Netflix's Hyperviolent 2-Part Action Thriller Gives John Wick A Run For Its Money

Published Aug 8, 2026, 10:30 PM EDT Dhruv is a Lead Writer in Screen Rant's New TV division. He has been consistently contributing to the website for over two years and has written thousands of articles covering streaming trends, movie/TV analysis, and pop culture breakdowns. Before Screen Rant, he was a Senior Writer for The Cinemaholic, covering everything from anime to television, from reality TV to movies. After high school, he was on his way to become a Civil Engineer. However, he soon realized that writing was his true calling. As a result, he took a leap and never looked back. A two-season action thriller on Netflix packed with some of the most brutal and memorable action sequences that even give movies like John Wick a run for their money. Based on a webtoon of the same name, Netflix's Bloodhounds received a more mixed reception when it first premiered in 2023. While many appreciated its action choreography, viewers could not help but notice how it lost steam towards the end. In season 2, however, Bloodhounds made an incredible comeback. The show walked viewers through one brilliant action set piece after another, using each as a brilliant narrative device to raise the overarching stakes. In terms of storytelling, Bloodhounds keeps things simple and linear like the John Wick movies. It unfolds more as a survival revenge thriller. However, similar to the John Wick movies, it does an incredible job of using action as a compelling narrative device to immerse viewers into its drama. Despite being a TV series with a limited budget, Bloodhounds features slam-band action scenes that even beat some of the best Hollywood productions. Netflix’s Bloodhounds’ Action Choreography Is As Good As John Wick’s Soyun Jeon, Seowoo Jung / Netflix John Wick's fight scenes are often defined by slam-bang Gun fu sequences along with slick point-blank marksmanship and judo sweeps. Although Bloodhounds dabbles with a different brand of action, it also features elite hand-to-hand combat that takes a no-holds-barred approach towards brutality. Similar to John Wick, Bloodhounds ensures that viewers feel the heavy impact of each bone-crushing blow and kick. Instead of taking the easy way out and relying on "shaky camera" to immerse viewers in its action scenes, Bloodhounds features brilliantly choreographed action sequences. All the Korean actors in the Netflix action thriller series almost look like real fighters both in physicality and demeanor. Even the perfection with which they execute their action scenes makes it hard not to believe they are real martial artists. Bloodhounds also develops its own distinct action tropes and devices by using its main characters' boxing forte as a narrative device. It gives them their own unique set of moves and skills that make their fight sequences feel more personal and grounded in their individual strengths. This effectively elevates the show's action above other conventional on-screen choreography. Bloodhounds Shows John Wick's Spin-Offs How It's Done The main John Wick movies have rarely stumbled and maintained a consistently high standard of action, world-building, and storytelling throughout the franchise. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said about John Wick's spin-offs. The biggest issue with expansion projects like The Continental, and, to some extent, even Ballerina, is that they adopt the franchise's overarching style without featuring real physical stakes. Bloodhounds nails this by throwing two relatable and seemingly ordinary boxers into the dark underworld where they are forced to put their brain and brawn to the test. Like John Wick, they are secretly overpowered but only wish to avoid trouble. However, trouble often finds them and a chain reaction of events pushes them deeper into the world of crime and violence. Although Netflix has not renewed Bloodhounds for season 3 yet, the show's positive reception after season 2 spells promise for its future. If all goes well, Bloodhounds will not only be renewed for more seasons but eventually end up earning as much acclaim and recognition as the John Wick franchise. Even if it doesn't, it deserves to be touted as one of the best action thrillers from recent years. Bloodhounds Release Date 2023 - 2026-00-00 Two young boxers join forces with a benevolent moneylender to confront a merciless loan shark preying on the financially vulnerable. Network Netflix Cast Woo Do-hwan, Lee Sang-yi, Heo Joon-ho, Park Sung-woong, Eugene Ko, Park Min-jung, Rain, Kim Min-jae, Jeong Da-eun, Min Kyung-jin, Hong Jun-young, Ha Soo-ho, Cho Wan-ki, Choi Young-jun, Park Hoon, Lee Hae-yeong, Im Hwa-young, Kim Sae-ron, Yun Yoo-sun, Choi Si-won, Tae Won-seok, Ryu Soo-young, Ban So-young Directors Jason Kim Writers Jason Kim Main Genre Action Creator(s) Jason Kim Seasons 2