The trailer for Hellboy: The Crooked Man proves the new cinematic version of the character is pulling one key element from the original comics. Hellboy has become an enduring force in pop culture for three decades, leaping from the comics page to film, animation, and video games. The demonic herald of the apocalypse raised to become a heroic paranormal investigator, creator Mike Mignola’s Hellboy has always found himself contending with supernatural threats and enemies. Despite their differences from the source material and each other, this was reflected in the previous live-action versions of the character.

Guillermo Del Toro’s two Hellboy films, as well as Rob Marshall’s 2019 approach to the material, appear to be very different from the far more muted and grounded Hellboy: The Crooked Man reboot. Taking direct inspiration from the comic story of the same name, this new version of Hellboy has some specific stylistic elements that highlight the unique approach the filmmakers are taking with it. Notably, the biggest difference between the new movie and the other Hellboy films is a clear attempt to recreate one key element of the original stories that was underplayed in the other films.

Hellboy: The Crooked Man Is Returning To The Comic Book’s Horror Roots

Hellboy: The Crooked Man Is Based On A Creepy Classic Hellboy Comic

Hellboy: The Crooked Man seems to be bringing the titular character into the horror tone that typically defines his comic stories. All of the Hellboy films have had scary elements to them, underscoring the supernatural and monstrous foes that Hellboy has to combat on the regular. However, Hellboy: The Crooked Man seems to be a more grounded horror story rather than a supernatural adventure. This is reflective of the more soft-spoken and scary nature of the comics. Mike Mignola’s Hellboy comics are far more grim and atmospheric than the Hellboy of Guillermo Del Toro’s fantastical bombast or Neil Marshall’s gritty take.

In that sense, Hellboy: The Crooked Man seems to be a better reflection of the original Hellboy stories. The Crooked Man is one of the more memorable villains from the original comics, the star of a story full of creepy turns and haunting visuals. Hellboy: The Crooked Man seems to be a direct adaptation of that story, with the teaser showcasing a greater amount of horror filmmaking tropes and stylistic flourishes. This is in stark contrast to the more explosive action sequences of other live-action Hellboy films, which filtered the concept through a blockbuster lens.

Hellboy Creator Mike Mignola Is Behind The Crooked Man

The Person Who Invented Hellboy Is One Of The Screenwriters On Hellboy: The Crooked Man

One of the things that makes Hellboy: The Crooked Man stand out from other adaptations of the character is the direct involvement of Mike Mignola. The legendary comics artist was the creator of Hellboy, who debuted in 1993. Mignola has offered his support for both of the other takes on the character, but Hellboy: The Crooked Man has Mignola credited as a member of the film’s writing team. Mignola collaborated on the screenplay with Christopher Golden and Brian Taylor, the latter of whom also directed the film.

This suggests that Hellboy: The Crooked Man will be more reflective of the Hellboy seen in the original comics. The cinematic versions of the character were portrayed as far more boisterous, especially Ron Perlman’s incarnation from Del Toro’s two live-action films. This new Hellboy is a deliberate attempt to focus on a grounded version of the character, who is defined more by his simple humanity, dry humor, and quiet reflection. It feels more in line with the Hellboy from most of the comics, who was only occasionally the boisterous brawler seen in other films.

Previous Hellboy Movie Adaptations Have Focused More On The Action Than Horror

Hellboy: The Crooked Man Looks Far More Frightening Than Previous Versions Of The Franchise

So far, there have been three live-action Hellboy films. The first two, directed by Guillermo Del Toro, leaned into the fantastical elements of the franchise, with Hellboy: The Golden Army introducing new lore that feels perfect for Del Toro’s blockbuster. The 2019 Hellboy tried to infuse the property with a harsher edge, but was likewise defined by big action set-pieces and sequences. By contrast, Hellboy: The Crooked Man appears to be a far more reserved story. It’s light on action, focusing more on frightening imagery like the titular demonic force or the people who end up entangled in his machinations.

It helps the new film instantly stand out from other big-budget attempts to bring Hellboy to the big screen. It’s also potentially a great way to reflect the more creepy and subtle horrors of the original comics, as opposed to the big and boisterous approach to the material seen previously. If the filmmakers are able to fully deliver on the atmospheric and scary approach to folklore that helped Hellboy stand out in the first place, then their version of the character in Hellboy: The Crooked Man could be the most comics-accurate take yet to come to film.