Released: 8th September 2020 (Netflix)
Length: 99 Minutes
Certificate: 15
Director: Cho Il-hyung
Starring: Yoo Ah-in and Park Shin-hye
Many a zombie flick has attempted to break into the long-oversaturated market with directors attempting to put a new spin on the proceedings. This time, it’s the use of tech and connectivity that facilitates survival in the apocalypse. #Alive from South Korea has its ambitions, but it ultimately falls well short in its pursuit of the horror greats.
In a crowded apartment complex, the young Oh Joon-woo (Yoo Ah-in) finds himself trapped by a deadly outbreak of flesh-eaters. These infected individuals are slightly smarter than other renditions, able to climb and open doors. After barricading himself inside, the sense of isolation begins to overtake him, but eventually he spots the neighbouring Kim Yoo-bin (Park Shin-hye). At first, the film is a one-man-show, taking place almost entirely within one apartment flat; we’re isolated just as much as the main character is. There’s great potential here to create a sense of loneliness and impending doom, but the film glosses over this rather quickly as it pivots into becoming a samey race to escape. There’s also a sequence in the final act that feels incredibly tacked on as it aims to inject some commentary on human nature during a crisis that goes nowhere. Even the central theme of technology allowing us to survive rarely follows through, with the film’s final flourish failing to create an uplifting conclusion.
The characters of #Alive are fairly standard archetypes in a survival situation. As a video game streamer forced into surviving a crisis, Yoo Ah-in brings a measured performance, slowly building his confidence and skill-set over the course of the film. Kim Yoo-bin is the opposite, able to defend herself in a fight; Park Shin-hye’s performance also stresses these differences throughout the film. The two’s efforts to work together alongside their conflicting personalities are handled well enough, even if much of their ingenuity comes from the somewhat inventive action scenes. It’s appreciated that the film doesn’t attempt a forced romance in its story, but it doesn’t make up for their lack of depth. With little in the way of original character traits, the cast’s reasonable performances are unable to connect fully with audiences.
Despite its heavy focus on technology usage, #Alive features a fairly modest collection of details that are mostly well-utilised. There is a wide array of shots put to use here, close and point-of-view angles emphasise the character’s isolation and the mid-shots show the danger of the infection lurking outside. The make-up effects are well done, even if they look incredibly similar to other entries from fellow Korean directors. The sense of chaos that lingers outside is also acceptable, with capable set designs that make the most of the apartment complex. The big issue with #Alive’s technical trappings is that many of its contemporaries have done many of these elements better and with a more foreboding tone to boot.
Despite its somewhat novel premise, #Alive does little to distinguish itself from the countless other zombie flicks on the market. None of its performances are particularly bad, but the film’s ideas and thematic trappings are either too shallow or tacked on to make an impression. You’re better off sticking with “Kingdom” for a worthwhile foreign take on the sub-genre.
Rating: 2.5/5 Stars (Mediocre)
Comentários