HELLBOUND: Dark Fantasy Meets Religious Fanaticism

I did not expect practically anything from Hellbound. Meanwhile, it turned out to be an absolute gem that brilliantly highlights religious fanaticism. It can also be related to the current situation in the world and various anti-system movements that are brainwashing young people. So is it worth reaching for this production based on a webtoon? Without a doubt.

I am convinced that it is a much better series than another recent Korean hit – Squid Game. I am extremely fond of the way the story is told. What do I mean? The production is divided into two parts, whose plots are self-contained; the character that connects both halves of the series is the lawyer Min Hye-jin. I believe it was an extremely clever move and – more importantly – one that does not burden the viewer. We do not have to pay excessive attention to detail, as is often the case with other productions of this kind, fearing that the two storylines might somehow be mysteriously connected. Characters do not appear out of nowhere; everything is arranged from beginning to end.

The story presents events from the near future. The inhabitants of Korea receive mysterious prophecies about the date of their death. The messenger who announces them adds that each person who receives such a message will go straight to hell. It turns out that a mysterious religious organization called the New Truth is involved in the situation, tracking such incidents and claiming that sinners are being punished by God in this way. When television broadcasts a demonstration during which a sinner is burned alive by mysterious creatures, the whole world plunges into madness.

Is it really the voice of a God dissatisfied with humankind, or perhaps a cunning manipulation by an organization that for a decade has proclaimed that no one without sin will become the subject of damnation? I like the way the creators raise the theme of sin and righteousness, showing how easily we can fall into total extremism and fanaticism. From there, it is a short step to taking justice into one’s own hands. A perfect example of this is the radical organization the Arrowhead, linked to the New Truth.

While at first its activity was based on revealing the data of dangerous criminals so that people could take justice into their own hands, later, in the name of religious doctrine, its members began to brutally punish anyone who, in their opinion, opposed the organization – that is, in fact, God Himself. Regardless of whether someone’s only sin is raising an illegitimate child or committing murder, the Arrowhead will find that person and make everyone associated with them regret it. Beatings, murders, and threats are everyday occurrences for this organization, whose members feel they are carrying out a divine plan that no one can resist.

The series by the creator of Train to Busan perfectly captured the horror of the entire situation. The least frightening thing here are the beings that take the sinner to hell. The truly terrifying part is yet to come, taking the form of mass hysteria and people handing their loved ones over to fanatics – including denouncing their own parents, just like Pavlik Morozov. To avoid hell, one must be righteous, after all. It turns out that we should not fear the mysterious event itself but rather the people who surround us.

The director shows how part of society, driven by fear, begins to renounce its humanity just to earn salvation, terrorizing, intimidating, and destroying those closest to them in the name of fabricated justice. It is quite an unusual approach to the genre, and something I absolutely did not expect. I am glad that gallons of blood were replaced with theological musings on human sins and reflections on whether we should condemn the families and loved ones of sinners, because ignorance is also a sin. Although, of course, gallons of blood do flow in the series as well.

Hellbound is a production that gains momentum with each subsequent episode, so I advise you to get through the first two, as it gets more interesting later. The final episode is an absolute masterpiece, showing that one event can plunge humanity into chaos, while another can restore peace and common sense.

I think that in today’s world, where organizations like QAnon (supporters of conspiracy theories) are gaining increasing popularity and significance, it can serve as a warning showing where fanaticism – not only religious – can lead.