TRAIN TO BUSAN

Fear Scale :⭐⭐☆☆☆

My rating:8/10

Press Rating: 7,9 / 10

(Based on IMDb, Letterboxd, and AlloCiné)

Year:2016

Duration:1h58

Rarely has a zombie film moved me this much. Train to Busan isn’t just a race for survival — it’s a deeply human and emotional story about sacrifice, fear, and love in times of crisis.

That’s something I value a lot when I watch a film, even a horror one: the human relationships, the emotional depth of the characters, and the way their dynamics contribute meaningfully to the story. And in my opinion, this film is the perfect example of how well action, horror, and emotion can be combined to truly make us care about every single character.

We follow the journey of a divorced father and his young daughter, trapped on a high-speed train just as a violent zombie outbreak erupts across the country. Their trip becomes a constant struggle, punctuated by memorable encounters — some characters are instantly lovable, others reflect pure human selfishness and survival instinct.

The film never loses its momentum. It constantly finds new ways to maintain tension, raise the stakes, and surprise us.
And most importantly — SPOILERS — it’s refreshing to see a film that isn’t afraid to kill off its characters. But here, those deaths are never gratuitous or voyeuristic. Each one feels meaningful, emotionally impactful, and serves to remind us just how cruel this world has become, and how quickly everything can fall apart.

Even for someone like me, who isn’t a huge fan of zombie films and who struggles to be impressed by most horror movies made after 2010, Train to Busan genuinely left a mark. It even made me fall back in love with the genre.

One of the film’s greatest strengths lies in how genuinely endearing and well-developed the characters are. The relationship between the father and his daughter evolves beautifully throughout the film — from emotional distance and misunderstanding to a powerful, heartbreaking bond built through adversity. You can feel their connection grow with every challenge they face. The same goes for the expectant couple: the husband, funny and strong-hearted, and his gentle, pregnant wife form a duo that brings warmth and levity, making their fate all the more poignant. These human connections are never secondary , they are the emotional core of the film, making each twist hit harder and each loss more painful.

Its touching characters, dynamic pacing, and bold storytelling truly set it apart from standard zombie fare. The fact that most of the film takes place on a train might sound limiting — you might expect repetition or boredom — but it’s the opposite. This constraint forces the story to evolve constantly, giving us some of the film’s most intense and claustrophobic moments.

Honestly, I think you’ve got the message: go watch this film. Whether you’re a fan of zombie movies or not — even if you’re not into horror at all — Train to Busan will make you feel scared, anxious for the characters… and cry like a baby by the end.