TRAIN TO BUSAN (2016)

Genre: Drama / Thriller
Running Length: 1:57
Cast: Gong Yoo, Kim Soo-an, Jeong Yu-mi, Ma Dong-seok, Choi Woo-shik, Ahn So-hee, Kim Eui-sung
Director: Yeon Sang-ho
Screenplay: Park Joo-suk

Right at the start of TRAIN TO BUSAN, the set up is clear where this "train" is going to take its audience. The movie's concept is a fascinating one; using a travelling bullet train (full of flesh eating zombies) as a canvas for social commentary and polarization.

After a near flawless first half, the second half felt repetitive and manipulative. Nevertheless, this is one entertaining flick especially the zombie attack scenes. The zombies we have here are not the slow moving "Braaaaainssss" genre but the 28 Days Later/World War Z variety - they are fast, focused and violent flesh eaters. And once a victim is bitten, it takes just a few minutes for them to turn. This is no Maggie. 

There are many unbearable nail-biting suspenseful sequences. So much so, an audience sitting next to me was shouting, "Cepat CEPAT TUTUP PINTU LA!" during those claustrophobic high tension moments. Thus, this movie is not really one of those horror movies which rely heavily on jump scares.

So why the 2nd half felt tiring? Well, there were just one too many escape-from-the-zombies-attack scenes. And the filmmakers were very heavy handed with their characters. I was hoping some of them would not end up as stereotypes, but instead, the filmmakers turned up the stereotyping to 11. If you never thought you could hate a character so much, wait till you see this movie. And there many instances of unnecessary emotional manipulation just to squeeze tears out from its moviegoers. No subtlety whatsoever.  

In terms of performances, two really stood out; Kim Soo-ann as the little girl and the super charismatic Ma Dong-seok. In summary, this film champions kindness during the worst and best of humanity.

Review: 7.5/10