Blu-ray Review: Train to Busan

Train to Busan hits Blu-ray today. The transfer is strong while the sound design shimmers. While the Blu-ray only features two short behind the scenes bonus features, the high-quality look and sound of the film make it a must for Korean cinema and horror fan alike.

Film Review:

Train to Busan, the film from Yeon Sang-ho, is such an entertaining zombie flick that it might just cure any fatigue of the genre one might have. At times feeling like a more fully realized World War Z and at other times having the realist urgency of Danny Boyle's 28 Days Later, Train to Busan still manages to have its own unique flavor. 

The main character Seok-woo is a divorced businessman who is in danger of losing the relationship with his daughter Su-an due to his devotion to his job. Played by Gong Yoo, he is an unlikely hero but his humanity and love for his daughter later drives him to some extreme measures. After giving Su-an a gift he had already gotten her for her birthday the year before, he agrees to take her on a train to her mother's home in Busan. The two board the train and soon all hell breaks loose.

Director Sang-ho holds back at first, building the horror of the zombie apocalypse in little moments. Su-an glances some panicked behaviour outside the window at one moment. This slow build helps keep the audience with the train passengers. Having all these characters locked in a fast moving train as chaos ensues outside is brilliant and proves to be a perfect setup for a zombie movie. 

Among the characters introduced are another panicked businessman who will do anything to save his own skin and a married couple about to have a baby. These characters help Train to Busan feel larger than just the confined setting. Sang-ho explores the way in which humans fall apart and turn to or against each other in time of crisis. He clearly believes in the power of humanity but understands that several people out there would only worry about themselves. 

Train to Busan is action packed and often scary but also surprisingly moving. The ensemble cast all feel rooted in their performances, adding believability to an otherwise unbelievable plot. The zombies here are modern, fast zombies but the film adds an interesting twist. The zombies are largely blind in the dark. This adds extra tension to scenes where the train goes through tunnels. Clever touches like this one set Train to Busan apart from so many other zombie films. 

The first hour of the film is perfect. The film expertly builds both character and plot with staggering efficiency. In the last third, the film does begin to repeat a few setups. This is a minor quibble as the film ends memorably. Social commentary and the audience's emotional investment collide to create a powerful film. Make sure you catch this ride.

4/5