Hellboy (2019) – A Dark, Action-Packed Reboot with a Punch

Introduction

The Hellboy (2019) reboot, directed by Neil Marshall and starring David Harbour as the тιтular character, brought a fresh yet darker take on the beloved comic book antihero. Unlike Guillermo del Toro’s visually stunning and somewhat whimsical adaptations, this version aimed for a grittier, bloodier, and more action-packed tone, staying closer to Mike Mignola’s original graphic novel inspirations.

However, upon its release, Hellboy (2019) garnered mixed to negative reviews from critics and audiences alike. While some appreciated its faithfulness to the source material and R-rated brutality, others felt it lacked the charm and cohesiveness of its predecessors. In this in-depth review, we break down the film’s plot, performances, action sequences, visual effects, themes, and overall impact.

Plot Summary

The film follows Hellboy, a demon raised by humans and working for the Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense (B.P.R.D.). He is called upon to stop an ancient sorceress, Nimue the Blood Queen (played by Milla Jovovich), who is resurrected and seeks to unleash hell on Earth.

The story weaves through Hellboy’s struggle with his demonic origins, his relationship with his adoptive father, Professor Broom (Ian McShane), and the battle against supernatural threats, including giants, grotesque monsters, and mythical creatures. As the Blood Queen attempts to seduce Hellboy into embracing his destiny as the harbinger of the apocalypse, he must choose between his demonic heritage and his human side.

While the premise had potential, the execution often felt disjointed, with pacing issues and an overstuffed narrative that tried to incorporate too many elements from Mignola’s comics at once.

Cast and Performances

David Harbour as Hellboy

Stepping into the big red shoes previously worn by Ron Perlman, Harbour delivers a rugged, aggressive, and more tormented version of Hellboy. While his performance captures the character’s brute strength and inner turmoil, it sometimes lacks the wit and charm that made Perlman’s portrayal so beloved.

Milla Jovovich as Nimue the Blood Queen

Jovovich brings an eerie presence to the villainous role, but her character suffers from underwhelming development. Despite being hyped as a major threat, she often feels sidelined in her own movie.

Ian McShane as Professor Broom

McShane plays a gruffer, less nurturing version of Hellboy’s adoptive father. While his performance is strong, the chemistry between Broom and Hellboy lacks the warmth of the previous iterations.

Supporting Cast

• Sasha Lane as Alice Monaghan – A psychic medium with ties to Hellboy’s past, she brings some emotional weight to the film but is underutilized.
• Daniel Dae Kim as Ben Daimio – A military officer with a secret of his own, his character adds tension to the team dynamic but isn’t given enough room to shine.

Action and Visual Effects

One of the film’s selling points was its promise of intense, R-rated action, and in that department, Hellboy (2019) delivers. The fights are brutal, gory, and often exhilarating, with Hellboy taking on a variety of monstrous adversaries.

However, while the practical effects and creature designs are impressive, the heavy reliance on CGI weakens some key moments. Certain action sequences feel over-edited and lack the weight and impact of practical stunts.

The film’s cinematography embraces a darker, grimier aesthetic, which matches the brutal tone but sometimes makes the visuals feel murky and cluttered. Unlike del Toro’s visually rich world-building, this reboot leans heavily on a horror-inspired aesthetic that doesn’t always feel immersive.

Themes and Tone

Faithfulness to the Comics

One of the film’s biggest strengths is its attempt to stay truer to Mike Mignola’s comic book lore. Elements from The Wild Hunt, The Storm and the Fury, and other iconic storylines are incorporated, bringing more of the Hellboy mythos to the big screen.

Darker and More Violent Approach

The shift to a hard R-rating allowed for more graphic violence, horror elements, and crude humor. While this pleased some fans, others felt it sacrificed heart and character depth for excessive gore.

Hellboy’s Idenтιтy Crisis

The movie explores Hellboy’s internal conflict between his demonic origins and his desire to do good. While this is a key theme in the comics, the film’s execution feels rushed, making his character arc less impactful.

Reception and Box Office Performance

Upon release, Hellboy (2019) struggled both critically and financially:

• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 18% (Critics) | 49% (Audience)
• IMDB Rating: 5.2/10
• Box Office Earnings: Approximately $55 million against a $50 million budget, making it a commercial disappointment.

Critics pointed to inconsistent tone, a lack of emotional depth, and a messy script as key weaknesses. Fans were divided—some appreciated the darker approach, while others missed the charm of the del Toro films.

