THE sequel to Guillermo del Toro's 2004 fantasy, based on Mike Mignola's comics series, is every bit as fast and furious as its predecessor, melding dazzling production design with wry humour and explosive action sequences.

Having sketched the origins of the characters in the first film, del Toro is given free rein here to let his imagination run amok, concocting a dark and bloody fairytale full of trolls, goblins and a nine-feet tall Angel of Death.

The writer-director's distinctive visual style, celebrated with three Academy Awards for Pan's Labyrinth, is very much in evidence, including a swarm of voracious tooth fairies, who crave calcium and eagerly devour human flesh to extract tasty molars from gums.

The clandestine Bureau for Paranormal Research and Development (BPRD) is struggling to keep Hellboy (Ron Perlman) hidden from prying eyes.

After a visit to an Upper East Side auction house, Hellboy and his cohorts Liz Sherman (Selma Blair) and Abe Sapien (Doug Jones) are propelled into the media spotlight to the chagrin of BPRD chief Tom Manning (Jeffrey Tambor).

Meanwhile, disgruntled prince of the underworld, Nuada Silverlance (Luke Goss), grows resentful of the wasteful humans.

He spearheads a revolution, searching for three shards of his father's ancient gold crown, which controls The Golden Army: unstoppable fighting machines created by the goblins.

The final piece of the crown is in the possession of Nuada's twin, Princess Nuala (Walton), but she does not share his thirst for world domination.

Nuala seeks refuge with the BPRD but Hellboy's famous "Big Baby" shotgun is no match for Nuada as he storms bureau headquarters.

Hellboy II: The Golden Army is a triumph of design.

The Troll Market, secreted beneath the Brooklyn Bridge, is festooned with weird and wonderful creatures and there is a jaw-dropping fight on a street corner.

Yet there is much more to del Toro's film than impeccable style.

Perlman carries off his role with gusto, bringing out the humour of his reluctant saviour from beneath the prosthetic make-up.

Jones also comes to the fore as a sensitive soul.

If there is a weak link it's Goss, who fails to convey the rage and frustration of his usurper.

The relationship between Hellboy and girlfriend Liz moves in unexpected directions, culminating in a life-or-death choice that poses tantalising questions.

"It is his destiny to bring about the destruction of the earth. Not now, not tomorrow, but soon enough. Knowing that, you still want him to live?" wonders The Angel of Death.

Absolutely.

  • See it at the Empire