And buried within the whole Hellboy story is the prophecy that Hellboy will destroy the world. His primary weapon, a right arm made of stone, is the Right Hand of Doom. Both the first and second installments make reference to the fact that this lovable if amoral character is in fact the ultimate destroyer of the earth. This is one of the balls that Del Torro manages to keep flying just below the narrative horizon.
Although Hellboy himself seems like the all-American hero, the elves, and their doomed endeavor to save themselves against the onslaught of humanity, are the heroic figures, and Hellboy himself, something of a clown. Obviously Hellboy overcomes his foes; this film is destined for the cineplex rather than the arthouse after all. But did the good guys really win? Del Toro manages to keep us guessing.
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