(2020). Unlike its predecessor, which focused on the claustrophobic terror of a single moving train,

The transition from a character-driven thriller to an action-heavy "zombie heist" subgenre received mixed reactions from fans. Critics noted that while the original used zombies as a pressure point for social commentary and character growth, the sequel often treats them as mere obstacles in elaborate, CGI-heavy car chases. Alliance of Women Film Journalists Themes of Humanity and Redemption

Where the original Train to Busan was a claustrophobic, character-driven thriller set on a moving train, Peninsula expands the scope. It transitions from a "survival horror" to an "action-heist" film. The essay could explore how the setting—a ghost-city version of Hong Kong and a ruined Korean peninsula—changes the stakes from escaping a monster to surviving a lawless wasteland.