I. Introduction
Based on his own webtoon of the same title, Hellbound is a South Korean streaming television series directed by Yeon Sang-ho, starring Yoo Ah-in, Kim Hyun-joo, Park Jeong-min, Won Jin-ah and Yang Ik-june. It was released on Netflix on November 19, 2021.
The series had its world premiere at the 2021 Toronto International Film Festival, when the first three episodes were screened in Primetime section on September 9, 2021 and became the first Korean drama to make it to the festival. The first three episodes were also screened at the 26th Busan International Film Festival in newly created On Screen section on October 7, 2021 and at the 65th BFI London Film Festival in Thrill section on October 15, 2021.
II. Synopsis
Unearthly beings deliver bloody condemnations, sending individuals to hell and giving rise to a religious group founded on the idea of divine justice.
III. Trailers
IV. Episodes
V. Reception
The 6 parts drama has gained the scores of 7.6 on Mydramalist, & 7.0 on IMDB.
VI. Rotten Tomatoes
The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported a 100% approval rating, based on 12 reviews with an average rating of 7.80/10. The site's critical consensus reads, - Summoned by the devilish imagination of writer-director Yeon Sang-ho, Hellbound leverages its terrifying concept to thoughtfully explore human fallibility.
VII. The Age
Kylie Northover writing for The Age gave 4 stars out of 5 and appreciating the narrative wrote, - The narrative steadily evolves into a compelling mix of police procedural, violent horror and shrewd commentary around ideas of human flaws, mortality, sin, justice and the influence of media. Referring to The Leftovers, she felt that Hellbound shows sensibilities as humanity’s search for purpose in the face of the divine, but its exploration of the conflicting ways in which humanity might react to such a mass event feels like something to which we can all, in a small way, relate post-pandemic.
VIII. The Telegraph
Ed Power of The Telegraph rated the series with 3 stars out of 5 and stated, - Hellbound unspools like a mix of Clive Barker, The Da Vinci Code and the iconic Japanese horror, Ring.
VIV. YTN
Kim Seong-hyeon reviewing for YTN wrote - The performances of the actors that make the hell of reality that the director solidly created in this way more smoothly. Concluding Kim stated, - Although the somewhat insufficient CG leaves a little disappointment, 'Hell' is a work that leaves a deep impression enough to offset that. There seems to be no doubt that 'Hell' will be the most talked about work this winter.
