PataalLokpaal

Pataal-lokpaal : My quick take on Netflix’s miniseries “Hellbound”

It's unique, it's Zara Hatke, it's engaging, and it's one hell of a web series.

I am a firm believer that the 'Balance Sheet' of one's life is written and settled during his or her lifetime, that karma does catch you before you leave this place, that the debits and credits of one's deeds are squared off before one kicks the bucket. But I've never imagined a world without crime or bad deeds. Is there such a thing as a "righteous" world?

Director Yung Sang-ho (the same guy who made "Train to Busan" and its sequel) attempts to present us with this Utopian rather dystopian world in which angelic premonitions are announcing the 'expiry date' and on the prescribed date and time the beastly "Paatal-lokpaals" appear and make you pay up for all your sins before literally 'incinerating' you publicly.

I thoroughly enjoyed the first three episodes of this 6-episode series, and in my view, season 1 should have got over after 3 episodes. The next three episodes are not engaging as the former. Secondly, there seems to be a time lag between the first three episodes and the rest, which disturbs the continuity of the flow and its characters. Maybe the makers have trimmed some portions of original Korean drama while adapting it to Netflix’s English audience.

The English dubbing sounds fine, though the lip movement of characters does not sync, the performances of all actors are good, Korean movie Action scenes are generally gross and bloody and here too it is no different. If you are a fan of Manga comics, then don’t miss this series. (This is based on a webtoon with the same name)

The best part of the series is that, though it is a fantasy and fictional story it may kindle the ‘spiritual’ faculty of yourself and you may start pondering over karma cycle and free will. Hence exercise your free will and decide for yourself as to can you spend nearly 6 hours and be Hellbound.