Hellbound Village (Tết Ở Làng Địa Ngục) - First Season

ALL STORYLINES AND IMAGES IN THIS WORK ARE FICTITIOUS.

ANY SIMILARITIES ARE COINCIDENTAL.

Do you know who I am?

ADAPTED FROM THE PERIOD HORROR NOVEL BY THAO TRANG

IN THE LAST EPISODE

Everyone! Somebody's dead!

Carnivorous fish!

It's Hach!

Hach!

My child!

Creek fish is good!

Eating a fish from the creek is a sin.

When Hach was thrown into the creek, she was still alive,

Mr. Thap.

Never would carp prey on human flesh.

I reckon those in your village

have become demons.

I worry that

those in your village

will continue to die.

I do want to help you.

But your village's whereabouts,

until now I still don't know it.

So how can I help?

What if you show me how to prepare the ritual,

to relieve us of trouble,

so I can do it on my own?

I'm no shaman.

Or someone wise.

What is going on in your village,

the root of it all,

it is still unknown.

But by being a sitting duck here,

how in the world can I be of assistance?

It's just that...

Go on, sir.

Your village's happenings,

they haven't yet ended.

I'll be frank with you.

My village has been solitary ever since.

We have one rule.

No outsiders shall take a step inside the village.

And no one shall know how to get to us.

I know.

I, too, have been to places on the edges of maps.

One thing I know for sure,

is that all who've chosen isolation,

they have a reason to.

What is your village's reason?

You are right.

But for the sake of all who've chosen isolation,

I don't think I can share it.

Nor should I need to.

But alright.

I'll take you to my village.

- Huh? - Just one thing.

Once you've arrived,

you can no longer descend the mountain.

I've been a wanderer for ten or so years.

Having a place to reside,

is a blessing.

I only hope to help both you and the villagers.

I'll go as well.

Go where?

Up to your village.

You heard what I said.

The moment you're there,

leaving will not be possible.

Mr. Tam, you've a home,

a land here.

You're leaving them behind?

Houses...

Land...

They now hold zero meaning to me.

Especially when I have no children.

And because my wife is dead.

The need to live here has gone, Mr. Thap.

Every day...

I look into this house,

and then over the fence.

All I can see is filth...

It's disgusting.

I want to forget this place.

Consider that Dau Village

never had a Mr. Tam,

or Congee Tu.

As for the crippled beggar.

There's no way can he crawl there.

You will need someone to help carry him too,

and I'm that guy.

It's settled then.

Alright.

Be gentle.

Gentle.

- Does it hurt? - It does.

What are you doing?

So...

There's some spare cloth.

Let's wrap his stumps.

All this blood here...

I feel bad.

Days ago you were gripping a knife,

wanting to slice and dice the man. And now...

Now, let it go.

You're yet to finish your packing.

We'll be off early.

Watch your step here.

Stay with Hach, ma'am.

I'll visit my husband's grandmother for a bit.

A bow for you, Grandmother Phong.

Oh, Grandmother.

You've been wise and aware. Watch out for the boy, Dai.

The kid is awake one moment, asleep the next.

Please save him from things unkind.

What's going on, sir?

Maybe we should leave now.

Suddenly I feel

somewhat troubled inside. I'm not sure.

Something foreboding is coming.

You take him to the horse.

I'll be right there.

Come on.

- All good? - All good.

What are you doing?

What should be forgotten,

burn it down.

Let's go now.

Go.

Whoa.

What's with Mr. Tam?

The dead are gone,

the living must move on,

You staying brittle like that,

can you call yourself a man?

Whoa.

You are right.

I can't grieve forever.

It can't rain all the time.

From now on,

no matter what happens,

I, Wicked Tam,

will stay being a Tam most wicked!

There you go. Let's move.

Go.

From here to the village,

how much longer, Thap?

We've only covered half of the journey.

Good heavens!

We've been on the road since dawn,

but we're only halfway there?!

What kind of strange village is that?

It's so hard to get to.

Our predecessors,

wherever they chose to settle,

we make our roots there too.

It's not like we have a choice.

Mr. Thap.

Your ancestors,

they must have had a secret so big,

that they picked the edge of the map to live.

Mr. Tam.

If you need to lighten your load,

then take my case,

and I'll carry the man.

Forget it.

I've been his carrier.

Let me do it the rest of the way.

You take care of navigating.

It's late.

We're off!

I'm out of breath.

How can you be when I'm the one carrying you?!

Mrs. Thap!

Oh, Mrs. Thap!

Mrs. Thap!

Oh, Mrs. Thap!

- Mrs. Thap! - Here.

Do you smell something?

Meat being roasted?

That's right!

But it's so odd!

It doesn't smell good!

You feel that too?

Come!

Come with me, come!

Follow me, please.

- Mrs. Thap! - What is that smell?

Hey, what is that smell?

- It's strange! - Really strange!

- That smell isn't at all good. - Can you smell that?

I think it's right by the creek.

Oh God!

- That's right! - Let's get there.

- Come now, Mrs. - This way!

Everyone!

This way.

Can you smell something?

Yes!

Something's burnt, it's like meat!

Burnt and foul too.