![Critics are praising the show for its philosophical tone, while presenting it in a Marvel-style action flick, albeit a more violent and bloodier version.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/64CZGAAS6BCTTAM65ZY6VVPZNE.jpg?smart=true&auth=cb8e6f60460b0eaba0b856836a25ce4c268da15ce78c3752afa61e8efb00b7d1&width=400&height=225)
![In 'Hellbound', Yang Ik-june plays detective Jin Kyung-hoon, who is struggling to reconcile with his teenage daughter after the murder of his wife. All photos: Netflix](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/LRQHKZORPBA5ZFB3PQFOWYRZ5A.jpg?smart=true&auth=5969aea47238dfa3f5aff9885812e8dcbef5d3a02df2da17d151ebd564fbc7d0&width=400&height=225)
![The show is set in an alternative universe where an apparition randomly appears to pronounce the impending death of people who've committed some form of crime.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/5KD2RHUOCJHXFHHELY2M6V7AAI.jpg?smart=true&auth=efbe610af197e6dce2c9022974c81a54bf569a79a4259e1dde6de965c6e68672&width=400&height=225)
![Death sentences are carried out on a specific date and time by three smoky Hulk-like beings who appear out of nowhere, tearing apart the damned and sending them to 'hell'.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/IIKVBHXBOFFXPCCK5HLMZS6OGE.jpg?smart=true&auth=0dcc1d2db9e4ac2b1ccdeffec0a6c6ce5a95093a80a573254926b2ca47295a9f&width=400&height=225)
![Religious group New Truth, whose leader claims to have intimate knowledge of the beings, insist it's God's way of meting out judgment.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/IDV4TSA66BFNBDGXI2D3R4XDMM.jpg?smart=true&auth=c99ba55a38f2ebafb9ff2afd6a0ba25a33ae77bed81e1330cdefc8d2cce9af7f&width=400&height=225)
!['Hellbound' is receiving rave reviews after it was released on November 19, and has a 100 per cent 'fresh' rating on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/EDKNV5ITEZB6JMOYF2LBSO3K2Q.jpg?smart=true&auth=3785d405211576bfb45d720380634e287df74a8b8b119ef8867ca981a31f5040&width=400&height=225)
![Kim Hyun-joo plays lawyer Min Hye-jin who tries to help a damned woman and becomes the target of New Truth and Arrowheads.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/L7P5LGANMZFT7K4GKXRH76BNFM.jpg?smart=true&auth=9ce254f831fb1fcddf20d5da0ed697dfb6006d7a74d9ab8773087ca337970cc8&width=400&height=225)
![Park Jungja in the show.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/UDJI5E2MYRBJ3AFGK7FUMAKDPM.jpg?smart=true&auth=e6bb1179000008399bfea4f7f97d350d5d6d95d0856b19ea1032d7189626e6e1&width=400&height=225)
![The puzzling appearance of the supernatural beings soon leads to conspiracy theories as large-scale pandemonium ensues.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/4F3NNX3B35DNZPZ22XLFW4EOQM.jpg?smart=true&auth=baa8a32cd25ccbd175471bbf22086fc47f4d1c3326216e889b4d0176044d8195&width=400&height=225)
![Vigilantes are egged on by a masked internet star who pronounces his own witch-hunts from a gaming chair.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ZXIDEJODPNGDJHZZD74ZTJJOBE.jpg?smart=true&auth=c9d0c54c48f602075d210a4655b87d177407fd503481706a8d64b4e08694d353&width=400&height=225)
![Critics are praising the show for its philosophical tone, while presenting it in a Marvel-style action flick, albeit a more violent and bloodier version.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/64CZGAAS6BCTTAM65ZY6VVPZNE.jpg?smart=true&auth=cb8e6f60460b0eaba0b856836a25ce4c268da15ce78c3752afa61e8efb00b7d1&width=400&height=225)
![In 'Hellbound', Yang Ik-june plays detective Jin Kyung-hoon, who is struggling to reconcile with his teenage daughter after the murder of his wife. All photos: Netflix](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/LRQHKZORPBA5ZFB3PQFOWYRZ5A.jpg?smart=true&auth=5969aea47238dfa3f5aff9885812e8dcbef5d3a02df2da17d151ebd564fbc7d0&width=400&height=225)
![The show is set in an alternative universe where an apparition randomly appears to pronounce the impending death of people who've committed some form of crime.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/5KD2RHUOCJHXFHHELY2M6V7AAI.jpg?smart=true&auth=efbe610af197e6dce2c9022974c81a54bf569a79a4259e1dde6de965c6e68672&width=400&height=225)
![Death sentences are carried out on a specific date and time by three smoky Hulk-like beings who appear out of nowhere, tearing apart the damned and sending them to 'hell'.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/IIKVBHXBOFFXPCCK5HLMZS6OGE.jpg?smart=true&auth=0dcc1d2db9e4ac2b1ccdeffec0a6c6ce5a95093a80a573254926b2ca47295a9f&width=400&height=225)
![Religious group New Truth, whose leader claims to have intimate knowledge of the beings, insist it's God's way of meting out judgment.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/IDV4TSA66BFNBDGXI2D3R4XDMM.jpg?smart=true&auth=c99ba55a38f2ebafb9ff2afd6a0ba25a33ae77bed81e1330cdefc8d2cce9af7f&width=400&height=225)
!['Hellbound' is receiving rave reviews after it was released on November 19, and has a 100 per cent 'fresh' rating on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/EDKNV5ITEZB6JMOYF2LBSO3K2Q.jpg?smart=true&auth=3785d405211576bfb45d720380634e287df74a8b8b119ef8867ca981a31f5040&width=400&height=225)
![Kim Hyun-joo plays lawyer Min Hye-jin who tries to help a damned woman and becomes the target of New Truth and Arrowheads.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/L7P5LGANMZFT7K4GKXRH76BNFM.jpg?smart=true&auth=9ce254f831fb1fcddf20d5da0ed697dfb6006d7a74d9ab8773087ca337970cc8&width=400&height=225)
![Park Jungja in the show.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/UDJI5E2MYRBJ3AFGK7FUMAKDPM.jpg?smart=true&auth=e6bb1179000008399bfea4f7f97d350d5d6d95d0856b19ea1032d7189626e6e1&width=400&height=225)
![The puzzling appearance of the supernatural beings soon leads to conspiracy theories as large-scale pandemonium ensues.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/4F3NNX3B35DNZPZ22XLFW4EOQM.jpg?smart=true&auth=baa8a32cd25ccbd175471bbf22086fc47f4d1c3326216e889b4d0176044d8195&width=400&height=225)
![Vigilantes are egged on by a masked internet star who pronounces his own witch-hunts from a gaming chair.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ZXIDEJODPNGDJHZZD74ZTJJOBE.jpg?smart=true&auth=c9d0c54c48f602075d210a4655b87d177407fd503481706a8d64b4e08694d353&width=400&height=225)
![Critics are praising the show for its philosophical tone, while presenting it in a Marvel-style action flick, albeit a more violent and bloodier version.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/64CZGAAS6BCTTAM65ZY6VVPZNE.jpg?smart=true&auth=cb8e6f60460b0eaba0b856836a25ce4c268da15ce78c3752afa61e8efb00b7d1&width=400&height=225)
Why is 'Hellbound', the new viral Korean Netflix show, being compared to 'Squid Game'?
The dark South Korean drama has received rave reviews and is currently the most-watched show on the streamer
David Tusing
November 28, 2021
- Listen In English
- Listen In Arabic