Hellboy Blu-ray Review

When the Hellboy reboot was announced it was met with mixed responses.  There were those who were upset that the franchise was starting over without Ron Pearlman behind the makeup as Hellboy.  Others, like myself saw it as exciting news as a comic accurate R-rated version of Hellboy was coming to theaters. Guillermo Del Toro was not returning to direct so Neil Marshall stepped in for those duties, and David Harbour went under the makeup to portray Hellboy. 
 
Hellboy is working on a case for B.P.R.D (Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense) he’s tracking a former agent who was turned into a vampire.  Hellboy is able to hunt him down but right before he terminates him the vampire tells Hellboy the end of the world is coming. When Hellboy returns to the BPRD Headquarters he is assigned to stop the threat of the 3 Giants.  This however is merely a backdrop for the real threat.  A changeling named Gruagach wants Hellboy dead for reasons I will not spoil here.  He is working with a witch named The Baba Yaga (not John Wick) To retrieve the body parts of an evil queen named Vivian Nimue, who tried to destroy England during he Dark Ages but was thwarted by King Arthur.  Arthur used the magical sword Excalibur to kill and dismember her, then to insure she did not return scattered her body across England.
 
Gruagach is able to succeed in his plans and unleashes Nimue who needs Hellboy to bring about the apocalypse.  Hellboy, as we learn is a descendant of King Arthur and he possesses the power to hold Excalibur.  However removing the sword from the stone will cause a portal from hell to open here on earth thus releasing demons and bringing about the apocalypse.
 
Sound confusing, well it sort of can be.  I have been reading Hellboy for a long time now so as a comic book guy it was fantastic to see Ben, Alice, Trevor, Lobster Johnson, and more.  Now if your not a comic book reader this is a hell of a lot for a film to throw at you.  It’s a good film don’t get me wrong but way way to much is introduced to the average viewer.  The universe in this version is different in certain aspects than the other two films, but its all just dumped on you.  Nothing is slowly introduced.  So for all the folks who only know Hellboy from the previous two movies they may find this film to be a bit to out there.
 
Now the one thing I must say is the film is a very violent and bloody hard R film.  I’m really surprised the horror fans did not embrace it a bit more.  It’s a very good horror film on its own merits.  And I must say that David Harbour did a fantastic job as Hellboy.  He really did a fantastic job of transitioning the comic characters traits to the big screen.  The directing was great, the score sounded fantastic, the effects were amazing as well.  It was a well-acted, well-made production.  For all the people out there saying they want more hard R violent comic book movies, this is for them.  The Blu-ray from Lionsgate looks and sounds great and its one you really should be up.
 
Great for fans of the comics, great for horror fans, but a bit much for a casual view of comic book films the film is good.  I really liked it.  I will admit had I not read any of the books it would be a bit much to take in all at once.  But that aside, ignore the bad reviews and watch this as a popcorn horror movie with a comic book demon as the star.  Its actually quiet enjoyable.
 
Overall 3 out of 5 Stars!