What if society isn’t particularly worth saving? That’s the big question raised by Seoul Station, the animated prequel to the South Korean zombie movie, Train to Busan (2016). Set at what appears to be the first infection of a zombie outbreak, Seoul Station opens with a scene of grim indifference to human suffering, showing viewers exactly what it thinks of us. This dark perspective on humanity is relentless through the film. The story works to keeps zombies in frame but rarely in focus. Thematically it carries along the lines of the first film, exploring ideas such as bonds, love, and family. The approach, however, is what sets it apart, as well as its commentary on class and government. It’s a devastating story that leaves viewers with little hope and an all too timely call to reflection.
