I watched Train to Busan recently, and like everyone else I enjoyed it and appreciated the color in the characters combined with the simple social commentary in there about working. It wasn't earth- shattering stuff though, since it was still a genre film, and did still paint in broad strokes, giving characters tragic, heroic, or comeuppance style exits. The prequel Seoul Station takes a similar approach although with several key differences. Of course the narrative and setting differs, but the biggest chances are in focus and tone. In this prequel we are in the lowest classes – the homeless, those hustling try to make it through the next day, those not seen by regular people. The tone is also significantly harsher and bitter than Train, and there is almost no sentiment here at all.
This is a satisfying change and makes the film more effective as a zombie film. We those trying to do right by others are let down by those above, and consumed by those below them (the raging zombies). Those that last the longest are those that generally look out for themselves and take opportunities without thinking of others, while those that pause for the sake of others are usually lost. I'm not suggesting that the social commentary is worthy of great discourse, but at the same time, looking back at 2016 as the year where angry protest votes against establishment figures gave us Brexit and Trump, it is hard not to view the film in this light – with the authorities failing those at the bottom, only for a destruction and unfocused rage to destroy what those in authority were seeking to build.
The film carries this cynicism through from start to finish, and produces some good plot turns that feed into this even more. It can seem overly harsh at times, but I enjoyed how simple and stripped down it was in what it did. The animation was not wholly successful – I didn't always like the appearance or movement of the characters within the landscape, although it did give it a cartoony/comic-book feel which did also help with the genre feel. Mostly though it worked and moved well, with the plot and action making me less concerned with such specifics.
In the end, it is the sense of cynicism and harshness that makes the film work, with the plight of those on the edge of society being a strong focus, and linking to what happens when support networks fail so dramatically.
This is a satisfying change and makes the film more effective as a zombie film. We those trying to do right by others are let down by those above, and consumed by those below them (the raging zombies). Those that last the longest are those that generally look out for themselves and take opportunities without thinking of others, while those that pause for the sake of others are usually lost. I'm not suggesting that the social commentary is worthy of great discourse, but at the same time, looking back at 2016 as the year where angry protest votes against establishment figures gave us Brexit and Trump, it is hard not to view the film in this light – with the authorities failing those at the bottom, only for a destruction and unfocused rage to destroy what those in authority were seeking to build.
The film carries this cynicism through from start to finish, and produces some good plot turns that feed into this even more. It can seem overly harsh at times, but I enjoyed how simple and stripped down it was in what it did. The animation was not wholly successful – I didn't always like the appearance or movement of the characters within the landscape, although it did give it a cartoony/comic-book feel which did also help with the genre feel. Mostly though it worked and moved well, with the plot and action making me less concerned with such specifics.
In the end, it is the sense of cynicism and harshness that makes the film work, with the plight of those on the edge of society being a strong focus, and linking to what happens when support networks fail so dramatically.