Hellbound

Hellbound is an episodic series currently headed to Netflix, and it’s a series I probably would have passed on if not for the public spectacle of each killing. The benefit of being episodic is that it is allowed to ask a lot of questions and not necessarily have to answer them in the end. What are these creatures? Are they real? Is this truly God’s judgment? Why is God sending these messages? On the human level, there’s are inherent conflicts between Jeong’s mostly peaceful movement and the aggressively judgmental antics of The Arrowhead and its followers (think Westboro Baptist Church).

Also, as a series, there are a lot of characters with a dog in the fight. Chairman Jeong seems to be the only one with the answers, yet he seems a little too goody-two-shoes. Then what does he want with Detective Jin’s daughter, and what is their connection to his dead wife?

Then there’s Min, who is somewhat of the non-believer concerned with the mother’s fate and feels uncomfortable with not only her death but the circus surrounding her appointment with the demons.

“…more about the lives of those affected and the story’s broader religious and secular themes…”

Like the reasons we love The Walking Dead, Hellbound is less about the violent demonic killings and more about the lives of those affected and the story’s broader religious and secular themes at a national level. The demonic attack seems to be tangible proof that God exists and emboldens radical religious sects to take power slowly. The Arrowhead soon takes to social media to condemn and dox the “guilty.” Still, in the final episode, a more sinister plot unfolds.

Then there are the attacks themselves. The world just seems to sit back and allow these demons to get away with murder without any form of resistance. Then again, when fighting demons, resistance is futile. But at the same time, does protecting the damned mean you’re obstructing God’s will or, worse… an enemy of God?

The story of Hellbound is unique and incredibly engaging. The final act moves in a direction I didn’t see coming, and several of the reveals still have my moral head spinning. It’s only three episodes, and already I want more.

Hellbound screened at the 2021 Toronto International Film Festival.