South Korea’s 2016 film “Train to Busan” became a worldwide hit for horror fans, mostly due to its unique take on the zombie genre. And now, the film’s sequel, “Peninsula,” looks to continue on that path.
As seen in the trailer for “Train to Busan Presents: Peninsula,” there is no reason to believe this sequel won’t be as good if not better than the original, especially with now-expanded production values and the cinematic world being more attentive to Korean cinema (after the “Parasite” Oscar win).
The film takes place four years after the first entry and follows a group of government-commissioned mercenaries going into zombie-infested lands to find a prize worth millions of dollars. It doesn’t look or feel at all like “Train to Busan,” which banked on the limited train setting to create an atmosphere of claustrophobia. In “Peninsula,” the setting is wider and more playfully scoped out.
“Peninsula” is directed by Yeon Sang-Ho, who helmed the first film. It was selected as part of the now-canceled Cannes Film Festival and was set to screen there as part of its midnight selection.
I can confirm that Joel Coen’s “Jack of Spades” is based on Frances Frederica Montrésor’s 1901 novel “The Alien: A Story of Middle Age.” It’s a ghost story. A gothic mystery.