Badland Hunters

Absolutely. It is a direct addition to the canon of high-concept Korean genre films, blending disaster elements with relentless action and a charismatic lead. If you enjoy the visceral thrills of films like Train to Busan or The Roundup series, this film's premise of survival and rescue in a collapsed urban landscape should provide a satisfying, adrenaline-fuelled experience with a distinctly Korean flavour.

Given the scale of its premise a deadly earthquake levelling Seoul the film undoubtedly relies on CGI to establish its devastated setting. However, the heart of its action likely rests on practical stunts and choreography, especially with Don Lee's involvement, known for his hands-on, impactful fighting style. The effects work aims to create a convincing backdrop for the raw, physical struggles of its characters.

The primary antagonist is a mad doctor, portrayed by Lee Hee-jun, who abducts a teenager in the chaotic badland. This sets the core conflict in motion, pitting Don Lee's resilient huntsman against a figure representing a perversion of science and order in a world that has lost both. The doctor's motives likely explore a dark extreme of trying to rebuild or control society through horrific means.

Don Lee once again utilises his formidable physical presence, this time as a fearless huntsman navigating a shattered world. While he remains an anchor of brute-force reliability, this role seems tailored to a more primal, survivalist context compared to his modern detective or hero roles. His character is the archetypal protector, using strength and grit to traverse a dangerous new landscape and confront a uniquely twisted villain.

The film leans heavily into gritty, post-apocalyptic action. With its setting of a collapsed Seoul transformed into a lawless badland, expect a tone of desperate survival punctuated by intense, physical confrontations. It channels the spirit of classic wasteland thrillers, prioritising visceral set-pieces and a straightforward, propulsive narrative about a rescue mission against a sinister threat, rather than nuanced societal commentary.

As a Netflix original film, Badland Hunters is available exclusively on the Netflix streaming platform in Australia and globally. This makes it easily accessible for subscribers, fitting into the platform's strong catalogue of Korean action and thriller content. You can stream it at your convenience, which is perfect for a weekend action movie night without the need for a cinema ticket.

While both films share a star in Don Lee and a premise involving a catastrophic earthquake in Seoul, Badland Hunters is a standalone action thriller set in a lawless wasteland. It does not continue the narrative of the apartment block survival drama. Think of it as a new story exploring a different, more chaotic corner of the same disaster universe, pivoting sharply into post-apocalyptic genre territory with a focus on raw survival and rescue.