Let me start by saying I don’t usually watch horror films: I’m not a horror buff, I don’t enjoy jump scares and I’m a total wimp when it comes to scary monsters or haunting stories. And yet, if someone wanted to watch Train To Busan with me – regardless of how intense, thrilling and blood-filled it was – I would eagerly sit down and watch it again (and that is probably the highest compliment I could ever give a horror film).
Train to Busan is a 2016 horror thriller film, directed by South Korean director Sang-ho Yeon who surprisingly doesn’t have a huge catalogue to his name. It stars Gong Yoo, Yu-mi Jung and the amazingly talented young actress Su-an Kim who was only 10 years old when the movie was released. For most of the actors in the film, Train to Busan is their highest acclaimed film and it’s easy to see why as they all give incredibly believable performances and together create an unforgettable film.
Right from the opening scene, Train to Busan reels you in, pairing eerie music with bleak visuals and a foreboding sense of dread. Obviously, if you’ve read the synopsis, seen the cover or had anyone recommend it to you, you know what is coming but you just don’t know when. Once aboard the train, the film begins to feel like a ‘bottle episode’ where all of the action takes place within one location – the train from Seoul to Busan. This thin, long setting allows for some very creative (yet anxiety-inducing) shots and seems like the perfect layout for a tense thriller about creatures that can chase you: you can only run one direction and there’s no easy way out. A highlight for me was one particular scene where the three main male characters are fighting to get back to their loved ones. The action sequence reminded me of the Colin-Firth-driven massacre in the first Kingsman movie; well-choreographed with the perfect amount of blood splatters and a strong question of morals for both the characters and the audience.
Another highlight for me was the level of character development. More time than I expected was spent allowing these characters to have secondary storylines and paint a picture of their life outside of this apocalyptic event. Interestingly enough, the main character Seok-woo doesn’t seem that likeable, while a side-character (Sang-hwa) and his pregnant wife held my attention a lot more. Although some scenes exploring family dynamic and relationships felt like a calm before the storm and had me on an almost constant edge just waiting for the next scare, this time was actually used really well to make sure the audience really felt for these characters and what they were going through – both on and off the train.
To credit director Sang-ho Yeon, Train to Busan is a film that plays with subtle intricacies to help progress the story. Whether it’s a visual focus on train door handles for 30 minutes before explaining why or the use of off-screen narration through phone calls and news broadcasts the film is quite immersive. Even though some (if not all) major plot points were relatively predictable, I still felt a little bit of pride when I guessed it right by piecing together the information I’d been given. I also appreciated the lack of easy or cliché jump scares; when playing around with this story concept it would have been all too easy to rely on cheap thrills and easy jumps to get the audience scared but instead, Sang-ho Yeon chooses to focus on surroundings and building tension, allowing the audience to see what’s coming but having to nervously wait those extra few seconds for the creature to strike.
Train to Busan somehow manages to be an exploration of sacrifice, love, loss and compassion – something I never thought I’d say about a horror flick! With strong, talented actors stuck inside a seemingly simple environment, Train to Busan is a story that will stay with you long after the credits roll.
Score: 4.5/5