Yeon Sang-ho burst onto the international horror scene with Train to Busan in 2016, a taut thriller that blended heart-stopping action with poignant character moments. A decade later, the zombie genre and Korean pop culture have evolved, but Yeon continues to explore societal anxieties through his unique brand of horror. While Colony, his first original zombie tale in a decade, doesn’t quite reach the heights of its predecessor, it offers glimpses of brilliance amidst a somewhat inconsistent narrative.
The Hive Mind Horror
Unlike previous entries like Seoul Station and Peninsula, Colony introduces a novel twist on the traditional zombie formula. The virus isn’t just a mindless plague; it’s a biotech weapon designed to eliminate individuality, binding humans into a collective consciousness. Disgruntled scientist Seo Young-cheol (Koo Kyo-hwan) believes miscommunication is the root of human suffering and creates a slime mold to unite us all. He unleashes the virus at a conference, turning mundane shoppers into parts of a larger, mycelial-like organism that learns from every member’s experiences.
The infected aren’t undead but are still rabid, acrobatic, and driven by a desire to expand their ranks. They take instruction from Young-cheol, who claims he’s the only one with the vaccine. This concept is ripe for commentary on AI, algorithm-driven culture, or the clash between individualistic and collective societies. However, the script, co-written by Yeon and Choi Gyu-seok, doesn’t fully explore these themes, leaving viewers wanting more.
A Star-Studded Cast in a Familiar Setting
The film boasts an all-star cast, including Jun Ji-hyun as Kwon Se-jeong, a no-nonsense biotechnology professor who leads a ragtag group of survivors. Her allies include Ji Chang-wook’s Choi Hyun-seok, a competent mall security guard, and Kim Shin-rok as Choi Hyun-hee, a tech-savvy wheelchair user. The brother-sister dynamic between Hyun-seok and Hyun-hee provides one of the few sustained emotional throughlines.
Another missed opportunity lies in the relationship between Se-jeong and Gong Seol-hee (Shin Hyun-been), her ex-husband’s current wife. Both are biotechnologists investigating Young-cheol’s bioterrorist attack, and their respectful dynamic subverts typical animosity, but it’s only briefly explored.
Agility and Choreography Elevate the Horror
The performances are charismatic, and the choreography is creative, imbuing the infected with an alien quality. The retired track coach character jumps, dodges, and crawls around zombies in a desperate attempt to snag perfume, while Seol-hee navigates a lab filled with rabid monkeys in a frantic scene reminiscent of Planet of the Apes. The physicality of the zombie performers further enhances the horror.
Yeon’s direction is fast-paced and maintains cohesiveness, making the action sequences anxiety-inducing. He’s a director who cares about the future of cinema, experimenting with ways Korean cinema can survive in an era of declining theater attendance and streaming giants. While Colony may not reach the heights of Train to Busan, it’s a middling entry that offers a fun afternoon at the movies. The premise is classic “Die Hard” with zombies, the performances are engaging, and the direction gets the job done.
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