Train to Busan

Dir: Yeon Sang-ho

2016

***

Train to Busan may seem like a rather average zombie film at first, but there is a lot going on that the average viewer may not initially release. This marks the first live action film from director Yeon Sang-Ho, who is better known for his works of animation, but anyone who has seen The King of Pigs will definitely see his style come through, indeed, Train to Busan really does feel like a Manga-style animation, rather than a live-action action/thriller/horror. While ‘Zombies on a train’ has been done before, it’s never been done with as much panache as this. There is a clear (but subtle enough) undercurrent of social commentary explored within the film’s story, but I would argue that this is 90% character development and 10% comment on social hierarchy. If you want to see a brilliant Korean film about class war set on a train then watch Snowpiercer, but don’t let anyone tell you the two films are similar, because they’re not. The zombie genre is full of samey films that all share similar themes, Train to Busan has likenesses to World War Z, 28 Days Later and many of Romero’s films but it probably has more in common with Snakes on a Plane or Jurassic Park in many respects. Where Dawn of the Dead was all doom, Train to Busan is all terror. I would class it more of an apocalypse film than a zombie film, even though they are generally one and the same thing, at least when done properly. While the characters are based on stereotypes, they are all given as much development as possible, which is the key to the film’s success. The special effects are generally good, although not always brilliant. I think the zombie type was effective, they’re of the newer fast-paced zombie, with a clean mix of ‘undead’ and ‘infected’. I thought their weaknesses was explored well but the World War Z style mania didn’t really fit with the slower paces zombies seen on the train itself. Zombie snobs (and they do exist) will pick the film to the bone, personally I think it approaches the genre rather well. The only thing I would have liked to have seen more of is inventive gore, but then it felt more of an action thriller most of the time, so it wasn’t necessarily needed. While the first rule of making a zombie film should be to make an original zombie film, you do also need to stick to the basics. You need a good set-up, a way in which the virus spreads not too quickly but not too slowly. You need to establish the core characters just enough before one of them is bitten and you need to ensure that the ending makes a clear statement. The conclusion of a zombie film is vital. Ambiguity is acceptable if you do something special with it and ‘happily ever after’ should be avoided at all costs. I think Train to Busan has an ending that can appeal to everyone’s tastes and also leaves the story open for a sequel or series. Yeon Sang-Ho clearly has plans, as his animated prequel ‘Seoul Station – that explores the origin of the outbreak on the train – is a great set-up that begs for a further continuation of the same story. While I find that Yeon Sang-Ho’s animations don’t often translate very well, Train to Busan is pretty universal. It’s the perfect length and everything happens exactly when it should for full effect. When exploring the theme, you should always make it believable – even though the concept is anything but. Yeon Sang-Ho manages this and does so with style and sophistication. I was excited more than I was horrified, which isn’t to my personal taste when it comes to zombie films, but I was happily entertained throughout.