Hellboy: The Crooked Man marks the latest entry in the cinematic universe of the Dark Horse Comics character. With the script co-written by comic creator Mike Mignola, Hellboy makes a blazing return to the screen in what has already been dubbed the most faithful adaptation to date. The film focuses on the chilling horror of The Crooked Man’s limited comic stories.
To tell us more about this latest film and portrayal, we spoke to actor Jack Kesy (Deadpool 2, 12 Strong), who steps into the role of Big Red under the watch of co-writer/director Brian Taylor (Crank 1 and 2, Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance).
In the 1950s, Hellboy is enlisted to aid rookie paranormal researcher, Bobbie Jo Song, in the transportation of a deadly creature. However, their mission soon goes awry when an accident leaves them stranded in the forests of rural Appalachia where a small community resides, haunted by demonic forces. With all clues pointing towards witchcraft as the culprit, Hellboy and his allies must hunt down the source of this evil – the ‘Crooked Man’ who has been sent to Earth to collect souls for the devil.
Taking this iconic character back to the source material, Kesy tells us more about the experience…
STARBURST: When did Hellboy first come into your orbit, was it from the movies, or the comics?
Jack Kesy: It was from the movies and, specifically, Guillermo del Toro’s great original film. My first legit job as an actor was working on The Strain, so I dived into all his movies as any excited actor would. When it came to Hellboy: The Crooked Man, I started with the script, as I always do. I’m like a technician in that I have my own process, but it has to begin with the script because that’s what everybody’s working from to tell the story. The script was co-written by Mike Mignola [Hellboy creator] and Brian Taylor, so that’s a good place to start! Then, of course, I also read The Crooked Man comics, especially for tone, visuals, and aesthetics, because that’s what Brian captured as our director. Then, I also find myself exploring this world and going down the rabbit hole.
How was it working with the cast and crew?
We were out there shooting in the woods with a very talented team, and everybody working so hard. The crew was phenomenal, and the cast are absolute pros, with no egos. Everyone really gave it their best. This isn’t on the massive scale of earlier Hellboy films. Although it’s about demons and witches, we’re telling a very down-to-earth, gritty, human story, which is the kind I personally connect with much more.
How did you feel about wearing the iconic red suit?
I didn’t know what to expect, and there was an element of excitement but also anxiety as I was thinking, ‘how are we going to tackle this?’ I’d never done a full-body prosthetic or, let’s call it, three-quarter prosthetic because it was really knee-high. I didn’t know if it would fit, or how it would feel. First, we had to get to a place where everybody was happy with how it looked, which they were, so that’s great. Then, I had to figure out my own movements within the suit and get used to wearing it almost every day, so it’s a learning process, but you figure it out as you go.
How hot was the suit?
It was very hot! The makeup effects team did an amazing job but it was unavoidably hot under there and I sweated constantly, which I realise made it challenging for them too! By the end of filming I’d lost 20 lbs! I was wearing a sauna suit everyday [laughs]. It takes mental focus to get through that and keep going. For me, the physical stuff is easy, I work out 5 days a week and have always been into sports and athletics. So, it’s the same with action scenes, punching and kicking, no problem. Fortunately, I was the appropriate physical size to come on board and play this character, so that aspect was seamless and I didn’t need to prepare differently. However, wearing the prosthetic suit was a new experience for me.
And finally, what do you hope audiences take away from Hellboy: The Crooked Man?
I’d love for people to enjoy this more grounded version of the character and come away feeling that I’m believable as Hellboy. Maybe it would give us the chance to explore the character further, maybe in a different period, but none of this is in our control. I just hope people enjoy experiencing this darker story and have a great time with it.
HELLBOY: THE CROOKED MAN is out now in UK and Irish cinemas.
Book now: www.hellboythecrookedman.co.uk
Pre-order on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, DVD, and Digital: https://amzn.to/3N0CEs1
