Photo Netflix
What Is Hellbound On Netflix About?. Photo Netflix

New Netflix fantasy horror series Hellbound has become an overnight success, outperforming Squid Game as the most-watched show.

According to data obtained by FlixPatrol, the South Korean drama became the world’s most-watched television series on November 20, just 24 hours after its release, topping the ratings list in over 80 countries.

What is Hellbound about?

Photo Netflix
Photo Netflix

Taking place in a fantasy version of Earth, Hellbound sees supernatural creatures drag humans to hell.

It is based on a widely popular webtoon co-created by the director himself

Hellbound depicts a supernatural phenomenon experienced by people who are condemned to hell after their unexpected encounters with angels of death. In this world, people receive a message from an unknown sender. The message includes their name, a notice that they’re going to hell, and how much time they have left. When the time is up, a supernatural being sends the condemned to hell. The intense series will depict supernatural events that are neither a miracle nor a curse, the rise of a new religious group that interprets the events as the will of the divine, and people trying to survive in the chaotic society.

'Hellbound' Trailer Reveals Supernatural Netflix Show from 'Train to Busan' Director:

Who directs Hellbound?

Directed by Yeon Sang Ho the film director and screenwriter behind Train To Busan and Peninsula, and written by Yeon and Choi Gyu Seok, author of the popular webtoon Songgot, Hellbound sees a chaotic society where people are trying to survive the supernatural unknown and the emergence of a newly-risen religion who interprets the intention of God.

When is Hellbound set?

The first half of Hellbound is set in 2023. In Episode 1, it is mentioned that the New Truth Society has been investigating “demonstrations” for a little over 10 years. It is also mentioned that the society was founded in 2012.

How Much Time Passes in the Hellbound Time Jump?

At the end of Episode 3, Hellbound jumps abruptly into the future. In the episode’s final scene (a scene we will revisit in Episode 4), TV broadcaster Youngjae is stuck in traffic. He notices a statue of three demon-monsters outside his car window, and mutters something disparaging about the New Truth. We immediately know that a good chunk of time has passed—at least the amount of time necessary to build a statue and for the New Truth to be well-known enough for a casual, weary mention. Later, we discover four years have passed in that time jump.

Hellbound’s cast

Yoo Ah In plays Jung Jin Soo, a charismatic and mysterious cult leader, and the head of the emerging religion New Truth Society. He preaches about a phenomenon where death angels from Hell and professes this as a revelation from God. Bae Young Jae (Park Jung Min) is a program director at a broadcasting station and he tries to find the truth about the religious group of New Truth Society. Then there’s Min Hye Jin (Kim Hyun Joo), a lawyer who stands up against the Arrowhead, a group of people who blindly follow the cult. Song So Hyun (Won Jin Ah) joins the cast as Bae Young Jae’s wife and Jin Kyung Hoon (Yang Ik Jun) is a detective investigating the cases involving the appearances of the angels of death.

Photo Netflix
Photo Netflix
Yoo made it to The New York Times’ The Best Actors of 2018 list alongside Julia Roberts, Emma Stone and Ethan Hawke for psychological thriller film, Burning

The K-drama actor is also a gifted writer who’s written for Arena Homme, Bazaar, Elle and Dazed & Confused – and he’s modelled alongside Bella Thorne and Nicki Minaj

Hellbound is invited to the Toronto International Film Festival

Hellbound is officially invited to the 46th Toronto International Film Festival. It will be screening in the festival’s Primetime section, which focuses on series that are a cross between the mediums of TV and movies with exceptional stories and directing. For reference: since its debut in 2015, the category has housed hit series like Black Mirror, Heroes Reborn, and other series invited this year includes Ava DuVernay’s Colin in Black and White. Hellbound will make its mark as the first Korean series officially invited to the festival.

Facts About Hellbound's Secrets

Why Does Detective Jin Keep Jinsu’s Secret?

You couldn’t have just filmed Jeong’s killing and decided what to do with it later, Detective Jin?

After luring Detective Jin out to the abandoned orphanage that was once his home, Jinsu gives Jin a choice: film his death and show the world. Or keep quiet, and maintain the legitimacy of the New Truth Society. If Jin chooses the former, he may have to indict his own daughter in the process. The murder they performed together is a sin Jin could show to the world to maintain the lie of a logic behind the decrees and demonstrations. “If you do that,” says Jinsu, “the world will remain orderly, and just the way you believe it should be.”

Does Lawyer Min Hyejin Die?

Min Hyejin, the Sodo lawyer who tries to help Park Jungja through her demonstration, ends Episode 3 bloody and beaten in a ditch on the side of the road. It is very disturbing. It happens at the hands of the Arrowhead, as ordered by Kim Jeongsil, who is told by Jeong Jinsu that he can be the chairman of the New Truth Society following his death.

While Hyejin certainly seems dead at the end of Episode 3, we later learn she survived the attack, thanks to the sirens of some approaching cop cars. When we see her again, she has a scar on her face from the attack and she has learned to physically defend herself. When the Arrowheads come after her again for her work protecting the decreed, she kicks some serious ass, besting a gang of Arrowhead thugs not once, but twice. Later, she even manages to (somewhat) hold her own against the supernatural creatures who carry out the demonstrations.

