'Badland Hunters' aka 'Hwang-ya' (2024) air date, plot, full cast and is Netflix movie worth watching
Movie name: Badland Hunters aka Hwang-ya
Platform: Netflix
Country of origin: South Korea
Date of Release: January 26, 2024
Genre: Sci-Fi/Thriller
Runtime: 1 hour 47 mins
Director: Heo Myeong Haeng
Writers: Kim Bo-Tong, Kwak Jae-Min
Full Cast: Ma Dong-seok, Lee Hee-joon, Lee Jun-young, Roh Jeong-eui, An Ji-hye
What is the plot of 'Badland Hunters' aka 'Hwang-ya'?
When an earthquake hits Seoul, it isn't just any temblor. The city is utterly destroyed and from the rubble emerges the very worst of humanity hoping to prey on the defenseless and weak. But not Nam-san the 'Huntsman': He's on a quest to find and rescue a teenage girl from the sadistic clutches of Dr Yang Gi-su and his cult of followers, each as insane as he is. On the way, Nam-san picks up an entourage that will help him on his mission through the Seoul badlands and hopefully prove that all hope is not lost for humanity.
'Badland Hunters' aka 'Hwang-ya' Main Cast
Ma Dong-seok
Ma will be better known as Don Lee to Western audiences as that's the credit he acts under when Stateside. Ma got his break in the 2007 series 'H.I.T.' in which he played Nam Seong-shik. The following year he made his first appearance under the Don Lee credit in the movie 'The Good, The Bad, The Weird'. A series of roles in acclaimed films like 'Swallow the Sun', 'Perfect Game' and 'Nameless Gangster: Rules of the Time' followed. But the role that would truly make him a household name came in 2016, when he was cast to play Sang-hwa in Yeon Sang-ho's hugely successful zombie thriller 'Train to Busan'. 'Train to Busan' which is quite possibly the best zombie film ever made (or at least in the top three) catapulted the entire cast to fame. Ma would follow the hit with roles in the series '38 Task Force', and popular movie franchises like 'Along With the Gods' and ''The Roundup'. Fans can see him next in the movie 'The Roundup: Punishment'
Jun Hee Lee
Yup, it's Jimmy from 2005's horrifyingly bad 'American Pie Presents: Band Camp' (and we say this as diehard fans of the American Pie franchise). But don't hold that against St Louis-born Jun. He has starred in such hit shows as 'House M.D.', 'The Mindy Project' and 'American Crime Story'. He received good reviews for his turn as Officer Geoffrey Morris in the miniseries 'Unbelievable'. Fans can see him next in the South Korean TV show 'Karma' alongside Park Hae-soo and Shin Min-a.
Is 'Badland Hunters' aka 'Hwang-ya' worth watching?
Think of a cross between 'Mad Max' and 'Army of the Dead' and you get an idea of what 'Badland Hunters' is going for here. The special effects are exceptional and the plot solid (if hardly novel), but it's the cast that will carry the movie and the names are here on merit. If you're looking for a bit of big-budget popcorn fare to watch on that big new TV you bought, then this is most definitely for you.
MEAWW Watch ranking
4 out of 5
'Badland Hunters' aka 'Hwang-ya' Trailer