I’ve read enough zombie fiction to move on to something new, but every once in a while a real gem comes along that sucks me back into my beloved apocalyptic fiction genre. Case in point was M.R. Carey’s novel GIRL WITH ALL THE GIFTS. I finally had the chance to check out the film adaptation, which I liked even better.

The story focuses on Melanie, a young girl living in a special school at a military base. She’s intelligent, inquisitive and loves her teacher Miss Justineau. Slowly, we come to learn that the base is under siege by zombies after a zombie pandemic causes the collapse of the world and her country, the UK. She and her fellow students are being studied because they have retained their ability to think, reason and communicate, calling into question what makes them human. Making them perfect fodder for experiments to determine how they resisted the fungus, which may lead to a vaccine.

I really liked the adaptation, which stayed true to the book while streamlining its sometimes chunky exposition. The cast, which included Glenn Close, delivered excellent performances. There’s plenty of tension, post-apocalyptic scenery and action to please hardcore zombie fans. The book and film transcends genre, however, by staying focused on interesting characters, the question of whether Melanie is human or monster, and the ultimate decision she must make in regards to the future of the human race. The film is beautifully atmospheric, with great cinematography and score.

Recommended for zombie fans and everybody else.

LAST TRAIN TO BUSAN, a Korean zombie film, is everything WORLD WAR Z wanted to be but failed, giving us a simple story with great action scenes and characters we care about. If you’re into zombie movies, everything is familiar, but it’s solidly put together and that’s what makes it so good.

Seok-Woo, a divorced fund manager, lives with his mother and young daughter, Su-an. Su-an is lonely because her father is a workaholic who’s never around, and misses her mommy. For her birthday, Seok-Woo agrees to take her to Busan to see her mother. During their journey, an outbreak of a zombie disease sweeps the country.

There are two types of zombie stories, one in which survivors are under siege and try to defend a stronghold, the other in which they go from point A to B on a quest for sanctuary. LAST TRAIN TO BUSAN is the latter but taking place almost entirely in a high-speed train, giving us a familiar but fresh take.

The zombie action is terrific. In many ways, the zombies are like WWZ zombies, attacking like animals and spilling across spaces like locusts. What really distinguishes the film, however, are the characters. We actually care about them and what happens such that the last scene is actually heartbreaking. I hope Hollywood is paying attention and noting that a film needs good storytelling as much as it does great effects and action. That’s the difference between a film sticking with you and consuming and forgetting it like fast food.

If you like LAST TRAIN TO BUSAN, be sure to check out FLU, another Korean film, if you can find it. The theme here is pandemic, but with the same care, great characters and exciting set-pieces.

Highly recommended for people who like zombies.