Synopsis:
It’s not a worthy sequel, but it’s entertaining as a stand-alone action zombie film.
Cast & Crew:
Sang Ho Yeon| Director
Gang Dong Won| Actor
Lee Jung Hyun| Actor
Re Lee| Actor
Hae Hyo Kwon| Actor
Story:
An ex-soldier is sent back to the Korean peninsula, which has been completely abandoned since the zombie apocalypse.
Review:
Around four years after the events of ‘Train to Busan,’ South Korea has devolved into a zombie-infested wasteland. Former Republic of Korea Marine Corps Captain Jung Seok is tasked with finding and retrieving a truckload of money in the quarantined zone, which will set him up for life. However, when his team arrives on the peninsula, they come across rogue militants. Jung Seok is forced to fight for his life with the assistance of a few stray survivors.
Following the breakout success of ‘Train to Busan’ in 2016, expectations for its sequel were reasonably high. Naturally, director and co-writer Sang-ho Yeon decided to raise the stakes and plunge headfirst into the post-apocalyptic world he created. This sequel, which takes obvious inspiration from various dystopian films and shows, falls short of its well-received predecessor. Because the game is set in an open world, the zombie count is significantly increased, necessitating a greater reliance on CGI. Unfortunately, the VFX is erratic in places and looks like it came from a video game with questionable physics, particularly when it comes to automobiles. Because this is a significant aspect of the film, your mileage may vary greatly depending on how you react to it. For many, it will likely lessen the sense of terror perfectly captured in ‘Train to Busan.’
The storey has some promise, with intriguing themes about human greed and sacrifice when all else fails. They are unquestionably more pertinent in light of the current global situation. Sang-ho Yeon, the director, is eager to investigate what it takes to save a loved one in extraordinary circumstances, and the storey becomes more engrossing as a result. Jung Seok (Dong-Won Gang) meets Min Jung (Jung-hyun Lee) and her two daughters, and their bond is heartfelt, adding much-needed depth to the plot. Their performances also contribute to a few emotionally charged beats. However, some of the scenes feel overly long, which has a significant impact on the pacing. While ‘Peninsula’ has its moments, such as ingenious ways to deal with zombie hordes, it falls short of being a worthy sequel to ‘Train to Busan.’ Instead, it works well as a stand-alone action zombie film.
