CERT: 18 | PLATFORM: NETFLIX | RELEASE DATE: OUT NOW
Trapped indoors with low supplies and a horde of zombies just outside his apartment door, streamer Oh Joon-woo must fight for survival in his bid to stay #Alive in this entertaining lockdown thriller.
Within the horror genre, zombies are arguably the sub-category that flood the market the most so it takes something special in order to make a zombie film stand out – something that Asian cinema knows exactly how to achieve with recent smash hits Train to Busan and Zombie for Sale now being joined by the Netflix Original #Alive.
Gamer Oh Joon-woo (Yoo Ah-in) lives in an apartment block with his family when one day, after characteristically waking up later is left alone for the day as his kin partakes in daily activities. Soon after, his world comes to a crashing halt as his homestead comes under siege by legions of the undead and is left isolated with limited resources.
With everything going on in the world, this piece is quite timely with a lot of us sheltering away from the dangers of the outside world, however, that is not its only strength. One aspect that the South Koreans especially know how to absolutely nail is compelling characters, great emotion, thrilling set-pieces and gory kills. Joon-woo’s relationship with his only surviving neighbour Kim Yoo-bin (Park Shin-hye) is charming and whimsical paired with some great performances by the two young leads.
Even with a predictable ending, #Alive is another solid entry into the Asian zombie sub-genre with interestingly realised zombies and great heart that perfectly encapsulates the modern horrors of today’s world.