Who are behind the white masks?

Photo Netflix
Photo Netflix

One of the strangest moments in "Hellbound" happens during the presentation of Park's hellbound demonstration. People are watching from all over the world to see the event, and the streets and buildings nearby are filled with people hoping to get a look at the proceedings, to confirm for their own eyes whether these Executioners are the real deal. Moments before the demonstration is set to take place, a group of mysterious people wearing white masks are brought in and given front row seats to the proceedings. They are referenced as important people, but then they aren't spoken of again until they re-appear in Episode 5 at another demonstration at the New Truth headquarters.

This leads to a big question "Hellbound" doesn't answer in Season One: Who exactly are these people? The Chairman himself is unmasked, and surely he is the most important person at New Truth. There are a few possibilities here: They could be government officials wishing to stay anonymous, they could be people who paid an exorbitantly high price to attend the event, or they could be part of some ritual the New Earth does that we are not yet privy to.

Hopefully, the truth is something a little more interesting — the masked people are the real folks pulling the strings at the New Truth, and the Chairman appears to answer to them. While we don't know for sure, hopefully, the identities of the masked audience members will be revealed at some point.

Hellbound Hellbound's Biggest Questions and Explained

If you've seen the finale of Hellbound, then you may have some questions of your own about what just happened.

Hellbound fans claim it's 'better than Squid Game'

Fans on social media are raving about the new series, which was directed and written by Train to Busan director Sang-ho Yeon. This is his TV series debut.

Netflix announced the arrival of the series by describing it as "The next terrifying Korean drama, this time sans killer robot doll", referencing the Red Light, Green Light doll that is now an iconic symbol of Squid Game.

One fan wrote: "Absolutely incredible. I preferred this to Squid Game. Korean TV is kicking all kinds of arse at the moment. This will stay with me for a very long time. And that last scene? Wow!"

Absolutely incredible. I preferred this to Squid Game Korean TV is kicking all kinds of arse at the moment.This will stay with me for a very long time.And that last scene? Wow!#Hellbound pic.twitter.com/E3SB5cJwOsNovember 21, 2021

Only a day after its Nov. 19 release, the Korean drama Hellbound hasranked among the top ten most popular Netflix series, prompting speculation that it will follow the runaway success of Squid Game.

According to the streaming analytics firm FlixPatrol, the series took one day to become the most popular show in 24 different countries, including Korea, Hong Kong, Mexico and Saudi Arabia.

Hellbound season 2 release date: When will it air?

Yeon Sang-ho is a busy guy, but he's also quite prolific when it comes to both writing and directing, so if Netflix does decide to renew Hellbound, a second season could come as soon as winter 2022. Let's just pray nothing comes along to delay things.

READ MORE: Top 10 Most-Watched Movies on Netflix in History

Hellbound season 2 cast: Who's in it?

Photo Soompi
Photo Soompi

Following that surprise ending, it looks like Kim Shin-rok will definitely reprise the role of Park Jeong-ja in season two, and she could even be the lead now moving forward.

Hopefully, season one standout Kim Hyun-joo will also return as Min Hye-jin, the attorney turned badass who propelled much of the main narrative forward in those first six episodes.

Out of all the many deaths that were claimed in season one, there's still a small chance that Yoo Ah-in could return as Jeong Jin-soo, albeit through flashbacks or even some supernatural means. Yes, it's unlikely, but the creepy cult leader was vital to Hellbound's arc in season one, and we'd love to see more of his life before he took over as head of the "New Truth Society."

Hellbound season 2 plot: What will happen?

Hellbound's season one finale kicks off with Soyhun asking Deacon Yuji about her baby's tragic decree, and why this happened in the first place. The New Truth Society then call a meeting with Chairman Kim where it's decided that they need to isolate the mother and her baby so no one finds out that those without sin can still become hellbound.

Thankfully, Min Hye-jin steps in and channels Daredevil in the best way possible when she kicks cult ass in the hallway outside. The rescue works, so Min then smuggles the family away to a safe house. Little does she know, the man she trusts is actually Lee Dongwook, the crazy YouTuber who used to preach the cult's gospel online when the decrees first started to happen.

While he does initially help by uploading a video that denounces the cult's philosophy on original sin, things take a turn for the worst when he betrays Min and tries to kill everyone. Some "Messiah", am I right?

Lee catches up to the mother in public but just before he can murder the child, thereby covering up God's "mistake," the demons arrive to kill the baby instead. Then, to protect their child from these visitors, the parents tie themselves up around the baby and burn in their light instead.

The baby survives, held by the two charred corpses that his parents left behind. Is this the first person to ever survive a decree? Quite possibly. And as if that wasn't shocking enough, the Messiah then steps in and tries to stab the baby. "The message is too complicated for me to understand!" he screams.

Thankfully, the demons then arrive just in time to kill Lee too. Does this make the child a new 'Messiah" of sorts? Before the cult can claim him as their own, the crowd steps in to protect him from their influence. Min then recovers the child and gets away in a taxi.

Hellbound season 2 trailer: When can I watch it?

Say your prayers and new footage of Hellbound season two might just make its way to us by mid-2022. That's assuming of course that Netflix even renews the show for a second run.

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