Review:

Train to Busan does a lot of things right, but I think a little might be lost in translation. While the cinematography isn't anything special, there's nothing wrong with it (especially from a director who cut his teeth with animated features) and keeping the movie contained to just a train is unique. I'd like to get a better idea of what is happening on a larger scale, but watching one infected contaminate the train was novel. For such a small story, we get quite a bit of depth to out characters and they manage to pull it for two hours without it ever feeling drawn out; the only slow part is the set up at the beginning. For a zombie movie, the characters are surprisingly realistic and aren't constantly doing stupid things, although they sometimes take a bit too long to react. My only real issue is the acting. It's easiest to explain my problem with the child actress, Kim Su-an. Sometimes her emotions feel so real that I was legitimately impressed. I don't cry, but there were times where her sadness made me a little misty. But most of her screen time, she's completely stoic and monotone. Gong Yoo, who plays her father has almost no facial expressions and never conveys emotion in his lines. I'm honestly sure it's not just a cultural thing. I have no idea what South Korea is like, aside from whatever happens that makes international news. Maybe they are more reserved there and don't like to show emotion. When the moment needs it, everyone (but Gong Yoo) pulls off authentic distress or sadness, so I know they can do it. I feel like the performances are too understated and need more feeling, but it might just be the cultural difference.