K-Drama Review: Hellbound
Hellbound. Wow. This six-episode K-Drama has a lot to unpack. Horror, crime, supernatural, religion. These topics meld together to create a show that surpassed Squid Game as the world’s most-watched Netflix television series on November 20, 2021. Created by Yeon Sangho, the mastermind behind Train to Busan and Peninsula, Hellbound topped the streaming ratings in more than 80 countries within 24 hours of the show’s debut. If you are a lover of things that go bump in the night, this show might be for you. If you are a fanatic about live-action webtoons, this K-Drama might be for you. There is, however, a word of caution before diving into this review. Hellbound tackles a lot of religious content and has dark themes that might make viewers uncomfortable. In addition, there are no comedic breaks or budding romances in this drama. Also, don’t watch this if you like having storylines wrapped up in a nice happy bow at the end of the series. Consider that your trigger warning.
Hellbound starts as a series about demons who hunt down sinners who received a death decree by a celestial being. The being tells the victim they are going to hell and gives a time and date. When the time arrives, three demons come and burn their victims alive after beating them half to death. Detectives Jin Kyunghun (Yang Ikjun) and Hong Eunpyo (Park Jungpyo) are part of the task force looking into the case. They encounter Jung Jinsoo (Yoo Ahin), the leader of the new religion The New Truth, and immediately seem suspicious of him. During their casual questioning, Kyunghun spots his daughter among The New Truth volunteers and immediately freaks out. She tells him that she’s just curious about the whole thing, but the truth is much more sinister in reality.
Kyunghun spends the next few weeks learning everything he can about Jinsoo and The New Truth. First, he meets Min Hyejin (Kim Hyunjoo), an attorney who doesn’t buy into everything The New Truth offers. She tries to help a mother who received a decree but is unsuccessful. Then, if you pardon the pun, all hell breaks loose. The woman’s life is ended live on television, and The New Truth is there to spout their doctrine. What’s more, Jinsoo has been hiding a secret that will destroy himself and Kyunghun.
Five years later, we find that The New Truth has wholly taken over everything. There are police, but they run their investigations by the deacons of the religion. In addition, an unofficial security group from The New Truth called The Arrowhead is sadistic and harms anyone who speaks out against the faith.
Most people love/fear The New Truth, but not Park Jungmin (Bae Youngjae). He works as a local video producer where he has to create an infomercial on the religion. Some of the deacons don’t like his creative direction, something that Jungmin objects to. They argue, and Jungmin is told to correct the video despite being a new father who has yet to have time with his family. Jungmin tries to get help from his coworker, Kang Junwon (Han Wooyul), but he declines. Junwon’s wife calls Jungmin later because she can’t reach him. Jungmin gets worried and heads out to find him. He witnesses Junwon’s death after learning he received a decree and is knocked unconscious by someone.
The next day, Jungmin receives more horrible news about his baby. The newborn has obtained a decree, something that has never happened before. If the information leaked that a newborn is to die, people would question The New Truth’s doctrine.
The end of the series gives the characters and the viewers a sliver of hope and leaves many questions unanswered. A time jump separates the drama, and many of the characters in the first half aren’t in the second. What happened to them? Will The New Truth be dismantled now that people doubt them? What happens next? Since this drama doesn’t have any emotional breaks, it feels cumbersome. Can society really end up in the chokehold of a fanatic religion based on the fear of the unknown? Hopefully, there will be a second season that will answer the many questions viewers may have. If you can’t wait that long, reading the webtoon might provide some closure.
You can watch Hellbound on Netflix. Check out the trailer below and let us know what you think!