Zombie films are not part of my watch list. Sometimes I watch them just to expand my movie genres. Another secret target is to argue and beat Zombie fans friends. But Train to Busan took over me. No wonder this Zombie breakout in a packed intercity in South Korea turned into an all all-time grosser. It has stuff.

We see a young lady cripples in pain while walking on the platform. She hops on and her struggle continues in the washroom. She forces herself out and falls to the floor and a zombie comes out of her within seconds. She bites the lady staff who comes to rescue her. From this moment Train to Busan turns out to be the breeding center of zombies.

Seok-woo (Gong Woo) is a fund manager with tight business pressures. His daughter, the reserved Soo-an wants to go to her mom in Busan. It was her birthday. Seok is a busy father who spends less time with her. So he couldn’t refuse. Both catch the train to Busan. A couple, a witty guy (Ma Dong-seok) and his pregnant wife (Jung Yu-mi), two sisters, elder is keen on caring the younger one, a badminton college team, a selfish, rich businessman and a weird stranger are closer to us on board.

Director Yeon Sang-ho’s human side is evident in the middle of zombie chaos. It’s a natural flow of human thoughts in unexpected outbreaks. Who saves who first and how. Does the social mindset of saving others work here? Who is scarier – a zombie or a selfish man at the same spot. How do you handle the emotional weight when you face death? Can money save your life?

Train to Busan doesn’t rely on jump scares, the basic blocks of horror movies. Impressive sound and music pattern. A genuine concern and tension grip you while the infected and non-infected fight in contained wagons. Magnificent shots of train and action sequences. My most sticky ones are Seok-woo’s drowsy fall and the flourishing of zombies on track to chase survivors.

Watched sequel? muse me in Notes.