07/25/2026
The director of "Train to Busan" is back in zombie territory! π§ββοΈπ₯
Yeon Sang-ho's new film "Colony (ꡰ체)," which caused quite a stir at its Cannes Film Festival midnight screening, has arrived as one of this summer's biggest Korean cinema surprises. The story starts simply enough β a biotech conference, a virus that suddenly spreads and mutates, and in the blink of an eye, the whole building turns into a death trap. Sealed off from the outside, the survivors trapped inside fight to stay alive, while the infected keep transforming into something smarter and more unpredictable with every passing moment.
Jun Ji-hyun (still known to many as Gianna Jun from "My Sassy Girl"), alongside Koo Kyo-hwan, Ji Chang-wook, Kim Shin-rok, Shin Hyun-been, and Go Soo β the entire cast feels like a chapter in itself. Running 122 minutes, the film premiered at Cannes on May 15, released in Korea on May 21, and will hit U.S. theaters starting August 28.
Critics have responded quite positively β Rotten Tomatoes has it sitting around 70% Fresh, with praise going especially to the creature design and the relentless pacing. It may not reach the iconic status of "Train to Busan," but it's landed as one of Yeon Sang-ho's best-rated works to date.
And with a budget of roughly $12 million, the film has already pulled in about $25 million at the box office β a solid commercial run too.
Those familiar with Yeon Sang-ho know he doesn't just use the zombie genre to scare people β he uses it to tell stories about society. After "Train to Busan," "Hellbound," and "Peninsula," "Colony" once again proves why he remains one of the most consistent voices in Korean genre cinema today.
Has anyone watched it yet? Drop your thoughts in the comments! ππ¬
