Badland Hunters is the new original Netflix film that has arrived to exceed all expectations and establish itself as a strong trend in the catalog. With a very Mad Max-style, the post-apocalyptic thriller joined the platform just hours ago.
It was directed by Heo Myeong Haeng, based on a script by Kim Bo-Tong and Kwak Jae-Min. The production marks the return of Ma Dong-seok (Gilgamesh in Marvel’s Eternals) to the screen, but this time in the lead role.
The title is intended to be the sequel to Concrete Utopia, a 2023 South Korean drama, and picks up the story of Seoul’s transformation after the earthquake into an apocalyptic wasteland, where the world as we know it has collapsed.
Badland Hunters is Netflix’s second most-watched movie
Badland Hunters is the new post-apocalyptic action thriller that has been captivating Netflix users just hours after its release in the catalog. As estimated just a day ago, it has become one of the most-watched movies on the platform, ranking second worldwide, according to Flix Patrol, the metrics-specialized site.
Ma Dong-seok, better known as Don Lee, is one of the three protagonists. The Marvel and Train to Busan actor portrays Nam-san, a ruthless wasteland hunter. During an interview with Publimetro Mexico, he confessed that his role was very different from his previous characters.
The South Korean star had to perform several action sequences during the scenes, wielding swords, machetes, pistols, and even rifles. He assured that he always tries to keep his fellow actors safe while performing such maneuvers.
“I try to maintain my stamina and prepare, so every time there’s an action scene, I can go straight into it. I think it’s almost the same for all actors. We look at the scripts, the director, and who we’re working with, but you know, in most of my projects, I also produce besides acting, which gives me more freedom”, he confessed.
The story has become popular in record time, but it’s also due to the fact that many viewers who watched the first installment, Concrete Utopia, were eagerly awaiting its continuation. This time, the plot follows a hunter who springs into action to rescue a girl in the clutches of a deranged doctor.
The narrative is set after an earthquake turns Seoul into a lawless and inhospitable land, so the main trio has only two options: hunt or die. Lee Joon-young, No Jeong-ee and Jun Hee Lee are some of the figures who accompanied the 52-year-old actor.
What critics said about Badland Hunters?
As is always the case when an interesting title is released, critics don’t hesitate to publish their reviews on official portals. So far, the majority have been favorable towards the project and have given considerable praise, especially for how Badland Hunters was executed and the performances of the main actors.
One of the first to write about the dystopian thriller was Joshua Kristian McCoy from Game Rant, where he revealed, “Badland Hunters starts to feel like a Mad Max knock-off from its first trailer, but it’s willing to go in a very different direction. Though the story won’t break new ground, the execution will elevate this fascinating action outing well worth a watch”.
Additionally, the cinephile and licensed psychologist spoke about the plot and how refreshing it could be at times, departing from the norm in post-apocalyptic movies. He wrote:
“The movie suffers in the story department. It’s refreshingly strange, contained, and brief enough to stretch its barebones narrative without breaking it. At 107 minutes, the film doesn’t overstay its welcome. It doesn’t have enough to say to broach the social commentary of its supposed predecessor, but it’s compelling enough to stand on its own”.
On the other hand, James Marsh from the South China Morning Post also commented on the K-movie, writing, “Audiences who embraced the gratuitous bloodletting and mad professor experiments of Project Wolf Hunting should be sufficiently entertained, while Ma ensures his lovable lunkhead lands a few laughs in between skull-crushing blows”.