Imagine stuffing all of the scope and scale of the movie World War Z into a hurtling train crowded with potential victims. Next, imagine it being really, really good. Yup.
So, a man boards a train to take his daughter to her mother’s house, unbeknownst to him, at this very moment an infection is sweeping the city. One of the infected gets on the train and soon, train and its passengers and crew are caught up in the outbreak.
The characters in this film are not only well acted, but believable and with some depth and background. Each person on the train has obvious stories of their own, from the fund manager too busy to spend enough time with his daughter, to the burly boxer guy with his pregnant wife. From the high school baseball team and their one “cheerleader” to the overbearing executive who, although selfish and hate-able, shows a sympathetic side at a vulnerable moment.
These people are interesting, and not your stereotypical zombie movie victim and/or hero archetypes, just people, who, either through the acting or the incremental reveal of their personalities, seem very realistic and definitely root-for-able, and their reactions as the story unfolds are perfectly convincing, and assist in the sense of fear, desperation and claustrophobia.
The ‘infected” themselves are done really well. Excellent make-up and presentation, even though they are runners, and they growl, (and not my personal preference for on-screen living dead, the shambolic, decaying corpse-type.) For this particular setting, however, they fit the bill quite aptly.
The closest frame of reference for the zombies here actually would be those from World War Z. In fact, this is probably as good a companion piece to that flick as Hollywood could ever hope for. It adheres to WWZ’s style of movement and even some eerily reminiscent scenes, (such as the Z’s falling from helicopter skids and land amid some skateboarding teens, only to get up and pursue them! That was a great one!) This was also evident in the waves of the undead falling over themselves while attacking on board the train.
The transformation from bitten to full-on zombification is quick, with death throes being violent convulsions and contortions, (again, à la WWZ.) But this is Korea, and no mention of global infection is made. In fact, some explanation of how the outbreak came to be was discussed, but most of this was through written research and, sadly, got lost in the translation.
Aside from this, and the need for subtitles, Train to Busan does not feel like a foreign movie, just a movie in a foreign language. Actually, considering the vast mountains of total crap zombie films out there, the fact that this one ranks so high up there should be enough to make skeptics of foreign zombie films reconsider their position.
Speaking of ranking, according to my Zombie Movie Rubric, Train to Busan earned a total tally of a 3.625 out of 4, giving it a hearty recommendation from me, and one worthy of repeated viewings, too!
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| You need to see this... Seriously. |
In short, this is a great zombie movie. The kind of zombie movie that any fan of this genre would want to see.
But, here is a trailer for you to enjoy until you do! Train To Busan Official Trailer #1!
Oh, heck! Here is another!!!
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