The Korean dark fantasy series strikes the right balance of gore and lore by digging into themes of fanaticism and damnation.
The series has an explosive start, with three giant dark monsters stabbing a man to death in the street in full public view, before burning him to a shell of ashes and bones. The animals then disappear from sight again, as if happy to complete their task. This eerie scene sets the tone for what’s to come: uncontrollable chaos… and hopefully some answers.
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Set in the years 2030 to 2027, hell Bound – originally by a webtoon train to busan Director Yeon Sang-ho, who also directs the Netflix live-action series – follows the lives of people who are haunted by prophecies of being dragged to hell after committing sin at some point in their lives. It sounds like a fairly simple concept, but leave it to Korean cinema to turn it into something deeper and more disturbing.
While the first scene is largely the end result, the six episodes feature a non-linear and complex tale of humanity’s bleak future.
That said, other creatures are rarely seen again, with a greater focus on the people in the isolated stories. At its center is attorney Min Hye-jin (Kim Hyun-joo), who is tasked with representing a woman who has been ordered to be condemned by one of the prophets, so she must understand that the world How did it take such a dark turn and it elicits all-human responses.
We also meet Jin Kyong-hoon (Yang Ik-joon), a troubled detective investigating a growing number of deaths linked to prophecies. He has a complicated relationship with his daughter (Jin Hee-jeong), who has joined a New World cult called the New Truth Society, led by Jeong Jin-soo (Yoo Ah-in). Following the take-down of the man’s demons in the street, the cult’s popularity grows as people desperate for answers.
We also catch some disturbing glimpses of the screaming Lee Dong-wook (Kim Do-eun), the head of a violent group called Arrowhead. A recognizable live-streamer, he seems to appreciate predictions, and instills even more awe in his viewers as he drips in ultra-violet neon paint. Every scene with this guy made me reach for an energy drink just to keep up.
descending in the dark
Feeling of despair while focusing on the various microcosms of the society affected by the horrific incidents of demon attack hell Bound grows continuously. Clever writing and mind-boggling direction are needed to pull off this complex story, and the devilishly imaginative Yon brings to it hell Bound in droves. He puts a society – spontaneous in its own truth – in the line of fire of so many opposing forces, it becomes a morbid joy to see everything unfold in fact.
If you’re looking for dramatic relief or some element of leverage, hell Bound There is no room for this. The relentless descent into the dark is enriched with stunning visuals and a talented cast, whose Yeon makes the most whenever possible. Too many times we’ve seen filmmakers take this genre to the cleaners with waves of relentless violence, but Yeon makes sure every ounce of hellishness is appropriate. hell Boundthe story of.
Yu pulled off the role of the composed and charismatic leader well, becoming the only force of peace in an otherwise frenzied world fueled by religious propaganda and further catalyzed by trigger-happy groups like Arrowhead. His gentle utterances of humanity’s deviance from God’s path lend the character a paradoxically angelic and relatable energy.
Come episode four, the timeline is changing five years later with the central characters, except for Hye-jin. In an inexplicable turn of events, Bae Young-jae, a producer at a broadcast house, has to come to terms with the fact that her newborn child has been declared in hell. This sets the pace for the second season where I am sure more violence and story will unfold.
It’s no wonder Hellbound is on everyone’s watch list—if they can handle the sheer violence of it all. hell Bound All the right things for a horror-slash-dark-fantasy story: the current troubles of the human world are held accountable by a potentially higher power. The fear is real with this show, but it’s the addictive kind that will leave you screaming at the screen. Don’t mind me, though; After my third watch of season one, I look forward to season two.
Hellbound is currently streaming on Netflix
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