4/2/21 - Train to Busan Presents: Peninsula (2020) - 5/10
We get a sequel to the quite popular Train to Busan original but this time its a post-apocalyptic zombie action thriller caper, as a group travel into relegated zombie territory to smuggle out lost loot. Reminds me of Doomsday meets Walking Dead, with a developed zombie-world lifestyle and a viable amount of interpersonal drama to make it all interesting. Conceptually, it is extremely strong, similar to the original Train to Busan. Just a solid idea for a film. The first might be a better film, but I think I enjoyed my time with this one more.
There is plenty of expected zombie fights/escapes and survivors’ guilt melodrama. That gets bounced off of running man games and dealing with the dregs of those left in zombieland. Then we get some Mad Max meets Fast & Furious driving frenzy, which really amps up the action and over-the-topness. Always makes one wonder in these P-A scenarios how they get their energy, their tech, or social hierarchies. There was also a distinct lack of sexuality, with no unseemly sexual politics of the wasteland (sex slaves & rape), which tend to be a bit of a tropey here, but was a welcome miss.
The drama in the story is tried for but somewhat weak and even sappy, but the fun is still prevalent. It would be a weak zombie grasping recommend. But a recommend nonetheless.
I see Zack Snyder’s new project is a similar concept. I wonder which one will be better. I am sure any similarities are completely incidental...
