Netflix's Decades-Spanning Thriller Series Delivers A Masterclass In Horror And Sci-Fi

Sci-fi and horror are two genres that perfectly complement one another. The reason being that some of the most ambitious scientific endeavors, be it in fiction or the real world, can often lead to terrifying implications. One of the most iconic horror stories, Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, also walks over the overlap between the two genres.

A highly acclaimed thriller on Netflix, too, takes the same approach and brilliantly combines horror with sci-fi. Quite a few sci-fi horror TV shows end up toning down either of the two genres. They either become too fixated on high-concept sci-fi or they end up instilling more chills and thrills with their horror elements. Netflix's Gyeongseong Creature, however, is a rare show that perfectly balances both.

Deriving its name from Seoul's old name, Gyeongseong, the K-drama on Netflix is not for the faint of heart. It dabbles with some hard-hitting themes and goes to extreme lengths to put humanity's worst tendencies on full display. However, viewers looking for a bleak horror sci-fi thriller will likely remain hooked to it till its final credits start rolling.

Gyeongseong Creature's Sci-Fi Is Rooted In Real Historical Atrocities

Some of the greatest sci-fi shows do not hold back on ambition and unfold stories and scenarios that can never happen in the real world. While Gyeongseong Creature is also fictional, it cleverly sets its story in real-world history. Set in 1945, the Netflix K-drama centers its story around the horrors of the real Unit 731.

During World War II, Unit 731 was a covert military unit in Japan that tested chemical and biological weapons on civilians.

Using this as a narrative device, Gyeongseong Creature introduces a parasitic creature called Najin that completely alters one's physical form, granting abilities like extreme aggression and superhuman durability. Instead of solely focusing on the transformation it triggers, though, the show specifically highlights how human experimentation is institutionalized and sponsored by the state itself.

Just like stories like Frankenstein use science as a metaphor to walk through the consequences of human greed, ambition, and loneliness, Gyeongseong Creature does the same by highlighting how science is weaponized for colonial erasure.

What begins as a story about imperial ambition and human greed in Gyeongseong Creature soon takes an even darker turn when the najin parasite turns one into a monstrous predator. The show's depiction of body horror alone is terrifying, but its true horror elements lie in its portrayal of how morally bankrupt humans can become.

Gyeongseong Creature's Real Horror Stems From Its Evil Human Characters

In terms of physical design alone, the show does an incredible job of portraying how its central monster's appearance completely defies human anatomy. However, instead of merely antagonizing the monster, the show forces one to question whether the creature, Seishin (Choi Seong-sim), is a victim. Her physical transformation is directly tied into her suffering and maternal instinct.

While her monstrous metamorphosis seems sickening at first, it becomes heartbreaking when one understands the tragic irony behind it. Reminding viewers of movies like Alien, Gyeongseong Creature doubles down on this theme by highlighting how the imperial scientists who subject others to atrocious experiments are the real monsters.

The monsters in the show are terrifying in appearance, but they are forced to operate on pure instincts after being drained of all humanity. The evil scientists and officers, on the other hand, choose to be immoral and cruel despite having the innate human ability to feel remorse and empathy.

With this, in its two-season runtime, Netflix's Gyeongseong Creature leaves no dull moments as it walks through its harrowing combination of sci-fi and horror.