Train to Busan is a well-crafted zombie flick in a slew of notoriously under-produced movies in this genre that continues to ride the hype-train of zombie fandom. If you guys follow me, it comes as little surprise that this is a genre I invest a lot of time into. So, when I come across a book, game or movie that is great for this particular sub-genre, I like to pass the good stuff along.
That isn't to say there weren't some extremely cheesy moments in this picture. Or that it was a 100% rock-solid dramatic intense horror. I don't think they were trying for that. Instead, Train to Busan does a slow-burn of a little back-drop story of a working class man named Seok-Woo(played by Yoo Gong) that spends a little too much time at the office and not enough time with his daughter. We find out through the narrative that he is so absorbed in his work that it even cost his marriage. Being so wrapped up in his work, Seok-Woo even barely spends time with his daughter(played by Su-an Kim; a very talented 11-year old actress)and it comes as little surprise when she asks for her birthday that she wants to spend time with her mother for awhile. Feeling more obligated than obliged, Seok-Woo decides to board the train and take his daughter to see her mom in Busan.
In just these short few moments of introducing the characters, I could tell that I would like this film. You know the feeling, when you are watching a horror and waiting for the ball to drop on poor line dialogue or emotions. For the most part, the introduction pulled a quicker narrative hook than the actual hook which was the first scene on the train. A lady passenger boards and you can tell she is injured. She begins to convulse and have seizures.
Within moments, all hell is breaking loose on the train. In-coming zombie train party as we quickly learn that the virus spreads incredibly fast and the undead are notoriously viscous. All the while through this commotion, we learn that it is spreading fast across the countryside and the train is literally trying to beat the spread of infection. Throughout this process, we see some character development in Seok-Woo as he tries desperately to keep his daughter alive and realize what matters most in his life. Again, not overly dramatic but hits the nail on the head for great cinematic moments.
I'll wrap this up by saying that from start to finish, this one sinks its teeth into you with great acting, decent action sequences and overall an enjoyable rump through zombie-town via train. For a sleeper coming out of 2016 that you might not have heard about, Train to Busan is a must-see for any horror fan out there.
