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My uncle used to say that we like people for their qualities but we love them for their defects.

Previous del Toro review:

• Pacific Rim

# Review

In this dark fantasy, the evil Rasputin (Karel Roden) has been revived in the 21st century and along with his accomplices, Rasputin intends to unleash a great evil upon the world. The Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense, led by the cerebral Professor Broom (John Hurt), is tasked with stopping Rasputin.

This is perhaps one of my favourite comic adaptations ever. The interesting source material blends well with del Toro's eye for dark fantasy visual design. The typical del Toro tropes, such as sympathetic monsters and a style that blends beauty and grotesquerie, manifests well in the Hellboy universe, where the protagonist is an anti-hero demon tasked with saving humanity.

Ron Perlman's Hellboy is my favourite because he portrays the character's brashness well but at the same time also portrays Hellboy's vulnerability. The supporting cast, which includes Doug Jones' alien Abe Sapien and Selma Blair's fiery Liz, both serve as excellent foils for Perlman's Hellboy. While the story is superficial and predictable, I really enjoyed the cast's (sometimes corny) chemistry.

# Conclusion

A stylish and fun adventure in a dark fantasy world.

# Overall rating: 7.7

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