The movie: Post-apocalyptic movies aren't exactly hard to come by, but Snowpiercer's setting for the aftermath of the near-destruction of the human race takes an ingenious twist by placing the action on a perpetual motion train, destined to circle the earth following on from a catastrophic ice age. Split into socially stratified sections, it's not long before the inhabitants living in the lower strata decide to improve their condition by pressing forwards to the front of the line. What makes it a potential cult classic: Director Bong Joon Ho already proved himself more than capable of subverting genre expectations with his film The Host, but Snowpiercer takes this several steps further. The seemingly claustrophobic setting of a moving train might sound like a limitation on paper, but the concept is explored from every conceivable angle - from social stratification to the spirit of revolt inherent in human nature, this is science fiction with a message which nevertheless functions as a thoroughly entertaining, brilliantly designed work of cinema. Thankfully the US distributors didn't get their way and cut the movie to ribbons for the Western release.
