Train to Busan became a hit despite being a movie about zombies- a subject widely seen in US television series and Hollywood movies with ‘Warm Bodies’, ‘World War Z’ and ‘Zombieland’ being few of their most notable outings. It’s success however did not solely rely on the gruesome undead’s ability to cause terror - that was rather expected; it didn’t even seem to be the result of intense action sequences although those carried some weight overall. What cemented this Korean film to be hailed great was its humanity- the characters were familiar.
How these characters reacted in a dire situation surrounded by ‘death’ reflected the viewers’ own principles, values and biases. When faced with the same horror, will you stand for what is good and extend a hand or will you save your own skin with your every-man-for-himself philosophy? Will you show compassion even if it means your demise or will you shut your heart from any emotion to survive? Will you follow the rules for everyone’s sake or will you carve your own ‘track’ to reach your destination ahead of others?
We may not be suffering from an apocalypse today but this pandemic raises the same fundamental questions about our own humanity. COVID-19 is the ‘walking dead’ we never imagined; the unknown that the world grapples with equal uncertainty.
So much for art imitating life. Let the final credits roll!
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