Final Verdict

Pros:

✅ Faithful to the source material in terms of horror and folklore elements ✅ Brutal, action-packed sequences with intense R-rated violence ✅ David Harbour’s committed performance as Hellboy ✅ Strong creature designs and practical effects

Cons:

❌ Disjointed storytelling with too many subplots ❌ Weak character development and lack of emotional depth ❌ Over-reliance on CGI in key sequences ❌ Lacks the heart and charm of previous adaptations

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆ (3/5)

While Hellboy (2019) had potential as a darker, grittier reboot, it ultimately falls short due to uneven execution. Fans of the comics may appreciate the attempt at faithfulness, but those expecting a well-rounded film may find it lacking. For action and gore enthusiasts, it offers entertainment value, but for those looking for a deeply compelling Hellboy story, the previous films remain superior.

A Farmer’s Misplaced Hammer Led to the Largest Roman Treasure in Britain

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November 16, 1992 was the day which changed Suffolk-resident Eric Lawes’ life in a huge way. What he thought would have been an innocent search for a hammer he had misplaced on his farm in Hoxne Village, Suffolk, England ended up bringing him much more than he had bargained for — namely, uncovering the hiding spot of a long-hidden treasure. Based on the Guardian’s coverage of the story, Eric Lawes had been previously gifted a metal detector upon his retirement as a parting token. He decided to put his retirement gift to good use in order to locate the hammer which he had had some trouble finding. According to a 2018 Smithsonian Magazine article, when the device started recording that there was a strong signal coming from the earth, he knew that he was about to discover something big. As he started digging, it soon became clear to him that he had unearthed a treasure trove.

The Guardian reports that, when Lawes saw that his preliminary digging had yielded a few gold coins and silver spoons, he immediately contacted both the local archaeological society and the police department. Archaeologists came to the property the following day and had the area of earth holding the treasure carefully sectioned-off and removed. Their hope was that at a later stage, in their laboratory, they could examined the items in order to identify both their age and how they were stored.

When all was said and done, close to 60 pounds of items made from silver and gold were found on the site. These included more than 15,000 Roman coins, 200 gold objects, and several silver spoons. For archaeologists, this find — which later became labeled as the Hoxne Hoard — was an incredible discovery. AP News reported that archaeologist Judith Plouviez was over-the-moon about the discovery, saying that it was “an incredibly exciting and amazing find.” What’s more, another archaeologist, Rachel Wilkinson, told Smithsonian Magazine that this discovery was “the largest and latest ever found in Britain.”

Ordinarily, archaeologists would use radiocarbon dating as a means of identifying the age of ancient relics. However, they couldn’t locate any suitable material from the haul. Consequently, they determined the age by examining writing on the coins, as well as the ruler carved into them, estimating that the treasure was probably buried in either 408 or 409 AD.

Roman-era archaeologist Peter Guest told Smithsonian Magazine that “if you look at them a little more carefully, then they should be dated to the period after the separation of Britain from the Roman Empire.” He offers as part of his evidence the fact that almost all of the coins found in the Hoxne Hoard were clipped – in other words, small chunks of their edges had been taken off. These clippings would have been used to create coins which were similar to the Roman coins of that era.

Guest has a logical reason for this, arguing that “The Roman Empire wasn’t supplying Britain with new gold and silver coins, and in light of that, the population tried to get over this sudden cutoff in the supply of their precious metals by making the existing supplies go further.”

Archaeologists also believe that the treasure belonged to a Romano-British family. During that time, considering that there was so much societal discord and upheaval, it was common for Romans who had settled in Britain to bury their most prized possessions.

That said, one archaeologist is of the belief that the hoard had a lot of sentimental value for the Romano-British family to whom it is believed to have belonged. In her book The Hoxne Late Roman Treasure: Gold Jewellery and Silver Plate, Catherine Johns claims that the manner in which the treasure was kept supported this claim. Some of the items which were recovered had been packaged in small, wooden boxes which were lined with leather. What’s more, pieces of wood, locks, and nails, among other things, surrounded the gold and silver pieces. This leads Catherine to assert that the package was carefully buried and not simply chucked away in a rush.

Interestingly enough, the items unearthed might shed some light on the identity of the family who owned them. They cite a gold bracelet bearing the inscription “UTERE FELIX DOMINA IULIANE,” which roughly translates to “use this happily Lady Juliane”. A second name “Aurelius Ursicinus” has also been discovered. This has consequently led some to believe that Juliane and Aurelius were the couple and the original owners of the treasure. That said, that has yet to be confirmed.

All in all, the discovery was a real treasure for archaeologists, and by extension, for Lawes. According to Smithsonian Magazine, in recognition of his discovery and willingness to contact authorities, the British government rewarded him with over £1.7 million, an amount which he shared with the farmer whose land was dug out in order to get the treasure. Funnily enough, apart from the treasure, Lawes also found his lost hammer — which now resides in the British Museum.