Train To Busan/Train To Busan Presents: Peninsula (4K Review)

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The Train to Busan films heralded a new voice in South Korean cinema: director Yeon Sang-Ho. Train to Busan in particular made an impact with audiences and critics alike, leading to a standalone sequel that didn't garner the same adoration. They're both strong action horror flicks worth watching, especially now that they're making their 4K UHD debut.

Train to Busan exploded onto the scene after its Cannes debut, and it still holds up well. Seok-woo (Gong Yoo) is your archetypal businessman dad: self-centred and always busy with work, he's currently going through a divorce and struggles to connect with his daughter Soo-an (Kim Su-an). After Soo-an begs her father to see her mother, they board a bullet train from Seoul to Busan. Unfortunately for them, a viral outbreak has turned the people of Seoul violent, and one of the infected manages to board the train.

What makes Sang-Ho's live-action debut so impactful is the mastery of both thrills and emotion. The premise and ensuing chaos is superbly built up through clear character definitions that make us care for the cast and a sense of dread teased through subtle but crucial background action. Throughout the entire runtime, every terrible situation the characters go through are fraught with danger and the idea that anyone could meet their demise. And the body count certainly is quite high by the time the credits roll.

Each set-piece has momentous urgency thanks to the close-quarters locations and stellar editing. Ma Dong-seok, in somewhat of an international breakout role, is allowed to utilise his action chops effectively, and it's here we see the seeds planted for Sang-ho's more action-orientated sequel. What may take you by surprise is the big heart at the centre of all the zombie carnage. The themes of sacrifice and doing the right ultimately make Train to Busan a hopeful film, even as the worst of humanity is often displayed. Come for intense horror thrills, stay for the bittersweet optimism.

Train to Busan Presents: Peninsula is a completely different beast. Sang-ho ditches the tight, single-location scares for an expansive action horror with hints of Mad Max and Escape from New York. Four years after its predecessor, North and South Korea are completely overrun with zombies and left that way by the rest of the world. Our stoic hero with a tragic past, Jung Seok (Gang Dong-won), is tasked to leave the safety of Hong Kong and head back into the titular peninsula for a chance to grab $20 million. Of course that is easier said than done, with a rogue militia causing issues alongside hordes of the undead.

The majority of the film's two hour runtime evokes the best of Train to Busan. When focused on gun fights and hand-to-hand brawls, Peninsula soars. Thanks to a perfect blend of stellar choreography, cinematography and editing, each sequence packs a punch and certain moments will have you cheering with bloody delight. Peninsula doesn't quite tug the heartstrings with emotional relationships but it's the world building that reels you in. The myriad of characters are just plain weird; unsurprising when they've been living in a zombie epidemic for years. Both heroes and villains have strange characteristics that make them a delight to watch.

After a rollicking first two-thirds, Peninsula fumbles its finale. An extended car chase, which is nearly completely computer-generated, is a slog to get through due to weightless action and lack of stakes. After getting through that, audiences are then treated to an overdrawn conclusion that tries too hard to elicit unearned tears. A shame, since the rest of the film marked an exciting continuation of a bold new franchise.

Both discs are solid transfers in both the picture and sound departments. On a 4K screen with HDR enabled, the visual presentation is sharp and the colours pop without oversaturation. In regards to sound, Train to Busan's Dolby Atmos mix does a fine job. The mix is clear and effectively gets across the diegetic sound and music; it just doesn't feature anything that makes it a showcase for home cinema sound like Dune: Part One. Peninsula, being a more modern and bombastic project, effectively makes use of the subwoofer thanks to the score and sound effects but other than that its Atmos track simply does a good job.

Train to Busan Special Features: