Review ‘#Alive’: A Hollow Survival Declaration That Frustrates with Its ‘Big Promises, Little Payoff’
#Alive could have been an outstanding psychological horror film if it hadn’t forced a grandiose message and awkwardly tried to follow the action trend that didn’t fit the overall narrative. Released during a time when Korean zombie films are at their peak, #Alive quickly garnered significant attention by continuing to portray a society overrun by a zombie pandemic.
The film’s story revolves around a young man named Joon Woo, who lives a reclusive life in his apartment with his family. When a sudden outbreak turns people into bloodthirsty zombies, he is forced to barricade himself in his home, awaiting rescue by the military. From the very beginning, #Alive showed great potential by taking a completely different approach. Instead of focusing on the chaos, horror, and gore outside, director Choi Il Hyung chose to delve into the inner turmoil and psychological chaos of a person isolated from society.
Yoo Ah In’s character, Joon Woo, was intentionally crafted to reflect this psychological exploration. The director aimed to use the dire situation as a springboard for the character’s psychological development and crises. Here, the audience witnesses a young, fragile man struggling to survive through lonely days with no end in sight. His actions later on somewhat mirror the human psyche when isolated from the world.
The word “Alive” is repeatedly emphasized, from the father’s message, the social media hashtags, to the lines exchanged between characters. It seems to want to convey a message about the strong and resilient survival spirit of humans, no matter how dire the circumstances.
However, Joon Woo’s actions hardly reflect this spirit. On the contrary, viewers might feel sorry for him as he remains holed up, letting fate take its course. It is only when Yoo Bin (played by Park Shin Hye) appears and propels the story forward that the survival spirit is somewhat felt.
Yet, #Alive’s constant repetition of the survival theme makes it feel like the audience is being force-fed the message in an awkward way. The characters echo each other’s lines in typical K-drama fashion, making the dialogue seem shallow and even laughable.
Despite having a good message and a promising delivery, #Alive feels like it’s wearing an oversized coat, with the plot not substantial enough to fill it. The first half of the film is underwhelming, and as the story progresses, the script weakens even further. Instead of continuing to explore the psychological elements more deeply, the director opts for an action-oriented turn, causing the film’s pacing to derail, leaving the two halves disconnected.
It’s clear that director Choi Il Hyung should focus on mastering one genre rather than dabbling in multiple, as action is not his strength in this debut film. Even from the setup in the opening scene, the audience senses something is off. The action sequences in the latter half are unconvincing, following the tired trope of the main character being virtually invincible, even when facing a horde of zombies alone.
