What is the Netflix movie 'Badland Hunters' about?

Concrete Utopia is a 2023 South Korean film released in Korean theaters, set in a world where a massive earthquake has destroyed everything except a single apartment building. This film was one of the few South Korean films in 2023 to surpass its break-even point, gaining popularity as a satirical film of Korean society.**

The Netflix original film ‘Badland Hunters,’ scheduled for release on January 26, 2024, shares the same universe as ‘Concrete Utopia.’ While Hwanggung Apartment was the only building that remained intact in ‘Concrete Utopia,’ the film showed the residents scattering due to their selfishness and internal conflicts.

In ‘Badland Hunters,’ Dr. Yang Gi-su (Lee Hee-joon), the new owner of the apartment, is a typical mad scientist who gathers people to conduct biological experiments. His goal is to create a new human race. People struggling to survive in the collapsed world voluntarily seek refuge in the scientist's apartment, which boasts abundant resources.

Meanwhile, Namsan (Ma Dong-seok), who has survived by hunting crocodiles and other animals outside the apartment, learns about Yang Gi-su's scheme from a soldier who escaped from the apartment. His close friend, the young girl Suna (No Jung-ui), recently went to Hwanggung Apartment. Namsan sets out to rescue Suna, accompanied by his disciple Ji-wan (Lee Jun-young). They face individuals transformed into monsters by the mad scientist.

As seen in the promotional poster, Ma Dong-seok stars as the protagonist. He has showcased his signature bare-knuckle action in films like ‘The Outlaws’ and ‘Train to Busan,’ and even appeared as Gilgamesh in Marvel's ‘Eternals.’ In this film, Ma Dong-seok ditches bare-knuckle combat for a shotgun and a large knife. If you're a bit tired of Ma Dong-seok's typical action style, you might find a refreshing change in this film.**

Unlike its predecessor, ‘Concrete Utopia,’ which used apartments as a metaphor to satirize the contradictions of Korean society, ‘Badland Hunters’ focuses on the struggles of survivors in a post-apocalyptic version of Seoul. Therefore, we can expect it to be a more mainstream action film. The confrontation between the monsters and Ma Dong-seok is particularly reminiscent of the iconic zombie film ‘Train to Busan.’**