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Netflix K-drama Hellbound season 2: Yeon Sang-ho’s demonic dystopia makes welcome return

The cult-horror thriller is back, and some of those who were dragged to hell in season 1 are starting to return, as Korean society fragments

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Kim Hyun-joo as lawyer Min Hye-jin in a still from Hellbound season 2. Kim Sung-cheol, Moon So-ri, Moon Geun-young and Yang Ik-june co-star. Photo: Won-jin Jo/Netflix

Lead cast: Kim Hyun-joo, Kim Sung-cheol, Moon So-ri, Moon Geun-young, Yang Ik-june

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It’s only been three years since we were introduced to the deranged and demonic world of Hellbound, the cult horror-thriller from Train to Busan mastermind Yeon Sang-ho, but eight years have elapsed since the events of season one with season two’s world premiere of its first three episodes at the Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) today.
Hellbound introduced us to a world where faith and the meaning of our existence on Earth comes into question when demons began to appear and drag to hell people who were condemned after receiving “decrees” from strange angelic apparitions.

The poor condemned souls were initially assumed to be sinners, but human morality was thrown into doubt when a newborn child was slapped with one of these decrees. Season one closed with the baby narrowly surviving, thanks to the sacrifice of her parents.

Hellbound Season 2 | Official Teaser | Netflix

The world has become an even bleaker place in the interim, with Korean society now dominated by four different groups, each claiming to exercise the will of the people but in reality either guided by selfish ambitions or religious delusions.

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