Hellboy ~ Blood & Iron

[Earl]

The second animated release in the Hellboy franchise is superior to it's predecessor Sword of Storms.

In this film John Hurt reprises his role as Professor Broom, and begins with a flashback to the 1930s where the Professor leads a mission to destroy Erzsebet Ondrushko. Ondrushko is based on the legendary murderess Erzebet Bathory, who is said to have bathed in the blood of virgins to remain young and beautiful.

The story jumps back to present day where the Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense is asked to investigate a haunted house in upstate New York, Broom insists Hellboy and the other top agents Liz Sherman and Abe Sapien join him in the investigation when he suspects Ondrushko is the cause of the troubles.

Cue lots of battling with packs of supernatural wolves, harpies, giant werewolves and of course Ondrushko herself. It's not all quite as straight forward as that though, the goddess Hecate is behind the vampiric resurrection, and tries to seduce Hellboy into joining the darkside.

The cast is the same as the other Hellboy films, with a welcome return for John Hurt who was missed from the last animated feature. Selma Blair is actually better in these cartoons than she is in live action, and strangely more attractive.

The acting and direction has improved the most in this animation, the biggest faults with Sword of Storms are being redressed thankfully.

[TheOneEye]

Will there be a second film though ?

[Earl]

Second live action feature film is in the pipeline.