If you are a fan of Korean zombie thrillers, you might have watched or heard of the popular movie Train to Busan and the recent Netflix series All of Us Are Dead. Both of them feature a fast-paced and intense story of survival in the midst of a zombie apocalypse that spreads across South Korea. But are they connected in any way? Is All of Us Are Dead a sequel or a spin-off of Train to Busan? Here is what you need to know.
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The Plot of Train to Busan and All of Us Are Dead
Train to Busan, released in 2016, is a movie directed by Yeon Sang-ho and starring Gong Yoo, Jung Yu-mi, Ma Dong-seok, Kim Su-an, Choi Woo-shik, Ahn So-hee, and Kim Eui-sung. The movie mostly takes place on a high-speed train from Seoul to Busan as a zombie outbreak suddenly breaks out in the country and threatens the safety of the passengers. The movie was a critical and commercial success, becoming the highest-grossing Korean film of 2016 and one of the highest-grossing Korean films of all time. It also spawned an animated prequel film called Seoul Station and a standalone sequel film called Peninsula.
All of Us Are Dead, released in 2022, is a Netflix series based on the Naver webtoon of the same name by Joo Dong-geun. It stars Park Ji-hu, Yoon Chan-young, Cho Yi-hyun, Lomon, Yoo In-soo, Lee Yoo-mi, Kim Byung-chul, Lee Kyu-hyung, and Jeon Bae-soo. The series mostly takes place at a high school in the fictional city of Hyosan, as a zombie outbreak caused by a failed science experiment by a teacher infects the students and teachers. The series follows the struggles of the survivors who try to escape from the school and find their loved ones.
The Similarities and Differences Between Train to Busan and All of Us Are Dead
Both Train to Busan and All of Us Are Dead share some similarities in terms of genre, theme, setting, and characters. They are both zombie horror thrillers that explore the themes of survival, humanity, sacrifice, and family. They both have a confined setting that limits the options and resources of the characters. They both have a diverse cast of characters that include ordinary people, heroes, villains, and zombies. They both have fast and aggressive zombies that can infect others within seconds.
However, there are also some significant differences between Train to Busan and All of Us Are Dead. They have different origins, timelines, causes, scopes, and endings. Train to Busan is based on an original screenplay by Park Joo-suk, while All of Us Are Dead is based on a webtoon by Joo Dong-geun. Train to Busan takes place in 2016, while All of Us Are Dead takes place in an unspecified year. Train to Busan does not reveal the exact cause or source of the zombie virus, while All of Us Are Dead shows that it was created by a teacher who experimented on his son. Train to Busan shows the zombie outbreak affecting the whole country and reaching Busan as the last safe haven, while All of Us Are Dead shows the zombie outbreak contained within Hyosan and isolated by the government. Train to Busan has a tragic ending that leaves only two survivors out of hundreds of passengers, while All of Us Are Dead has a cliffhanger ending that leaves several survivors with uncertain fates.
The Verdict: Is All of Us Are Dead Related to Train to Busan?
The answer is no. All of Us Are Dead is not related to Train to Busan in any way. They are not set in the same universe or continuity. They are not produced by the same studio or director. They are not based on the same source material or story. They are not part of the same franchise or series.
However, this does not mean that they are not worth watching or comparing. Both Train to Busan and All of Us Are Dead are excellent examples of Korean zombie thrillers that offer thrilling action, emotional drama, social commentary, and cultural diversity. They both have their own strengths and weaknesses, merits and flaws, fans and critics. They both have their own influences and references from other zombie media.
In fact, All of Us Are Dead explicitly acknowledges Train to Busan as one of its influences by having one of its characters mention it in the first episode. When Lee Cheong-san (Yoon Chan-young) sees his classmates turning into zombies, he exclaims that it is like Train to Busan. This is a clear nod to the movie and its popularity among Korean audiences.
Therefore, instead of asking if All of Us Are Dead is related to Train to Busan, a better question might be: How do Train to Busan and All of Us Are Dead compare and contrast as Korean zombie thrillers? This question allows for a more nuanced and critical analysis of both works, as well as a deeper appreciation of their similarities and differences. It also opens up the possibility of discovering other Korean zombie thrillers that might be worth watching, such as Kingdom, #Alive, Rampant, and Sweet Home.
So, if you are looking for some zombie entertainment from Korea, you can’t go wrong with Train to Busan and All of Us Are Dead. They are both available on Netflix and they both offer a thrilling ride that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Just don’t expect them to be connected or related in any way. They are both standalone stories that have their own identities and messages. Enjoy them for what they are and what they have to offer.
