Warning: Spoilers for The Bondsman below!The Bondsmanfeatures a morally compromised protagonist being dragged out of Hell to capture escaped demons - a premise that also applies to 1998’sBrimstone.The BondsmancastKevin Bacon as Hub Halloran, a bounty hunter who is slain on a job but later resurrected by the Devil to hunt escaped demons on Earth. ThePrime original seriesvery much leans into the comic side of the horror-comedy genre, feeling like a blend ofEvil DeadandThe X-Files.
It’s been pointed out elsewhere, butThe Bondsman’scentral premise soundsreallyclose toBrimstone. Running for one season between 1998 and 1999, the show cast Peter Horton as a detective who kills the man who assaulted his wife, only to get sent to Hell when he’s later murdered on the job. He’s given a second shot by John Glover’s Devil, where all he has to do is recapture 113 souls who’ve escaped from Hell. Horton’s Stone also has 113 tattoos covering his body, which disappear one by one as he sends the demons back.
Why Hub Was Sent To Hell In The Bondsman, Explained
Hub’s story in The Bondsman begins with him returning from hell, raising many questions about why he was sent to the underworld in the first place.
The Bondsman Feels Like A Loose Remake Of Cult TV Series Brimstone
The Bondsman feels like Brimstone updated for the 21st Century
Brimstonewas a horror series that, despite the dry humor both Horton and Glover brought to it, took the concept seriously. Visually, it resembles the dark, dingy serial killer movies being produced during this era, such asSe7enorMillennium. This is in contrast to the brightly lit, goofy vibes ofThe Bondsman, whereBacon’s Hub is essentially a manchildwho needs his mother’s (Beth Grant) help on his jobs, and his battles turn into big action setpieces.
Despite their visual and aesthetic differences,The Bondsmanvery much feels like an updating ofBrimstone’spremise. They both featured troubled characters brought back to do the Devil’s work (and in both cases, murder is what sent them to Hell); they have to work with a supervisor and both Hub and Horton’s Stone are tattooed with demonic marks. They can also heal from wounds that would be fatal to normal humans, though in Hub’s case, not every injury is healed instantly.
Brimstone Was An X-Files Rival That Deserved Better
The rising tides of the X-Files wave didn’t raise all ships
Shows likeTwin PeaksandThe X-Filesraised the bar for horror on television in the early 1990s. Naturally,some shows attempted to bottle the same lightening asThe X-Files, includingAmerican Gothicand Chris Carter’s dour serial killer seriesMillennium.Brimstonewas one of the best of this batch ofX-Filesclones because it worked as both a detective seriesanda horror show.
InBrimstone, demons are sent back to Hell after being shot in the eyes, as these are the “windows to the soul.” This same method was used in 1995’sTales from the Crypt: Demon Knight, which was also written byBrimstonecreators Ethan Reiff and Cyrus Voris.
It also set itself apart fromThe X-Filesvisually, with its noirish tone and look; the dynamic between Stone and the Devil also couldn’t have been further apart from Mulder and Scully, either.Brimstonequickly gained a loyal fanbase, but thanks to an inconsistent timeslot, it suffered poor ratings. In fact,Brimstone’scancellation was so sudden the production had started shooting the 14th episode before it was shut down hours into filming.Despite an impassioned plea by fans to keep it alive,Brimstone’s1999 cancelation proved permanent.
The Bondsman Still Has Major Differences To Brimstone
The Kevin Bacon horror series is a much lighter snack
The Bondsmanmay share a lot of surface similarities, but in execution, it’s quite different fromBrimstone. A key difference is the lack of The Devil himself appearing in the Prime series.Satan was the co-lead ofBrimstone, but the demon is totally absent fromThe Bondsman.In his place is Jolene Purdy’s upbeat supervisor, who is revealed to be a more sympathetic figure as the season progresses. Being shot in sunny Georgia and having most of the action take place in blinding sunlight, the series is more colorful and upbeat than FOX’s moody horror noir.
… those in the mood for a brooding, character-driven horror series should seek out Brimstone, and those looking for a fun, lighthearted action ride should try The Bondsman.
The same could be said of the lead characters; Hub feels like a spiritual descendant of Bacon’s Val fromTremors, whereas Horton’s Stone is a sardonic detective right out of a pulp novel.Brimstonewas held back in terms of language or violence due to its airing on network television, butThe Bondsmanis filled with gleeful,Evil Dead-inspired splatter. Most of this is executed with gooey practical effects, making them all the more impressive. Sadly, the CGI is way less convincing and can be downright awful in some scenes.
So, those in the mood for a brooding, character-driven horror series should seek outBrimstone, and those looking for a fun, lighthearted action ride should tryThe Bondsman. Its early cancelation and lack of a home media release has seenBrimstonefall through the cracks of time, but it’s a gem of a series ripe for rediscovery.
The Bondsman
Cast
The Bondsman follows backwoods bounty hunter Hub Halloran, who returns from the afterlife for a second chance at life and love, while navigating his past as a musician. As he resumes his work, he discovers his former occupation now involves a supernatural element.
Brimstone
Brimstone is a 1998 Fox television series centered around a deceased police detective tasked with recapturing 113 escaped souls from Hell. The show aired for a partial season and has since been featured in rerun marathons on Syfy and Chiller.
