Hellbound
Introduction
Hellbound is a South Korean streaming television miniseries directed by Yeon Sang-ho, based on his own webtoon of the same name. The series is an original Netflix release about team of demons appearing out of nowhere to condemn people to hell.
The concept is outstanding no doubt it takes over Squid Game as most popular Netflix series globally.
Story & Screenplay
The story unfolds showing 3 supernatural creatures punishing evil-doers to death and send them to hell. Those sinners are getting prior death threats or prophesies that they are bound to hell. It’s interesting to watch how those demons are coming out of nowhere to materialize prophesy in exact appointed time and after executing duty, they are completely vanishing out and becomes untraceable.
When commoners are failed to conclude this event logically, different parallel religious teams explain this metaphysical event as “an act of God” and the result is dangerous. It’s painful to watch how human belief system completely collapses, Law becomes tyranny and life becomes chaotic.
And this event strongly establishes one religious group, “New Truth”. The series initially shows Jin Kyeong-hoon, a detective investigating the happening and getting suspicious on Jeong Jin-soo (Yoo Ah-in), the chairman of the New Truth. As he digs deep to find the brutal truth, new evidence shocks him and he observes that an attorney named Min Hye-jin (Kim Hyun-joo) is investigating victims of the New Truth, and he finds out that there is a connection between New Truth and a more popular faith organization named “The Arrowhead”.
As the story progresses and time flows quickly, it becomes more complex and heart wrenching how total social system gets changed and all humans are heavy with fear, not celebrating life in its own way. As this event only exposes the duality of not allowing your inner light to come forth and only slowing your dark to expose itself and life itself becomes hell. As the series ends with many characters addition and Hye-jin’s struggle of existence, it surely gives lot of open questions such as “Is there any logical earthly solution of this supernatural event?” and you need to wait for next season.
The unique concept is surely interesting overall and you will definitely watch this miniseries in a single go, trust me.
Performance & Direction
Directed by Yeon Sang-ho, Hellbound is definitely a slow burn intense series that focuses on how unearthly event shifts social dynamics and commers become victim.
This 6-episode series is a trend-setter altogether, you will love it. ” Train to Bhusan” director nails to show how real world scenario after supernatural event shivers the world and with each passing day, how whole system behaves and transposes. Though I personally feel that CGI and special effects could be improved a lot and back story of New truth’s cult leader could be shown more clearly, I would love to wait for its next season.
Now coming to the performance, it’s a team work that shapes so well.
I personally love Kim Hyun-joo as Min Hye-jin. The single soldier that battles throughout the season without fear. She excels in showing each emotion, I love how the character stands out with her own believes and runs a whole organization that helps common victims despite all challenges.
Yoo Ah-in as Cult leader of “New Truth” is perfect. It’s not easy to portray emotionally vulnerable yet grounded human being who aims to change human beliefs in a twenty years timespan, he is totally convincing.
This addictive story has so many characters and each character play significant role to carry the entire series beautifully.
Conclusion
Hellbound is a k-horror series that perfectly explores angel-demon paranormal event effects that surrounds with human life cycle and throws bunch of unusual questions that your subconscious mind fears to answer, I feel.
It’s definitely bingeworthy from my side.
It’s currently available in Netflix.
Disclaimer: The above review solely illustrates the views of the writer.