HellboySave

The film opens with an extended prologue set in 517 AD, depicting the historical King Arthur (Mark Stanley) confronting the Blood Queen Nimue (Milla Jovovich) — an evil sorceress whose plague-spreading curse threatened to destroy Christian England. Arthur, with the help of the wizard Merlin, dismembers Nimue and seals each of her body parts in separate iron chests, hidden in different secret locations across the British Isles. The opening sequence establishes Nimue as the film's primary antagonist; the implication is that her dismembered remains have remained dormant for over 1,500 years.

In the present day, Hellboy (David Harbor) is on a personal mission in Mexico — he has been searching for his BPRD agent friend Esteban (Mario de la Rosa), who has been captured by a vampire cult. The Mexican-vampire-cult subplot is treated as Hellboy's emotional anchor; his friendship with Esteban is the film's primary character relationship beyond his adoptive father Trevor Bruttenholm (Ian McShane). The subplot ends with Esteban's death and Hellboy returning to BPRD headquarters in mourning.

Trevor Bruttenholm assigns Hellboy a new mission — investigate the resurgence of giant supernatural creatures across the British Isles. The British Paranormal Society — the UK's equivalent of the BPRD — has been observing increased monster activity; their senior agent Alice Monaghan (Sasha Lane), a half-human, half-fairy psychic, is the franchise's new primary supporting character. Hellboy and Alice's investigation gradually reveals that the various monster sightings are connected — all related to the gradual reassembly of Nimue's dismembered body across England, Scotland, and Wales.

Hellboy and Alice's investigation leads them to Pendle, England, where they confront the witch Nimue — fully reconstituted from her dismembered parts. Nimue offers Hellboy a deal: rather than oppose her plan, he could join her in ruling over a new supernatural empire. The deal references Hellboy's own destiny — he is, according to ancient prophecy, the herald of the apocalypse; Nimue argues that he should embrace this role rather than fighting against his nature. Hellboy refuses; the third-act confrontation is set up with both Nimue and Hellboy aware of his prophesied destiny.

Nimue's reassembled form gives her supernatural powers including weather manipulation, plague creation, and limited time-manipulation. Her plan involves using these powers to bring about the end of human civilisization — restoring an older, pre-Christian magical order to the British Isles. Hellboy, in his own mythology, is supposed to be the herald who facilitates this transition; his refusal to fulfill his prophesied role is the film's primary character tension.

Nimue's army of supernatural creatures attacks London — bringing the film's third act into the heart of the British capital. Hellboy, Alice, and a small group of BPRD allies fight through the city, eventually confronting Nimue on the steps of Westminster Cathedral. The confrontation features extensive practical and CGI creature effects work; the production reportedly spent approximately $20 million on the London-attack sequence alone. The fight ends with Hellboy stabbing Nimue with Excalibur — a sword that is, mythologically, the only weapon capable of permanently killing her.

Hellboy's victory comes with substantial personal cost. Trevor Bruttenholm dies in the London attack; Hellboy is wounded and emotionally devastated by his adoptive father's death. The film's epilogue shows Hellboy assuming the BPRD leadership; he and Alice are now operating as a duo, with the larger BPRD organisization gradually rebuilding after the London catastrophe. A post-credits scene shows Lobster Johnson, a Hellboy-comic-canonical character, suggesting a planned sequel that was eventually canceled.