A sharp drop in quality when compared to Train to Busan, this standalone sequel to the 2016 South Korean zombie horror discards everything that was impressive about its predecessor, and is an incredibly generic & downright derivative follow-up chapter that unfortunately has no idea or understanding of what really made the first entry stand out from the norm.
Co-written & directed by Yeon Sang-ho, the story takes place four years after the events of the first film but Peninsula doesn't even feel like it belongs to the same universe. The premise is action-oriented, the characters are mere caricatures, and in an attempt to go bigger & louder this time, Yeon completely forgets to bestow the script with a strong emotional core & compelling set of characters.
The film takes inspiration from almost every forgettable Hollywood sequel that's driven by empty spectacle & cash-grab mentality. The post-apocalyptic elements are uninspiring, tension & suspense is virtually absent, the action is devoid of any substance and is further marred by awful visual effects. And the cast render their thinly-sketched characters with zero interest. In short, there's nothing that works.
Overall, Peninsula is inferior to Train to Busan in every imaginable manner and is by all means a dull, boring & lacklustre chapter that opts for a more playful tone, is devoid of any substance, and is severely lacking the verve, heart & passion that made the previous entry a thrilling delight. Still, it does turn into a somewhat fun ride during the final chase despite the predictable route it takes yet all in all, this is sappy, sloppy & shoddy work.
Co-written & directed by Yeon Sang-ho, the story takes place four years after the events of the first film but Peninsula doesn't even feel like it belongs to the same universe. The premise is action-oriented, the characters are mere caricatures, and in an attempt to go bigger & louder this time, Yeon completely forgets to bestow the script with a strong emotional core & compelling set of characters.
The film takes inspiration from almost every forgettable Hollywood sequel that's driven by empty spectacle & cash-grab mentality. The post-apocalyptic elements are uninspiring, tension & suspense is virtually absent, the action is devoid of any substance and is further marred by awful visual effects. And the cast render their thinly-sketched characters with zero interest. In short, there's nothing that works.
Overall, Peninsula is inferior to Train to Busan in every imaginable manner and is by all means a dull, boring & lacklustre chapter that opts for a more playful tone, is devoid of any substance, and is severely lacking the verve, heart & passion that made the previous entry a thrilling delight. Still, it does turn into a somewhat fun ride during the final chase despite the predictable route it takes yet all in all, this is sappy, sloppy & shoddy work.