Train to Busan

Train to Busan is a harrowing South Korean zombie apocalypse thriller that takes place almost entirely within the confines of a high-speed KTX train traveling from Seoul to Busan. The story follows Seok-woo, a cynical and workaholic fund manager, who reluctantly agrees to take his estranged young daughter, Su-an, to see her mother for her birthday. As the train departs, a convulsing young woman boards unnoticed, sparking a rapid and brutal outbreak that turns passengers into flesh-eating monsters.

As the infection spreads through the carriages, the survivors are forced to band together, navigating through locked doors and hordes of the infected. The film masterfully blends intense, claustrophobic action with deep emotional stakes, pitting the selfishness of the elite against the altruism of the working class. Seok-woo must evolve from a self-interested businessman into a protector and hero, learning the value of sacrifice from a tough-as-nails expectant father, Sang-hwa, and his own daughter's moral compass.

At its heart, Train to Busan is a searing critique of modern individualism and corporate greed, juxtaposed against the traditional virtues of sacrifice and family. Director Yeon Sang-ho uses the zombie disaster as a catalyst to expose the rot in social hierarchies, asking whether humanity can survive without empathy. The film argues that in the face of catastrophe, the true measure of a person is not their status or wealth, but their willingness to protect others at the cost of themselves.

The Korean War Allegory: Some critics view the journey as a metaphor for the Korean War. The train represents the fleeing refugees, the zombies represent the mindless violence of the invading forces, and Busan represents the 'Pusan Perimeter,' the last line of defense.

Critique of Neoliberalism: The zombies can be seen not just as monsters, but as the inevitable result of a cutthroat capitalist system (represented by the biotech firm). The 'infection' is the spread of a dog-eat-dog mentality that destroys community, where only those who learn to cooperate (socialism/collectivism) deserve to survive.

Train to Busan revitalized the zombie genre globally by injecting it with distinctly Korean melodrama and social commentary. Domestically, it struck a powerful chord due to its release shortly after the 2014 Sewol Ferry disaster. Audiences saw direct parallels between the film's incompetent authorities—who tell passengers to 'stay put' while they die—and the real-life tragedy where student passengers were ordered to remain in their cabins as the ferry sank. The film sparked discussions about intergenerational conflict, the failure of the 'Hell Joseon' socio-economic system, and the moral responsibilities of the upper class.

The film was a massive critical and commercial success, holding a 94% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Audiences praised the emotional depth, specifically the character development of Seok-woo and the heartbreaking performance of Ma Dong-seok. The action sequences were lauded for their creativity within a confined space. Criticism was minor but focused on some melodramatic moments typical of Korean cinema and the somewhat two-dimensional nature of the villain, Yon-suk. Western audiences were particularly impressed by the fast-moving zombies and the lack of firearms, which forced creative combat solutions.