From the outset, it should be noted that Colony (aka Gunche), written and directed by Yeon Sang-ho, is a completely standalone horror thriller set in its own universe and is not connected to the Train to Busan continuity, which consists of Seoul Station (2016), Train to Busan (2016), and Train to Busan Presents: Peninsula (2020).
Set within a quarantined biotech facility, Colony is reminiscent of REC and Dawn of the Dead in its single-location setting, while featuring zombies with a terrifying hive mind that echoes The Last of Us. However, Colony stands firmly on its own and possesses a distinct identity. The quarantined facility and confined setting provide effective world-building while generating a constant sense of claustrophobia as seen in the aforementioned and Dread.
While the action-oriented Peninsula often felt too messy and frantic, Yeon Sang-ho offers a reset of sorts here, returning to the intensity of Train to Busan and Seoul Station. Although the editing could have been tighter in places, it remains an excellent ride. The cast are great. There are surprising deaths, plenty of emotion, and no shortage of action. It's wonderfully staged, and aside from a few iffy CGI monkeys, the special effects are first-rate.
The zombie movements feel fresh and inventive, with a terrifying hive mind capable of rapidly learning and analysing human behaviour. It's a return to form for Sang-ho.
Highly entertaining.
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