The train departs at a blistering pace, and you're on board. Not literally, of course, but the opening moments of "Train to Busan" catapult you into the chaos of a world on the brink of collapse. It's a zombie outbreak, and South Korea's sleek modern infrastructure is about to be transformed into a rolling battleground.
Train To Busan Key Takeaways
The fragility of society: The film demonstrates how quickly a modern society can descend into chaos during a crisis. The zombie outbreak exposes vulnerabilities in infrastructure, government response, and social order.
Selfishness vs. sacrifice: The pressure of survival brings out the best and worst in people. The film explores the choices individuals make when faced with extreme danger: do they prioritize their own safety or act with compassion and risk everything to help others.
The strength of family bonds: Seok-woo's transformation from a distant father to a fierce protector of his daughter highlights the extraordinary lengths one might go to for family. The film also showcases other examples of enduring love and bonds strengthened by hardship.
The destructive power of fear: Fear drives both commendable and horrific actions in the film. Some characters rise to the occasion, while others crumble under pressure, revealing the ugly side of human nature when panic reigns.
Class divisions and social inequality: "Train to Busan" subtly critiques social hierarchies and the ways individuals with wealth and power may exploit others for their benefit during difficult times.
The importance of human connection: Facing an existential threat, the characters find strength through collaboration, forming unlikely alliances and realizing the essential value of relying on one another for survival.
Hope amidst despair: Even in the darkest moments of the film, there are glimpses of hope and resilience. It reminds us that the human spirit can endure even against insurmountable odds.
This isn't some campy zombie flick, there are no winks and nods to a knowing audience. "Train to Busan" grabs the zombie genre and squeezes it until the blood curdles and the bones splinter. The fear is visceral. This isn't the ponderous walk of the undead, the monsters in this film tear into their victims with terrifying ferocity. Director Yeon Sang-ho understands something that many zombie movie directors seem to have forgotten – zombies are meant to be truly terrifying.
This high-octane thriller is a relentless locomotive of tension. Bound for the coastal safety of Busan, the bullet train becomes humanity's last-ditch hope, a desperate microcosm of a crumbling world. Yeon masterfully weaves a tapestry of characters within the metal belly of the beast. There's Seok-woo (Gong Yoo), the workaholic fund manager, more interested in profit than people, and his neglected young daughter Su-an (Kim Su-an). There's the tough-as-nails Sang-hwa (Ma Dong-seok) and his pregnant wife (Jung Yu-mi). And let's not forget the slimy, self-serving businessman played with venomous perfection by Kim Eui-sung.
The film's confined setting is a pressure cooker, heightening the claustrophobia as the undead swarm around the train. Every creak, every flicker of the lights, is a potential harbinger of doom. The desperation becomes an almost tangible thing, gnawing at your gut like one of those flesh-eaters just outside the window.
A Horrifying Korean Zombie Film
"Train to Busan" offers a uniquely South Korean flavor to this over-saturated genre. It's laced with social commentary, from its indictment of class divisions to its unflinching look at the monstrous side of human nature when survival is hanging by a thread. There are moments of quiet desperation that punch you in the gut. The elderly sisters, one prepared to sacrifice everything for the other. The baseball player struggling to channel his youthful bravado for the good of those he loves. When a horde of zombies are battering at your door, true character is revealed, and not everything you see will be heroic.
Yeon Sang-ho's direction is nothing short of masterful. The action sequences are pure adrenaline, the cinematography both sweeping and suffocating, capturing the relentless pulse of a world unhinged. The film's pacing never lulls, and the set pieces are jaw-dropping. One sequence involving a darkened tunnel and a terrifying transformation is an instant classic of zombie horror.
Yet, even with all that heart-stopping terror, there's something else that makes this movie stand apart – the human emotion. Yeon isn't afraid to pause and let his characters breathe, to show us their flaws and their desperate attempts at redemption. Seok-woo's transformation from cold capitalist to fierce protector is beautifully portrayed. And Kim Su-an, as the young daughter caught in this nightmare, turns in a performance of heartbreaking depth. These aren't your typical action-hero archetypes, they're achingly real. And that's what makes their fight against the undead so damn resonant. We cling to their hopes because, for a terrifying moment, they're our hopes too.
"Train to Busan" isn't just a thrill ride, it's a gut-wrenching, thought-provoking look at human nature. It's a stark reminder that even in the face of the impossible, of flesh-eating creatures and a world on fire, humanity can flicker, however faintly, in the darkness. And sometimes, in a world of undead monsters, the most human thing you can do is choose to fight back. The ending, bittersweet and haunting, will stay with you long after the train finally pulls into its destination. This is zombie filmmaking at its best, a relentless and emotionally resonant addition to the genre. Buckle up, hold on tight, and get ready for one hell of a ride.
And that is Train To Busan 2016 Reviewed. A Modern International Horror Film that we absolutely loved.
Stay tuned for more Horror Movie Reviews.
If You Liked Train To Busan 2016 You Might Also Like These Films.
28 Days Later (2002): A British film that revitalized the zombie genre with fast-moving, rage-infected creatures. It follows a group of survivors in the aftermath of a viral outbreak, exploring themes of desperation and the breakdown of society.
World War Z (2013): This big-budget Hollywood take on the zombie apocalypse stars Brad Pitt as a former UN worker racing across the globe to find the source of the pandemic. It features large-scale zombie hordes and international settings.
[REC] (2007): A Spanish found-footage horror film about a news crew trapped in an apartment building overrun by a demonic infection. The confined setting and frenetic camera work create an intensely claustrophobic and terrifying experience.
Snowpiercer (2013): From acclaimed South Korean director Bong Joon-ho (Parasite), this dystopian action thriller takes place on a train carrying the last remnants of humanity through a frozen wasteland. While not a traditional zombie film, it shares themes of social inequality, confined spaces, and desperate struggle for survival.
Cargo (2017): An Australian zombie film with a poignant twist. A father infected with the virus races against time to find someone to care for his infant daughter before he succumbs. This one focuses more on human drama amidst the zombie backdrop.
Train To Busan 2016 Reviewed FAQs
Q: What is Train To Busan about?
A: Train To Busan is a South Korean horror film that follows a group of passengers on a train from Seoul to Busan as a zombie outbreak rapidly sweeps across South Korea. The film focuses on Seok-woo, a workaholic fund manager traveling with his young daughter, Su-an, and a diverse cast of characters who must work together (and sometimes clash) to survive the relentless onslaught of the undead.
Q: Is Train To Busan a zombie movie?
A: Yes, Train To Busan is considered one of the best zombie films in recent years, blending horror and action elements within the confines of a moving train. What sets it apart are the terrifyingly fast and aggressive zombies, creating a uniquely intense and claustrophobic horror experience.
Q: Who is the director of Train To Busan?
A: Train To Busan was directed by Yeon Sang-ho, who also directed the animated prequel "Seoul Station." Yeon is known for his ability to craft thrilling set pieces and inject social commentary into his films.
Q: Where can I watch Train To Busan?
A: You can find Train To Busan on various streaming platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, or Shudder (a horror-focused streaming service). It's also available for rent or purchase on platforms such as Google Play, Apple TV, or Vudu, and you may find physical copies on DVD or Blu-ray.
Q: What makes Train To Busan unique compared to other zombie movies?
A: Train To Busan offers a fresh take on the zombie genre in several ways:
Confined setting: Its primary setting on a speeding train creates a relentless, claustrophobic atmosphere as the characters fight for survival within limited space.
Fast-paced action: The zombies are not the lumbering undead of classic films, but terrifyingly fast and aggressive, ratcheting up the tension and horror.
Social commentary: The film subtly explores themes of class division, selfishness vs. sacrifice, and how fear can shape human behavior in times of crisis.
Q: What are some other South Korean horror films similar to Train To Busan?
A: If you enjoyed Train To Busan, you might like:
The Wailing: A chilling blend of folklore and horror that centers around a mysterious illness in a rural village.
I Saw the Devil: A dark and brutal revenge thriller with intense violence (not for the faint of heart).
#Alive: Another story of survival against a zombie outbreak, with a focus on a young gamer trapped alone in his apartment.
Q: Is Train To Busan subtitled or dubbed in English?
A: Train To Busan is a Korean movie with English subtitles for international viewers. Some streaming platforms may also offer a dubbed version, but for the full impact, the original version with subtitles is recommended.
Q: Does Train To Busan have a sequel or prequel?
A: Yes, there are a few films connected to Train To Busan:
Seoul Station: An animated prequel that explores the initial outbreak in Seoul, the starting point of the chaos in Train to Busan.
Train To Busan Presents: Peninsula: A standalone sequel set four years after the original, focusing on a different group of survivors in the devastated remains of South Korea.