After all the hype, after avoiding it because I’m not exactly a fan of horror scenes, and after staring at it on my watchlist for over a week, I decided to press play and watch "Train to Busan" and it's been almost ten years after it's release. I went in prepared, (at least that was what I thought) because I have read reviews, and knew it was one of the best zombie movies ever made.
Well honestly, nothing really prepared me for how intense this movie was. Right from the start, the tension in Train to Busan build fast and it never really slowed down. Every moment felt urgent and every decision felt like it carries real weight. What surprised me most was how real every fight for survival felt. It didn’t feel exaggerated but instead the fights felt raw, desperate, and human.
"Train To Busan" is a simple story that hits hard: About a zombie outbreak spreading rapidly while passengers are trapped on a moving train from Seoul to Busan with nowhere to run, hide and no guarantee that the next station will be safe. I'll say the confined space of the train is what made the story intense. Like every carriage becomes either a battleground, a refuge, or a death trap. The pacing kept me alert, almost uncomfortable, because the danger never felt distant but close.
It's even more crazy that the outbreak didn’t happen because of evil intentions like I've seen in some movies of this nature. It came from a mistake, a preventable error and I think that alone adds another layer of realism to the storyline.
Characters That Left Memorable Impressions.
One thing I didn’t expect was how attached I would be to the characters, even those who didn’t last long in the story. Before the zombie bite, some characters left really good impressions that are worth mentioning. I'll share a few here.
Gong Yoo as Seok-woo, carries the film quietly but powerfully. He started off as a distant, work-focused father. Watching his character evolve especially in how he relates to his daughter was one of the most meaningful parts of the movie.
Then there is Sang-hwa, the husband of the pregnant woman. He quickly became one of my favorite characters. His courage stood out for me, I especially liked how he continued to protect others after getting bitten. He represented the kind of strength that comes from responsibility.
The supporting characters also added depth to the story... The elderly sisters, the high school students, and the selfish businessman who chose survival over humanity (he still got bitten thankfully, lol). Each of the character reflected different reactions people might have in a real crisis. Fear, kindness, sacrifice, selfishness... They were all there, and none of it felt forced.
More Than a Zombie Movie.
Above being a horror film, Train to Busan is more about people than zombies. The zombies were terrifying but the most disturbing part of the movie for me was the tension that came from human behavior, how people treat each other when survival is on the line and how fear can turn ordinary people into something almost as dangerous as the outbreak itself. It's crazy really.
An Ending That Made Sense
Honestly, I hated that Gong Yoo’s character died because of that selfish man's bite. Part of me wanted him to survive considering everything he went through. But his death didn’t feel pointless or too tragic, instead it felt earned and allowed the movie to end on a note that was emotional, but not overwhelmingly sad. The ending reminded me that doing the right thing even at the cost of your everything is what truly matters.
Final Thoughts
Watching Train to Busan ten years after it's release made me understand why it’s still talked about. It’s not just a well made zombie movie, it’s a tense, emotional story about humanity under pressure. If you’re like me and tend to avoid horror, this movie might still surprise you. It’s intense, yes, but it’s also thoughtful, character-driven, and deeply human. I waited ten years to watch it and somehow, it felt worth the wait. 9/10
Images are from Imdb.