After his breakout 2016 zombie thriller hit Train to Busan, it only seemed natural that director Yeon Sang-ho would return to the story. And after only 4 years looks to do just that in Peninsula. Serving as more of a spinoff rather than a direct sequel. Peninsula follows a group of individuals who make their way into the now quarantined Korean Peninsula, looking for cash left behind.
Though they originally worry about the zombies which roam all over the area, they quickly discover that the people trying to survive 4 years after the initial incident are threats in their own right. For fans of Train to Busan, Peninsula will more than likely provide an all-around worthwhile experience. Even if the film is overall clearly lesser than the original film.
For better or for worse, Peninsula clearly sets itself apart from Train to Busan. Not just featuring fresh characters, but completely changing the environment and threats present within the film.
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It is smart for the film to give itself a unique identity, never simply going through the motions to try and recapture the magic of the first film. That said, it also fails to live up to the original film in multiple ways. Not just are the characters far less engaging, but the situation itself loses a lot of the tension present in the original film.
The setting of the train was genius. It not only provided a clear and natural catalyst for the film’s drama, but it also created a claustrophobic tension that put audiences on the edge of their seats. Getting away from the close-quarters, Peninsula immediately stands out as a far less captivating thrill ride.
Instead of focusing on the small scale threat of being trapped on a train with zombies, the film focuses on the overall scale of being in a country surrounded by threats. Where this is still effective, it by nature feels like a step down from the original product.
What is exciting to see is the evolution in the world itself. Train to Busan focused on a South Korea as it was initially being hit by the outbreak. And characters were having their initial reactions to the situation. Peninsula focuses on a South Korea already have adapted to the outbreak.
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Four years have passed between films. And the humans living within the infected area have found their own ways to survive. Playing into the zombie’s weaknesses of being distracted by loud noises and being virtually blind in the dark.
This side of the film feels fresh and engaging, as it builds on the foundation set in the first film while also bringing new ideas to the table. The only issue with this is how the film often opts to explore this world. Peninsula contains a frustratingly large amount of exposition. Telling the audience how to feel rather than naturally allowing them to experience the story. Something that takes the audience out of the world at multiple times, especially towards the beginning.
Where in these ways Peninsula is clearly its own entity, at heart, there are plenty of connections to Train to Busan. Especially when it comes to the technical elements within the film. Despite having nearly double the budget from the first film, the still overall low budget can still be felt in the visual effects.
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The actual movements of the zombies might still stand out as impressive. But then it comes time for a big action set piece, like a car crashing through a group of zombies, and the visuals clearly stand out as cheesy. The film luckily does make up for some of this with a bigger focus on creating memorable set pieces. As well as an overall more lavish production design. The score coming from Mowg also carries a wonderful grandness to it that may just go down as one of the best soundtracks of the year so far.
Peninsula might not be to the same level of Train to Busan, but still is worth checking out to those faithful to the original film. It is a rather strong zombie apocalypse thriller, that focuses on the setting through a unique lens. The characters are not the most memorable, but they serve the story well enough. And the film is overall not just watchable, but quite a bit of fun. For those who feel comfortable venturing to the theater and want to lose themselves in a fun, vibrant, action-packed adventure, then Peninsula is an easy recommendation.
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