What is it about Koreans and trains? Last film I saw made by a Korean director was Joon-ho Bong’s Snowpiercer, where the remainder of the human population was restricted to one continuously moving train. As it was ultra-violent sci-fi, not unlike today’s film, Train to Busan, I can’t help wondering what Koreans imagine when they take trains from place to place.
Train to Busan asks the key question: would rather have a father who is a zombie or a jerk? Seok-woo (Gong Yoo) is a 
workaholic absentee dad, which would be fine (or at least tolerable) were he not a single parent. It isn’t just that he and mom are separated; he has generally ignored his little girl, Su-an (Kim Su-an). Having failed her on her birthday, dad asks how he can make it up and the answer is, “take me to mom.” The emotional blackmail takes despite dad having no intention of missing work. His idea is take the hour-long Train to Busan, drop the kid, and return before lunch. Wouldn’t you know it? That very morning, the zombie apocalypse breaks out. Bad luck, dad. Kid. World.
Hmmmm. Morning doesn’t seem right for a zombie apocalypse does it? Always seems like a night thing, doesn’t it? I know, I know ‘Dawn’ of the Dead and all, but, zombie apocalypse starts in a lab, right? What jerk accidentally creates zombies before coffee and a donut? Clearly, I’ve overthought this.
Su-an is roaming the train when people start turning. Train to Busan is exceptionally good at establishing relationship and geography. E.g. The baseball team is in car 9 and when they turn, the one unifected escapee refuses to attack his former schoolmates. Is this what the apocalypse is actually like? Finding friends as sudden enemies? Calling 
out cowardice and other human weakness? This is the rare horror film that allows for chacarter development as Seok-woo has to transform from a pretty miserable human being to the protective father his girl needs all in a span of the train ride from Hell. Aside from patient zero, the supporting cast in this film is quite good as well. Dong-seok Ma stands out as the muscleman/zombie clubber/dad-to-be. Train to Busan is not only a decent horror, but a surprisingly moving film as well. This one is a true gem and one of the most underrated films of the year. If you’re a horror fan, it is definitely worth your time. It might be even if you’re not.
♪No mom
Proved too much for the girl
She couldn’t take it
So she’s leaving this life that kinda blows
She said she’s goin’
She said she’s goin’ back to find
Ooh, an attentive ‘rent
The mom she left behind
Not so long ago
She’s leaving (leaving)
On that midday train to Busan
Leaving on that midday train
Said she’s going back
Goin’ back to find
To supportive place in time
Oh yes she is
You know who’s with her? (I know ya do)
On that midday train to Busan (trav’lin on that midday train to Busan)
Folks who don’t live in this world
Don’t live at all anymore
That world is theirs, hers and theirs and prone♫
Rated R, 118 Minutes
D: Sang-ho Yeon
W: Sang-ho Yeon
Genre: The zombie commute
Type of person most likely to enjoy this film: Workaholics
Type of person least likely to enjoy this film: People who just want a life without zombies … is that too much to ask?
♪ Parody inspired by “Midnight Train to Georgia”
