5 Korean zombie movies to satisfy your blood lust ahead of Train to Busan Presents: Peninsula, starring Gong Yoo of Goblin fame
Seoul Station, #Alive, Doomsday Book, The Odd Family: Zombie on Sale and Rampant should freak you out ahead of the sequel to smash hit Train to Busan
Fans who can’t wait until Peninsula’s release on July 15 – or are just eager to see more of Korean idols like Hyun Bin and Jang Dong-gun – can enjoy these five Korean zombie movies in the mean time.
#Alive
Originally an American script written for Hollywood, #Alive was adapted for Korean audiences by its original screenwriter, Matt Naylor, and director Cho Il-hyung. A hit in South Korea when released earlier this year, the concept is a simple one: a zombie outbreak has occurred and a few survivors are holed up in an apartment building trying to survive and continue living a somewhat ordinary life.
Rampant
In an unusual twist, Rampant shifts the action away from contemporary settings and is instead a period zombie thriller. Set during the latter half of Korea’s Joseon Dynasty (1392–1897), the film centres on the imperial court where different factions vie for power – machinations that are brutally disrupted by a zombie outbreak shipped in by European traders. This one comes packed with star power in the shape of popular actors Hyun Bin (Crash Landing on You) and Jang Dong-gun (Arthdal Chronicles).
Seoul Station
Written and directed by Yeon Sang-ho, this is a prequel to Train to Busan, for which Yeon was also director. Despite being an animated feature, Seoul Station is just as visceral as Yeon’s more renowned live action zombie movie and tackles similar class-based issues. The story begins at the eponymous Seoul Station where a father is searching for his runaway daughter, an investigation interrupted by the beginning of a wave of zombie attacks.
The Odd Family: Zombie on Sale
If the above films seem too gory or heavy, The Odd Family: Zombie on Sale is here to inject some levity into the search for tasty brains. In a small rural town, a zombie shuffles into view and is taken in the by Park family. Eventually, this adopted family member – named “Jong-bi”, get it? – bites Man-duk, the family patriarch. However, rather than transforming into a zombie himself, he is rejuvenated by the attack. The Parks decide they can earn some money out of this surprise twist but of course, not everything goes smoothly.
Doomsday Book