I was surprised to have missed "Train to Busan" when it was first released. As someone who doesn't typically enjoy Korean movies, I was blown away by the emotional impact of this film. "Train to Busan" is the first Korean film that has ever made me cry, on par with the level of emotional depth and impact that I felt from Russell Crowe's "Gladiator" (2000). This movie kept me on the edge of my seat, feeling a range of emotions like anxiety, excitement, and sadness throughout the entire experience.
"Train To Busan" is an intense and action-packed horror film that was released in 2016. Directed by the talented Yeon Sang-ho, the movie immerses viewers in a gripping story of survival as a group of passengers battle to stay alive on a train bound for Busan amidst a devastating outbreak of zombies. The film features an all-star cast, led by Gong Yoo, Jung Yu-mi, Ma Dong-seok, Kim Su-an, Choi Woo-shik, Ahn So-hee, and Kim Eui-sung.
Little About The Synopsis, No Spoilers.
The movie starts off with a man named Seok-woo and his young daughter Su-an as they board a train bound for Busan, a city that is said to be safe from the zombie outbreak that has swept the country. The outbreak starts as the train is leaving the station and zombies start to infiltrate the train.
As the outbreak occurs, he is forced to put his daughter's safety first and make the journey to Busan to reunite with her mother. Along the way, they meet other passengers including Sang-hwa, a tough and no-nonsense delivery man who is traveling with his pregnant wife; a selfish and entitled CEO; a panicking and helpless security guard; a caring and selfless school teacher; a desperate and hopeless mother, among others.
As the outbreak spreads and the number of zombies increases, the passengers must fight to survive and try to find a way to reach Busan, while also dealing with the class divide among the passengers. They will have to make difficult choices and sacrifices and confront the question of what it means to be human. As the train makes its way to Busan, the characters face intense action and horror, and their relationships and moral values are put to the test. You have to watch the movie to know what happens next.
The Cast.
This movie has a diverse and well-developed cast of characters, each with its own unique story and motivations. The performances of the actors bring these characters to life and make them relatable to the audience. I will talk about a few of them and their performances.
Gong Yoo as Seok-woo: Seok-woo is a workaholic fund manager who has neglected his family, particularly his daughter Su-an all in the cause of being devoted to his job. He first starts off as an uncaring father, but then when the outbreak occurs he changes into a father who is willing to sacrifice his life for his daughter. Gong Yoo gives a powerful performance as Seok-woo, capturing his character's emotional arc as he transforms from a neglectful father to a loving and protective one was an amazing change in the personality of his character.
Ma Dong-seok as Sang-hwa: Sang-hwa is a tough and no-nonsense delivery man who was traveling with his pregnant wife. He is my favorite out of all the cast. He was funny, smart, strong, and relentless. He also brought balance with the use of dark humor in the plot. He is one of the most capable fighters on the train who willingly sacrificed himself for the safety of others. I wasn't happy when he sacrificed himself because I felt he should have been among the survivors. Ma Dong-seok gives a charismatic and powerful performance as Sang-hwa.
Kim Su-an as Su-an: She is a young girl who clamors for her father's attention but gets no attention. Her relationship with her father was bad to the extent she knew he only cared about himself, but the outbreak repaired the bond she has with her father as she relies on him for survival. Her character is curious, sensitive, and empathic. Kim Su-an gave a strong and endearing performance and made her character relatable to the audience.
Additionally, there are other characters such as the annoying, selfish, and entitled CEO, the panicking and helpless security guard, the caring and selfless school teacher, and the desperate and hopeless mother, that all add depth and complexity to the story. Overall, the characters in the movie are well-crafted and relatable, and the performances of the actors bring them to life powerfully and convincingly.
Themes Explored In The Movie.
The movie explores the depths of human nature, as it delves into the question of how far one is willing to go to survive and the sacrifices one must make in the process. The theme of the class divide, where the privileged first-class passengers are more preoccupied with saving themselves rather than helping others, willing to sacrifice others for their own survival, is in stark contrast to the main characters who are fighting to survive while also helping others.
Also, the movie explores the notion of selfishness, as the characters are put in impossible situations where they must make life-or-death choices, and in the process, it shows how these choices can alter one's moral values. Let's not forget the theme of hope and humanity as a source of strength and inspiration for the characters as they battle through dire circumstances.
Additionally, the movie delves into the theme of sacrifice, examining how the characters are forced to make difficult decisions and the sacrifices they must make for the greater good. It also explores how sacrifice can change individuals and reveal their true nature.
My Review And Rating.
"Train to Busan" is a critically acclaimed and commercially successful movie that has many positive aspects. The Intense and thrilling action was a masterful blend of action, horror, and drama, with intense and well-choreographed action sequences that kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. Also, the well-developed characters were well-crafted and relatable, and the performances of the actors made them all convincing. Then the strong emotional core is displayed with a heartfelt story of a father and his daughter and their journey to survive the outbreak. Let's not forget the visual and special effects which were created believably and terrifyingly. Finally, The high-quality storytelling was amazing. The plot of the movie was well written and directed, with a strong and coherent narrative that keeps the audience engaged throughout the movie.
Like any movie, it has some negative aspects. The predictable plot was very obvious. Lack of supporting character development. The pacing of the tension build was very slow and it was seeming difficult to achieve at first. Then there is the language barrier. I was struggling to read the subtitles and also catch up with understanding the scenes, but it was worth it in the end.
In conclusion, I really enjoyed this movie and the ending part made me emotional. Rating this movie, I will give 8.5 out of 10. I recommend this movie to horror flick lovers and zombie movie lovers.
All images above are from the movie screenshots
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