In this weekly column, Reel Retake, we compare the original film and its remake. In addition to highlighting the similarities, differences, and measuring them on the scale of success, we aim to explore the potential in the story that inspired the idea for a new version and the ways in which a remake could possibly provide a different viewing experience. Can do. And if so, analyze the movie.
In focus this week is the South Korean zombie film Train to Busan (2016). Recently its Hollywood version has been announced, which is yet to be titled.
What is the Train to Busan about?
A zombie apocalypse is spreading across South Korea after a chemical leak is discovered. The city is filled with blood-sucking, half-dead corpses, but unaware of this, Seo Seok-woo (Gong Yu) takes his daughter Seo Su-un (Kim Su-un) via train to visit her mother. decides to move to Busan. His co-passengers include working-class man Eun Sang-hwa (Ma Dong-seok) and his pregnant wife Seong-keong (Jung Yu-mi), selfish Seo Yeon-suk (Kim Yue-sung), a high school baseball team. Are included. , a train attendant, two elderly sisters and a few others.
As the train leaves with passengers, an infected woman goes unnoticed, just before the doors close. She soon turns into a zombie, attacks an attendant, and many of the crew and passengers are quickly turned away. At this point, it becomes clear to everyone on the train what lies ahead. The remaining passengers learn that zombies can only attack them if they see or hear them. Zombies operate the doors of the train. Scared passengers secure themselves in the cars in front and behind as zombies get stuck in the middle. Meanwhile, Seok-woo traces a biotech plant linked to his business that is behind the chemical spill. He uses his connections to ensure a safe journey for Su-un and himself.
The train stops at a station that is considered safe by the South Korean military. The passengers disembark in an empty station, but soon the soldiers who turn into zombies quickly charge at them. The passengers run back to the train but many are attacked and killed. The survivors board the moving train. The captain takes the train to Busan, after learning that it has been set up as a quarantine zone. Seok-woo and the group devise a plan and decide to walk in front of the train when a tunnel arrives. They spend most of the journey roaming around with the zombies, but just before the car secures in front of the train, they alert the zombies to their presence. Seok-woo and Sang-hwa keep the doors closed while the others run away. Sang-hwa sacrifices himself in order to give Seok-woo time to protect others.
The other passengers of the security force Seok-woo’s group were taken to a closed vestibule for fear of being infected by the corpse. A blocked track forces the train to stop near the train station, forcing the survivors to look for a new train. Many sacrifices are made in the last lap of protection. Seok-woo is also bitten and throws himself from the moving engine, leaving his daughter safe with Su-seong-keong. They are the only ones left. They are forced to stop at a blocked tunnel just before Busan. At the exit of the tunnel, military snipers prepare to fire until they hear Su-an sobbing. They then learn that the couple is human, and help them to safety.
Where does the potential lie?
Director Yeon Sang-ho’s Train to Busan is a genre-defining film. Until it came out, only Hollywood had excelled at making zombie movies and was the perfect template for it, which it continued to use with the Night of the Living Dead franchise, 28 Days Later, and others. But what makes a zombie movie a success? It mixes hope with bleak stories. They are always full of optimistic themes which are creative. Horror becomes an intrinsic element because they represent contemporary fears and anxieties. It’s all in Train to Busan and others. It turns the familiar into the dread. The bullet train, which is a modern day mode of transportation, the whole city and a biotech lab as its root cause, fuels our restlessness with progress and scathingly criticizes human action and modernity.
Apart from touching on contemporary issues, Train to Busan is a cinematography masterpiece. A busy train becomes the stage for one of the best choreographed action sequences. The first fifteen minutes of the film are spent making us, the audience aware of the zombie wrath and when the action begins, it takes us on a thrilling, never ending ride. The claustrophobia of train coaches and the idea of being stuck with zombies is cool and the set up is used to maximize tension and mayhem. The set pieces are also nerve-racking. Like when Seok-woo travels from one end of a train to dodge zombies or when military zombies are attacked, passengers are thrilled that escalates the suspense to nail-biting moments. The monsters are really fast, and they attack with lightning speed. Thus the speed of action and terror automatically increases. The only moment when quick action brings relief is in high-speed shots, when the focus shifts to the characters and their trauma. The heroes then emerge from unlikely situations.
Given the fast pace of action, some emotional connect is needed to prevent the film from turning into a technical exercise. Thus, Seok-woo’s reformation of Seok-woo from a workaholic to his ultimate sacrifice for a caring father or Sang-hwa to keep his pregnant wife safe at all costs, makes the film a fine mix of warmth and excitement. The extended sequence in which the driver tries to change trains is choreographed with extreme suspense. The editing retains the real shock value and raises the suspense to an almost unbearable level.
Also the fact that in the midst of a zombie outbreak, selfish motives drive humans to betray their own race, something that is disgusting and adds another dimension to the story. The true enemy then becomes the living, not the impure corpse. This emotional roller coaster ride you can’t describe in words. The scenes with the zombies are so well directed that it has made Train to Busan a top action entertainer for fans internationally as it continues to be explored more and more. It also has a high re-watch value.
Is the Hollywood Remake of Train to Busan a Good Idea?
Hollywood’s decision to remake Train to Busan has faced criticism from fans. Some have even termed the call as abusive. Although a zombie film can be traced back to the West, Train to Busan differs from its predecessors in tone and manner and has been a major reason for its success. The fact that Timo Tjahajanto is set to direct it still holds some credence. He has been successfully making action and horror films in Indonesia such as May the Devil Take You and Headshot, which have attracted attention due to their action sequences along with gore and excessive violence. Something that Train to Busan has in common. But given the mainstream success of the original film, it seems more of a risk than a reward. It’s also too soon for a remake, especially since the film has had a long and successful life span on streaming services. Furthermore, the success of the Asian remake in Hollywood is a matter of debate. The Ring, Grudge, Oldboy, West of the West are some examples of awesome remakes done in the classics.
success meter
Train to Busan is a must watch for every movie lover. The heightened moments of tension will put you on edge and this is where you will be able to enjoy the movie. Upon release, the film was a tremendous success at the box office locally and is receiving appreciation. Western movies featuring zombies have always been huge hits in the Asian market and there was not a single Korean zombie film until Train to Busan. And with that, Koreans have made an indelible mark on the genre of horror and action with zombies. This opened the door for more such films in the past. Train to Busan’s sequel Peninsula (2020) also came, which was not as successful.
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