The Long Dark Marathon of the Soul 2018: Train to Busan (2016), directed by Yeon Sang-ho

The Trailer

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The Appropriate Tune: "Last Train Home", by Pat Matheny Group

       The last time the Marathon visited Korea was two years ago, when we covered Chan-wook Park’s Oldboy, the infamous fight scene with an elaborate revenge movie attached to it. Of course Korea’s contribution to the world of entertainment don’t rest solely with Oldboy and those thousands of romantic comedies you see on netflix; the country has a rich history of film going back decades, ranging from comedies to horror and everything in between. It’s a region that I have often neglected I’m sad to say, stymied by a seeming lack of availability and distracted by its anime and kung-fu producing neighbors, but I’m planning on rectifying that whenever I can. Which just so happens to begin right now.

       Released in South Korea in 2016, where it became a box office smash, Train to Busan starts the way that most great films do, with an accident at a local biotech plant that unleashes a deadly zombie virus upon the land. Gong Yoo stars as Seok-woo, a fund manager who dabbles in being a divorcee and neglectful parent to his daughter, Su-an. In an attempt to do something for his child besides bribing her with Wii U’s, Seok-woo decides to take the train to Busan so that Su-an can stay with her mother, at the exact moment that the proverbial shit hits the proverbial fan. Now Seok-woo, Su-an and the rest of the passengers are stuck on the ride from hell, struggling to survive as they make that long, long journey towards what might be their salvation. At least they hope it will, and hope is the only thing that they have left. Next stop: Death?

       By 2016, audiences know a zombie movie like a fox knows a hen house. All is laid bare, the tropes are all accounted for, the twists anticipated. Train to Busan is no exception. You’ve got your good characters that die early and your bad characters that stick around way too long, you’ve got the selfishness v. altruist moral dilemma, and a smattering of ‘this person is totally gonna get bit but actually they’re not’ moments. Just like every other zombie movie out there except these ones can run, which makes them only like half of every other zombie movie out there. Also people zombify absurdly quick, which removes about 90% of the tension, but whatever.

       A film can be generally formulaic and still be good however if the formula is done well, and I’d say that Train to Busan does it’s thing well. Setting the film on a train was an unique idea (at least it is here in the relatively train-less U.S.), not only providing a convenient way to move the plot forward but also acting as a claustrophobic location for our protagonists to deal with the undead menace. While not as gory as Western zombie fare, the act of having to deal with half a dozen rabid cannibals in the equivalent of a crowded hallway, where one bite is almost immediate death, is pretty good horror. I’d go as far as to say it’s the highlight of the film, beyond being its main selling point, because it’s a universally suspenseful situation. Doesn’t matter if it’s running zombies or slow zombies or peeved ferrets, it’s a scenario built for anxiety. If the entirety of the movie could somehow take place on trains it’d probably be a lot better off, because I wouldn’t have to try and suspend my disbelief over how tired city dwellers could outrun people who could apparently run as fast as possible with infinite stamina.

       I’ll also admit that Train to Busan managed to get me to care about the characters. Maybe I’m just getting to be a big softy in my advancing years, the rekindled relationship forged by Su-an and her dad tugged my heartstrings by the end there, even if Seok-woo and Su-an took about 45 minutes or so to gain a new expression. There was also a certain degree of morbid pleasure at seeing assholes killed by their own hand, but then that’s natural in horror movies. More prevalent than characters you actually care about and want to survive, in my experience.

       I wouldn’t say it’s the best zombie movie I’ve ever seen, or even the best zombie movie I’ve reviewed on this blog, but I can see why Train to Busan was a hit. Especially for a country that likely doesn’t see a lot of homegrown horror movies, at least of the zombie variety. It’s got action, thrills, chills and some melodrama, just about all you need for a successful popcorn movie. Based on that criteria, Train to Busan gets the recommendation. All you zombie purists out there might turn your noses up at this, but those just looking for something to watch this Halloween that’s a little bit different might find something they enjoy. Those people or train enthusiasts I suppose, but then it’s not that hard to please a train enthusiast in my (complete lack of) experience.