and then kidnaps Liz to force Hellboy to fulfill his destiny, opening the gate to release the ancient demons from the start of the film from their crystal prison. With the help of Myers, Hellboy attempts to overcome his dark nature and try to help his adopted world and save Liz just like Professor Bloom raised him to do.

Like so many of his other films, del Toro gives us a story filled with action, imagination, great special effects, interesting villains, and heroes whose flaws make the audience like them even more. He provides great humour and endearing moments to allow the viewers to truly connect with each of the main characters, which then also makes it easier for them to understand and sympathize with their fears and problems. The most profound element of this would be the love triangle between Hellboy, Myers and Liz which creates both funny and heartbreaking moments. Del Toro is able to direct the actors into behaving almost adolescent in a very dark and scary world so as to create moments of endearing humour or vulnerability to reveal insecurities. This allows the audience not feel as if they are in an alien world with bizarre heroes and sidekicks, but in our own world with people who are acting the way ordinary people would if they saw these strange things on a daily basis.

Like so many of his other films, del Toro gives us a story filled with action, imagination, great special effects, interesting villains, and heroes whose flaws make the audience like them even more.

The worst that could be said about the movie is that the humour is trying too hard to be sarcastic or biting, and is less clever and more predictable than it could be. The film is formulaic and has no real surprise to it with the film being both cheesy and dragging at points. However, the faults can also be used to describe a positive about the movie: that it does not take itself too seriously. Hellboy realizes its cliché aspects, and embraces them so that the film does not suffer.

As stated previously, the main reason to watch this film is for Ron Perlman’s performance. Perlman’s portrayal of Hellboy is a joy to watch because he sells the character with his obvious enjoyment in playing him, and by showing Hellboy as a very real and relatable character. Perlman plays Hellboy as a gruff action hero with comedic blunders; a stoic loner who is afraid to lose the few he cares about, and as a romantic who accidentally borders on stalker. The Hellboy character is so endearing because Perlman chooses to depict him more as a man who is angry about his disfigurement but is good deep down, than a demon who has learned to love and protect humanity based on being raised by a good man.

The rest of the cast does work well together and with Perlman. John Hurt, Doug Jones and Karel Roden do a great job of being the supporting roles, with Selma Blair’s character being the only performance that seemed too stiff to be truly likable. Rupert Evans does a decent job of being the audience’s perspective as newcomer Myers. Jeffrey Tambor is the only one who seemed to be banking on his reputation from Arrested Development to make his attempts at humour enjoyable. His humour may work for those who have seen the show and enjoy the actor’s antics, but to those who do not know the series he just seemed to be trying to be funny but came across more snivelling.

Overall, Hellboy is a worthy comic book movie to watch, with great battles, great graphics, wonderfully imaginative back stories and creatures to satisfy all. It also has a great deal of humour and heart that would allow even the non-science fiction viewers to enjoy themselves.

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Umar Shameem

When I was 6 years old, my mother showed me the 1978 Superman movie. I watched that maybe 1000 times by the time I was 7. Ever since I have loved movies, and comic books. Fast forward 20 years, a couple film courses, several thousand comic books and over 2000 movies, and you get me. I continue to watch films of all genres and read comics. It is apart of my identity and it is something I love and hope to be able to continue loving and enjoying until the end of my days.

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