Good stuff, probably what World War Z should have been

I am a fan of the zombie genre - needless to say though, not all zombie movies are of the highest quality (in terms of acting especially, writing is generally subpar, filmmakers are usually underfunded and inexperienced, etc.)

This was a pleasant surprise, and a welcome entry into a genre that hasn't pumped out a solid 'human' drama in quite some time.

The great thing about GOOD zombie flicks is almost never the zombies - it's how people behave in dire situations, how do they treat others? Do they only care about their own survival? What are they willing to sacrifice to survive in a bleak world?

Of course, cool zombies help - there are many different versions, slow walkers like in The Walking Dead or the rabid-type zeds like in 28 Days Later or World War Z.

Here - we have quick-turning, rabid zombies, some of which seem to (at least for moments after they turn) retain some of the person they once were, a cool caveat that you don't see much in the genre.

If what you're looking for is zombies that are actually threatening - look no further, the zeds here are well done - bone crunching, body-contorting transitions - high octane speed - meth head strength... the film does a good job with these types of zombies.

They are very similar to the zeds from World War Z - a film which I did not enjoy for some of it's careless writing, poor acting, and overall laugh worthy 'action sequences'.

The filmmaker takes care of those sequences here, there's more attention to detail in the confined setting of a locomotive, there is claustrophobic tension from the onset as the virus begins to spread rapidly from car to car.

Where this film succeeds, and where World War Z failed - is in the characters. They feel more like real people. And we deal with themes that many South Korean films do - namely, when the chips are down, people show their true colors. There are those who try to save everyone - sometimes to their own detriment. There are those who will do anything, even put others in danger to save themselves - and sometimes karma rears it's ugly head.

Without giving too much away, that is the big theme of the film - and it does a great job... while you want to root for those trying to save others, the story does not allow for you to believe that is the smartest 'survival' strategy. Is it worth it in the long wrong to save others, keep a clear conscious, but in the end, have that be what gets you killed?

The characters are pretty strong. There are one or two clichéd characters in here, one in particular is the 'brute force' strong man with a big heart - and although I knew he was a cliché, I couldn't help but root for him to survive as he began pummeling zombies with his bare hands and badassery.

The main character is more complex, he is a despondent father, the classic 'work trumps family' vibe. He and his daughter are on the train, where he begins to transform from a man who cares only for himself, to a man that sees the value of others around him, and what it means to care for people.

As it is with the best zombie flicks, it's people who become the bigger threat. Fear overcomes the lot, and it turns the living into the worst possible versions of themselves.

I hope any fans of the genre will check this out - while there are some melodramatic moments, the writing is pretty solid otherwise. For me, this is the best zombie flick since 28 Days Later (which in my eyes is still the best of the genre).