New Showbiz

You are here:
Hellboy: The Crooked Man

Hellboy: The Crooked Man

2024

R

Director

Brian Taylor

Runtime

100 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

Synopsis

Hellboy and a rookie BPRD agent get stranded in 1950s rural Appalachia. There, they discover a small community haunted by witches, led by a local devil with a troubling connection to Hellboy's past: the Crooked Man.

Where to Watch

Diversity & Representation

Overall Score

5.5/10

Fair


Category Breakdown

LGBTQ+ Representation

Fair

The film lacks explicit mention of LGBTQ+ characters or non-heteronormative identities. The narrative focus remains centered on the primary conflict between Hellboy and the Crooked Man.

Gender Representation

Fair

A rookie BPRD agent provides potential for gendered agency within the hierarchy. However, the plot is primarily driven by the established male protagonist, Hellboy.

Racial & Ethnic Diversity

Good

The 1950s Appalachian setting offers a backdrop to navigate mid-century systemic racial tensions. The small community may serve as a microcosm for exploring ethnic identity.

Religious & Cultural Diversity

Good

Centering on Appalachian folklore and witches moves the story away from traditional Western moral binaries. The film explores folk-based spirituality and subjective morality.

Disability Representation

Fair

Hellboy’s non-human physiology serves as a metaphor for physical difference or otherness. However, there is little evidence of characters with specific disabilities possessing independent agency.

Strengths

  • The Appalachian setting allows for a deep exploration of regionalism and folk-based spirituality.
  • Hellboy’s unique physiology provides a compelling metaphor for physical difference and social otherness.
  • The use of folk horror helps subvert traditional Western moral and religious binaries.

Areas for Improvement

  • The narrative lacks explicit representation of LGBTQ+ identities or non-heteronormative characters.
  • The plot remains heavily centered on a male protagonist, limiting gendered agency.
  • There is a lack of characters with specific disabilities who possess agency beyond horror tropes.

AI Analysis

Hellboy: The Crooked Man utilizes a folk-horror framework to explore themes of trauma and non-traditional morality. By leaning into Appalachian folklore and the deconstruction of hero archetypes, the film creates space for narrative disruption despite a lack of explicit identity politics. The setting provides a rich opportunity to engage with historical racial dynamics and regionalism. While the film prioritizes atmospheric complexity over demographic variety, its focus on 'otherness' and subjective spirituality offers a nuanced approach to genre storytelling. Ultimately, the film functions as a mid-range engagement with progressive themes. It avoids overt social commentary in favor of using its supernatural elements to challenge conventional social and moral hierarchies.

How are these scores produced? →

Similar Movies

Movie poster for Kibakichi 2

Kibakichi 2

2004

No user ratings available yet
No diversity score available
Movie poster for Bloody Mallory

Bloody Mallory

2002

No user ratings available yet
Diversity score: 6.6 out of 10

Rate this Movie

No rating selected
Use arrow keys to select a rating from 1 to 5 stars
Optional text review, maximum 2000 characters
Tip: Wrap spoilers with ||double pipes|| to hide them
0/2000 characters
You must be signed in to submit a rating

Reviews

No reviews yet. Be the first to share your thoughts on this movie!

Use the rating form above to leave a star rating and optional review.