Train to Busan is a 2016 movie set against the backdrop of a zombie attack on South Korea. Headlined by Gong Yoo, it continues to be one of the most popular zombie films to date. The film also stars Ma Dong-Seok, Choi Woo-Sik, Jung-Mi, and Sohee. Directed by Yeon Sang-Ho, the storyline of Train to Busan follows a train filled with passengers traveling from Seoul to Busan as a zombie virus wreaks havoc in the city. The film’s plot thickens as people try to save their lives amid the crisis.
Train to Busan: Trailer and spoilers
The movie Train to Busan begins with a scene showing animals being infected by a virus. The film then cuts to Seok-Woo (Gong Yoo), a fund manager in an investment company. He is facing a slump in his work after a client complains about strange rumors. He tries to convince him and calm his client down. However, later, it is learned that he has a daughter, So-An (Kim Su-An), and is separated from his wife. They live with his mother.
Seok-Woo stays so busy at work that he spends no time with his daughter. He gets her the same gift for her birthday, which he got for her on Children’s Day. So-An demands to meet her mother on her birthday. Even though he doesn’t want to, he agrees to send her to her mother’s place in Busan to make up for his fault.
On the way to the train station, he almost hits an ambulance. When he finally boards the train with his daughter, he meets different people – Sang-Hwa (Ma Dong-Seok), his pregnant wife Sung-Gyeong (Jung Yu-Mi), and a group of high school baseball players. Suddenly, they all start to face mysterious situations caused by zombies. The process affects many people, but Seok-Woo (Gong Yoo) tries his best to save his daughter. On the other hand, Sang-Hwa, his wife Sung-Gyeong, and a few others join Seok-Woo’s hand to combat the situation. The intense life and death-scenes in Train to Busan deserve special mention.
Train to Busan: What happens to Seok-Woo (Gong Yoo) at the end?
By the end of the movie Train to Busan, Seok-Woo gets infected by one of the zombies. Before he can turn into the monstrous creature, he leaves his daughter in Sung-Gyeong’s care and locks the cockpit behind him. As he remembers all the emotions when he became a father and his journey with his daughter, Seok-Woo smiles and jumps off the train. As the train approaches the last tunnel to Busan, So-An and Sung-Gyeong, walk past the blocked gates. On the other side, the military men can be seen waiting. As So-An recites Aloha’ Oe, the military people understand that they are the survivors, and the movie ends with a bitter-sweet, hopeful feeling.
Train to Busan is just not a horror-action movie with blood-sucking zombies. The film shows a beautiful and emotional journey that keeps us engaged till the end. Gong Yoo received a lot of praise for portraying Seok-Woo. His character in the film undergoes a transformation arc. From being a self-centered individual, Seok-Woo becomes a loving father and a kind-hearted person. Apart from him, the child actors Jung Yu-Mi, Ma Dong-Seok, and Choi Woo-Sik played their part with utmost dedication.
If you haven’t watched Train to Busan yet and love to watch horror-thriller movies and dramas, give this a watch. The film is available to stream on Netflix.
