10 Zombie Movies That Put A Unique Spin On The Horror Genre

Yeon Sang-ho answers the question of what would happen if Snowpiercer took place during a burgeoning zombie apocalypse. The answer is, of course, unmitigated disaster.

Train to Busan shines through its characters. The lead protagonist is a divorced, workaholic father accompanying his daughter on a train from Seoul to (you guessed it) Busan, where his ex-wife awaits. The train is host to a colourful cast of characters, from a high school baseball team, to a pregnant woman and her husband, and a homeless stowaway. It's a melting pot for all social classes, and their introductions are foreboding for the audience, who know what fate likely awaits everyone.

As the infection begins to rapidly spread throughout the train, the inherent duality of humanity is on full display. The best zombie movies focus on the human element, and Train to Busan forces its characters to choose between sacrifice and selfishness. Will they risk everything to simply help others, or actively make choices that only serve their own interests? Side characters don't just feel like nameless zombie fodder, which is the case far too often, and instead add a layer of depth to the movie, constantly tugging at your heartstrings when the inevitable happens.

The premise of a zombie flick taking place on and around a bullet train is reason enough for fans to give it a go, but digging deeper than that reveals a well crafted, emotional breath of fresh air in what can be a stale genre.