#Alive is a survival thriller film from South Korea directed by Cho Il-hyung and premiered in 2020. Cho and Matt Naylor were credited as the screenwriters. Based on Naylor’s original screenplay for the 2019 American film Alone, the Korean adaptation gained international popularity upon its release on Netflix in September 2020. The film examines deep-rooted ideas of isolation, the will to survive, and the intrinsic human desire to relate to others during an unexpected zombie apocalypse set in Seoul in the contemporary era marked by digital dependence.
The protagonist, Oh Joon-woo, is a younger generation gamer and streamer who is accustomed to leading an exciting life. One day, he wakes up to notice his world is in tumult. His apartment complex and the city outside has been convulsed into chaos. A strange virus has rapidly spread across Seoul, turning citizens into fast-moving zombies. Confusion and panic reign supreme in his high-rise apartment in the form of his neighbors being murdered, emergency broadcasts urging people to shelter indoors, and complete isolation from the outside world.
Joon-woo’s situation worsens more and more, everything in his life seems to fully disconnect. The internet is gone, supplies of food start to run low, and even power flickering becomes common. The days blend into weeks as the psychological impact of this isolation starts to surface. To cope, he begins to document his odyssey into madness through video diaries. In one of the recordings, he reaches his lowest low, contemplating ending his own life—only to be saved at the last moment by a flash from a laser pointer from another survivor, hinting at companionship.
That companionship comes from Kim Yoo-bin, a determined woman who occupies a unit in the same complex. The two-unit survivors, separated by mere floors, begin sharing information through basic sign language, walkie-talkies, and makeshift pulleys used for sharing food and supplies. With time, Joon-woo’s existential dread is tempered, steered by the practical optimism exhibited by Yoo-bin, who serves as needed contrast to his initial despondency and helplessness.
As the scenario becomes increasingly desperate, Joon-woo and Yoo-bin decide to make an attempt at escape. They traverse through the building, battling several zombies with furious action and crafty self-preservation. During the fight, they encounter a man who at first appears to be a survivor, but instead proves to be quite the opposite, capturing them and trying to feed them to his zombified wife which adds a disturbing twist to the narrative.
In the climactic sequence, the two are able to escape when a military helicopter comes to their aid just as Joon-woo is able to send out a message using a functional phone. The film finishes with the remnants of the military starting to triangulate social media posts tagged “#alive” to rescue trapped survivors.
Cast and Characters
Yoo Ah-in plays as Oh Joon-woo, the socially withdrawn and young gamer who has to grow up swiftly in order to endure, and Yoo accurately portrays this character as someone who balances emotional fragility and moments of bravery and resolve.
Park Shin-hye features as Kim Yoo-bin, a composed and intelligent survivor who aids Joon-woo in recovering his will to live. As an actress known for powerful performances in Korean dramas and films, Park brings subtle strength and grace to her role.
As the unnamed man who puts them in jeopardy, Jeon Bae-soo and Lee Hyun-wook thrusts into the spotlight with a brief role. While the attention stays on the two leads, the supporting characters are essential to the pacing and detail of the plot.
Thematic and Critical Exploration
#Alive is, above all, a survival narrative, but also serves as an exploration of contemporary urban loneliness and the effects of modern technology as it relates to human interaction. Joon-woo is depicted as a lonesome, solitary figure consumed within his online games that lack real-world interactions. An unprecedented viral outbreak strips him of all digital content, creating a survival scenario devoid of online games.
The film evokes dread enhanced by actual circumstances. The film’s release during the COVID-19 pandemic resonated particularly with audiences who had experienced prolonged periods of lockdown, isolation, and uncertainty. Joon-woo’s apartment encapsulates the essence of that situation, portraying the sharp confinement, a reliance on dwindling resources, and mounting psychological strain.
Yoo-bin’s character contributes as a balance and contrast. She is not a balance to Joon Woo, as she is methodical, self-reliant, and an emotionally stable individual. Her character establishes the idea that connection, and not solely survival, is vital to preserving one’s humanity. Through their unlikely friendship and collaborative efforts, both characters change, learning to draw fortitude not only from themselves, but from each other.
The film elaborates on the dependence on technology as well. While technology isolates Joon Woo at first, it ultimately becomes his lifeline. His ability to stay alive is dependent on a cellular signal, a drone, and social media — all of which are fundamentally neutral, but their utility is determined by how they are wielded. Such neutrality regarding the culture of technology provides contemporary relevance to the film.
Style and Direction
Director Cho Il-hyung employs a claustrophobic visual style to reflect Joon-woo’s physical confinement. The camera lingers on narrow shot compositions, capturing the stifling tension and the monotony of life under siege. When action spills over into the hallways or onto the rooftops, those spaces provide sharp contrast and thus brief moments of relief and danger.
The application of sound and silence is particularly effective. Tension in the scenes is punctuated by sudden silence, and chaotic zombie attacks shatter the stillness. The special effects and makeup design for the zombies lean towards suspense instead of shock, being thoroughly convincing without being overly gruesome.
Incorporating modern devices such as drones and GoPros into the plot works seamlessly, as Cho uses them purposefully rather than as cheap gimmicks. These elements serve the contemporary relevance of the story.
Critical Reception
Critics highlighted strong performances alongside the thematics. Overall, the film was praised for maintaining tight pacing, drawing thematic relevance, and generating suspense without heavily relying on gore or elaborate set pieces. The film’s focus on emotion and character is, in large, what distinguishes it from other zombie films.
As noted by critics, while #Alive does not reinvent the zombie genre, it is given new life, so to speak, with the fresh perspective of telling the story through two ordinary people thrust into extraordinary circumstances. Juxtaposed against simple survival horror, the emotional arc of Joon-woo’s transformation alongside Yoo-bin’s defiance turns the film into one about hope and human connection.
Its global reach after being released on Netflix helped it trend in various countries and become one of the platforms most-watched international films in the first few weeks.
Final Thoughts
#Alive is successful as a powerful thriller in addition to being a moving commentary on the human need for connection while dealing with profound isolation. The film’s gripping performances from the leads, paired with strong direction, contemporary sharpness, and an enduring relevance, makes its appeal transcend genre boundaries.
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