Family movie night? There's an app for that
Download our new mobile app on iOS and Android.
Hellbound
By Polly Conway,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Terrifying, gory Korean detective story about good vs. evil.
Add your rating
A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Hellbound
Community Reviews
There aren't any parent reviews yet. Be the first to review this title.
What's the Story?
Set in 2022, HELLBOUND is a horror mystery series based on a web comic about people who receive prophecies from "angels" stating that in five days, they will be killed. Each time, these decrees come true, in the form of brutal murders by terrifying, relentless monsters. It's also discovered that each victim was a criminal or a person who had sinned in some way. Religious group The New Truth, led by the charismatic young Chairman Jung (Yoo Ah-in), thinks that these killings are a direct message from God, telling humans they must be more righteous. Burned-out detective Jin Kyeong-hoon (Yang Ik-june) is on the case, and he has a lot of questions to grapple with. Is Chairman Jung a hero or a charlatan? Is it murder if it's God doing the killing? And how does vigilante justice group The Arrowhead play into this new reality?
Is It Any Good?
Between the sporadic and horrifying monster attacks, this series is a pretty compelling traditional detective story. Not unlike the first season ofTrue Detective, it explores how a man devastated by grief and trauma attempts to find peace by cracking a complicated case rife with religious questions. Plus monsters, of course; beastly creatures that look like Dementors on steroids and will stop at nothing in their quest. It also examines the role of social media in the news cycle; people don't know who to trust or what's real; it's also where the Arrowhead presents proof of its vigilante justice. Some teens will love the many philosophical questions posed in Hellbound, while others may want even more supernatural action.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the idea of good versus evil. Why do you think so many shows and movies show address this battle?
Do you think this show would be as scary if it were less violent? How does seeing violence affect you?
Can you see any parallels between the New Truth religous group and real life? How do you know whether the news you hear is real? How do you choose your sources of information?
TV Details
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
Where to Watch
Our Editors Recommend
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate