I’ve never been a huge fan of zombie movies, mainly because I thought they were overdone. I believed that there’s only so much someone can do with the concept of the dead coming back to life to terrorize the living. But let me tell you—when I watched the South Korean zombie horror Train to Busan for the first time, my mind immediately changed.
Train to Busan (2016) has that classic zombie premise, but at the same time feels authentic and refreshing. It’s about Seok-Woo, (Gong Yoo), a well-meaning father that prioritizes work over spending time with his young daughter Soo-An (Kim Su-an). For her birthday, the only thing she wants is to take the train to Busan to visit her mother. Seok-Woo agrees begrudgingly and accompanies Soo-Ann on the hour-long train journey.
Yet soon after the train leaves the station, the crew begins to notice strange people on board. When a strange woman attacks a crew member, the passengers watch in horror as she begins to change. Her veins start popping out and darkening, her eyes become bright blue and glassy, and she starts to move her body like her bones were detached from their joints. But before they have the chance to escape, she lunges and bites. Soon, most of the passengers on the train are zombies.
The film follows a few groups of people, but the main focus is on Seok-Woo and his daughter. Throughout the film, he tells Soo-An that she must stop looking out for others in a time like this and only look out for herself. However, he begins to shift gears once Soo-Ann reveals that the reason her mother left him is because of his selfishness. As the story progresses, Seok-Woo works to repair his relationship with his daughter by being brave and attempting to help others in this desperate situation.
Not only does Train to Busan touch on the important theme that individualism fueled by fear is extremely harmful, but it also is suspenseful, action-packed, and incredibly entertaining. What immediately sold me on this zombie horror is the incredible choreography of the undead. The way these zombies move is incredibly unique and well done. They flail around stiffly, limbs cracking and twisting into horrific shapes as they sprint after their victims.
The best zombie moment in the film is when about 50 to 100 zombies chase after the train. One zombie manages to grab onto the railing at the caboose, and the other zombies cling on to him and create a huge pile of flailing bodies dragging along the railroad tracks. As Seok-Woo desperately kicks at the first zombie’s hands, another from the back of the pile jumps on top of the others and scurries forward, writhing and snarling. It’s a fantastic moment.
Train to Busan is a must-watch for all horror fans. The acting is exquisite, especially from the two leads. The story is compelling and authentic. The challenges that come up throughout the film are intriguing and thematically relevant to the whole story. It’s dramatic and emotional. And the ending is as satisfying as the conclusion of a terrifying apocalyptic survival horror could be.
I give Train to Busan a resounding 5 out of 5 stars. It’s one of my all-time favorite horror films, and it completely changed my perspective on zombie horror in general. You can watch Train to Busan on Shudder, YouTube, Peacock, Vudu, and more.