Skip to main content

The Manual may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

Hell Arrives at Your Door in Netflix’s Hellbound

Shin-rok Kim as Park Jeong-ja in 'Hellbound.'
Shin-rok Kim as Park Jeong-ja in ‘Hellbound.’ Netflix

An avenging angel’s face announcing your death is the last thing you want, especially on your birthday. That’s exactly what happens to Park Jeong-ja (played by Shin-rok Kim), however, when a shadowy, disembodied face appears out of nowhere, declaring her dead in five days. 

This is just the beginning for the condemned in the new horror series, Hellbound, streaming soon on Netflix. If the action and tension expressed in the 90-second clip, narrated by a cold, vengeful cult leader, the show is sure to astound and terrify.

Related Guides

After ‘death angels’ pronounce sentences, we see their monstrous brethren rise up from the Earth to finish the deed. The preview provides a look at several of the massive, netherworldly beings with glowing, yellow eyes. The heavenly hosts look like ‘roided up Ents, or Thanos-shaped trees as opposed to harp-streaming haloed beings of light. These nasties first kidnap — via fist, sword, or whatever is handy — and then finish off the condemned in brutal burnings. 

In support of the judgment, “The New Truth” appears upon the scene, white-masked and queuing up behind a charismatic leader, is the angel-faced Bae Jeong-Jinsu (Yoo Ah-In). The baby-faced Jung’s megalomaniacal diatribe rises throughout the clip until he hits the high note.

“It’s the fear … that will … set people free from sin.”

A few characters aren’t into rising new religious dictators, however. Hellbound will also follow their struggle to stand up for the people doomed to be sacrificed in the center of Seoul as well as find out what might really be behind Oz’s otherworldly curtain.

Lawyer Min Hye-jin leads the scrappy rebels who rise up against Chairman Jung, claiming the demonstrations in the middle of Seoul to simply be supernatural occurrences. How that helps things, who knows. Hye-jin, though, is also able to align the few who fight for the hellbound and, hopefully, return the world to humans.

As the clip ends, we get our first view of Chairman Jung as he reverts to the ultra-controlled religious leader, intense psychopathy lurking behind a too-controlled face.

“I’d like to welcome you all … to the new world.”

His last smirk reveals a wolf in sheep’s clothing who wants to consume all of Korea … for a start.

What’s behind the beings and why they are all but supporting “The New Truth’s” rise remains a mystery. If these harbingers aren’t heavenly, what are they? Who is deciding who should die, and why? What secret connection does the cult have to these creatures? If Min Hyejin wins the case, wouldn’t the attacks continue anyway?

Hellbound director Yeon Sang-ho is known for walloping with emotion, from his animated 2011 film The King of Pigs to 2016’s live-action zombie epic Train to Busan. Hellbound looks to follow in these mighty footsteps. The series’ first episode even became the first Korean drama to earn a slot at the 2021 Toronto International Film Festival.

Hellbound will stream into living rooms beginning Friday, Nov. 19 on Netflix. Until then, judge not lest ye be judged. Check out the trailer below.

Editors' Recommendations

Matthew Denis
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Matt Denis is an on-the-go remote multimedia reporter, exploring arts, culture, and the existential in the Pacific Northwest…
New on Netflix: 5 must-see shows and movies in July
From Henry Cavill to Patrick Mahomes, Netflix is full of hot content in July!
Netflix logo on TV with red backlighting

 

There are so many different streamers with fascinating and fun content that it can sometimes be hard to choose. Netflix is still arguably the best streaming service available to TV fans due to its combination of original shows and movies, accompanied by legendary favorites from the past. When you consider nostalgia and current tastes, Netflix probably has you covered. Of course, every streaming platform needs to refresh its content to keep us satisfied — this is what will be new on Netflix in the coming weeks.

Read more
Netflix is reportedly making a move that sports fans will love
Will live sports be Netflix's next big thing?
Netflix wallpaper

In an era when more and more people are cutting their cable subscriptions, the one thing that has kept many people on them is live events, and specifically live sports. Live sports are one of the few things cable has that, until recently, many streaming services have lacked. Netflix, the king of the streaming revolution, has more recently started to dabble in the world of live events, though, with mixed success. Now, The Wall Street Journal is reporting that the streamer is looking into bringing some live sports to its service this fall.

According to the report, Netflix is in talks to launch a tournament this fall that would feature both professional golfers and Formula One drivers. The tournament would reportedly be set up in Las Vegas, and would include drivers from Netflix's series Drive to Survive, and golfers from their series Full Swing. Plans are reportedly still in their early stages, and Netflix has declined to comment on whether they are actively planning the event.
Netflix has a checkered history with live events
Love is Blind: The Live Reunion | Official Announcement | Netflix

Read more
The 12 best sci-fi shows to stream on Netflix right now
These are our favorite sci-fi shows on Netflix to binge
Stranger Things

The best sci-fi shows are able to capture the imagination of audiences with the perfect amount of realism, while also dissociating from reality enough to entertain and thrill. There are plenty of sci-fi movies on Netflix that are well worth checking out, but if you’re in the mood for something that will take a little bit longer to consume, you may be looking for a series. To find the best show for you, we've done the hard work of looking through all of Netflix's many options to find the best options. Below are the best sci-fi shows on Netflix. Once you’re done watching any of these shows, you may want to check out the best sci-fi movies of all time.

Related Reading

Read more