3 Short Paragraphs: #Alive

2020, Cho Il-hyung (Jin) -- download

This is the Korean version of the 2020 American movie Alone (or Pandemic) written by Matt Naylor, who also worked with Cho on the script for this movie. They both explore the idea of being trapped inside during a zombie apocalypse, losing loved ones lost outside, losing hope on ever surviving, but then regaining it once a connection is made with another apartment dweller.

Oh Joon-woo is our hero this time, a slacker kid in his parent's apartment playing video games online, oblivious to what is happening until gamer friends start commenting on it. Of course, he's playing a zombie video game. Trapped inside, unable to get hold of his family, and running out of food and water (and alcohol), he deliriously decides to hang himself but is interrupted by a laser pointer. There is a cute girl living across the way, and together they decide to survive until help comes.

Considering its following the script of the American movie, I did like how the differences between western / American culture came into play. Doors in the US open into an apartment, so shoving a fridge against them can be a great door stop, but in South Korea they open into the hallway, said hallway being more a balcony along the edge of the building. That fridge was less a deterrent. The other main difference, that Koran apartments (at least this example) have a window from the kitchen looking onto the balcony, was less logical, as a primary script element is that Joon-woo covers up the windows to hide the fact he is inside, from the zombies attracted to fresh prey. But he never hides from that window; sure it is barred but its still a clear view into the apartment. So, seeing the same movie, for the most part unchanged was interesting, but seeing the cultural differences was the primary reason for viewing. Beyond that, it was a entirely acceptable zombie movie, nothing spectacular nor creative, which puts it leaps and bounds above most.