Yeon Sang-ho’s cinematic gem Train to Busan impressed movie buffs around the globe with its thriller-packed narrative, which makes it one of the best zombie genre movies of all time. With a star-studded ensemble that includes Gong Yoo, Jung Yu-mi, Ma Dong-seok, Kim Su-an, Choi Woo-shik, Ahn So-hee, and Kim Eui-sung, the movie takes place on a Korean Train Express.
Train to Busan plot
The plot of the movie revolves around a biotech mishap that leads to a deadly zombie outbreak inside a train that is going from Seoul to Busan. From a pregnant woman to high schoolers and a father-daughter duo, many passengers grapple for their lives in this zombie horror film.
How the zombie outbreak affects a father-daughter relationship
At the beginning of the film, we are introduced to an ignorant single father, Seok-woo (played by Gong Yoo), who is busy with his business deals. From forgetting his daughter’s special school events to gifting her the same birthday presents, Seok-woo might be a good fund manager, but he is definitely not the best father. Although his mother takes care of his daughter, he tries to make up for his absence by fulfilling her birthday wish of meeting her mother in Busan.
The train journey acts as a missing puzzle that fills the void in the father and daughter’s lives. After the zombie outbreak, the dynamic between Seok-woo and Su-an changes as he does everything that he can to save his daughter.
What happens to Seok-woo in the end?
The zombie outbreak affects all the passengers on the train. The movie highlights the themes of humanity, kindness, morality, and the struggle for survival. We witness the shattering sacrifice of Sang-hwa for his pregnant wife and a group of strangers, which reflects on the emotional dilemma and the complex trait of morality. Through this, the movie shows that there is a thin line that separates humanity from the blood-thirsty undead creatures.
Train to Busan’s ending is heartbreaking, with the doting father and fund manager Seok-woo grappling to save the lives of his daughter and other strangers. Just when it seems like they’ve made it through and survived, Seok-woo is bitten by the Yon-suk. He realises that the only way to keep his beloved child safe is to stay away from her. He locks himself in a compartment and teaches both Su-an and Seong-kyeong how to operate the train while keeping them safe in the engine room. He also gives the responsibility of taking care of Su-an to Seong-kyeong.
In the climax scene ahead of his death, Seok-woo gets nostalgic and remembers the happy moments when his daughter was born. With a smile on his face and the satisfaction of saving her from the deadly zombies, he jumps to his death.
In the final moments of Train to Busan, we get to see Su-an and Seong-kyeong exiting the train and walking through a tunnel. However, their lives are in danger when the military suspects them to be infected with the zombie virus. As they get ready to shoot at them, the calm and intelligent Su-an begins singing Aloha ‘Oe. Upon hearing this, the soldiers put away their weapons as they realise that they are human. This secures their safety.
Su-an’s song is like a tribute to her late father, which takes this zombie movie to an agonising ending that is also about giving a ray of hope despite the odds.
Train to Busan can be streamed on Amazon Prime Video.
