By Travis Johnson
South Korea’s first zombie blockbuster, Train to Busan, has shattered box office records in its native country. Currently it’s sitting on 9.3 million admissions and is on track to smash through the 10 million barrier faster than fellow high-grossing K-films Ode to my Father, Assassination and Veteran.
This has sparked a bidding war for the English-language remake rights, with rumours that Fox, Sony and several major French studios are currently in competition. And why not? The live action debut of animator Yeon Sang-ho, Train to Busan is a brilliantly simple concept, putting a bunch of disparate characters on the titular bullet train from Seoul in the middle of a zombie outbreak. Fast, brutal and engaging, it’s a great zombie movie even as the world grows steadily sicker of zombie movies.
Happily, Australian audiences are getting a chance to see it on the big screen for themselves, as Cine Asia is releasing the film through Event, Greater Union, Birch Carrol & Coyle, Hoyts and indie theatres through Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and Papua New Guinea. This is in addition to festival screenings at MIFF and the Korean Film Fiestival in Australia (KOFFIA). Make the time to catch this one at any of the following:
FESTIVALS:
Melbourne International Films Festival (MIFF) August 10 & 12; Sydney KOFFIA August 11.
FROM AUGUST 11:
NEWCASTLE: Event Kotara
BRISBANE: Event Garden City, Event Myer Centre, Morayfield
GOLD COAST: Event Southport,
QLD: Cairns
PERTH: Event Innaloo
ACT: Event Manuka
ADELAIDE: Event Arndale
AUCKLAND: Event Broadway, Albany, Chartwell (Hamilton),
CHRISTCHURCH: Hoyts Northlands,
FIJI: Village 6,
PNG: Waigani Central.
FROM AUGUST 12:
SYDNEY: Event George St, Burwood, Top Ryde, Hornsby, Parramatta, Hoyts Chatswood
FROM AUGUST 18:
MELBOURNE Hoyts Melbourne Central, Village Century City, Village Sunshine, Lido Hawthorn, Chinatown.
