Review | Colony: Jun Ji-hyun returns in slick but empty zombie thriller
Jun Ji-hyun returns to the big screen as a biotechnology professor battling a rapidly mutating virus and a hive mind of monsters, critics said.
- Director Yeon Sang-ho premiered his zombie thriller Colony at the 79th Cannes Film Festival on Friday, marking his return to the genre after a decade.
- Set apart from the Train to Busan and Peninsula franchise, Colony unfolds almost entirely within central Seoul's Doongwoori Building, featuring zombies connected through a shared consciousness network.
- Biotechnology professor Kwon Se-jeong, played by Gianna Jun, battles infected monsters led by vengeful scientist Seo Young-cheol, portrayed by Koo Kyo-hwan, with choreography by professional dancers.
- More than 2,300 viewers at Cannes' Grand Lumiere Theater erupted in applause Saturday morning, giving the film a five-minute standing ovation. French filmmaker Nicolas Boulasma called it a "rhythmic and effective" thriller.
- Yeon designed the zombies to reflect anxieties about collective behavior and artificial intelligence, aiming for "intuitive suspense and entertainment." The film opens in South Korea on May 21.
14 Articles
14 Articles
Colony (2026): Release Date, Cast, Plot, Trailer & Everything We Know
Colony’s premiere at Cannes has made it one of the most talked-about horror releases of 2026. It’s directed by Yeon Sang-ho, the same filmmaker behind the globally acclaimed Train to Busan! This film marks his long-awaited return to the zombie genre, but Colony is not just another survival horror movie! It leans on psychological terror, social commentary, and some incredible action set pieces. So, let’s check out its release date, cast, and eve…
'Colony' Review: Yeon Sang-ho‘s Latest Mixed Bag Of A Zombie Thriller Is No 'Train to Busan'
No matter who you are, finding even a sliver of new life when making a zombie movie is no easy feat. Tackling a horror subgenre with such a long history of talented filmmakers poking and prodding it in new directions means that there’s usually a good chance someone has already done the thing you’re thinking of doing before you get the chance. Thus, while some can and still do offer interesting new takes, there are still many more who have succum…
Yeon Sang-ho's *The Hive* Cannes Premiere: Action Worth Watching, Characters Lacking Substance. Invited to the Midnight Screening at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival on the 16th, the local preview was described as interesting only in the beginning, polished yet hollow. Director Yeon Sang-ho's new film, *The Hive*, held its world premiere on the 16th as an invited work for the Midnight Screening at the 79th Cannes Film Festival.
'Gun-Che (Colony)' Review: This Zombie Actioner Could Make a Great Video Game, But Is Instead a Disappointing Film
Initially intriguing before it spirals into repetitive claptrap, Yeon Sang-ho’s “Gun-Che (Colony)” is one of those horror films that is propelled solely by the ineptitude of its characters. If you’ve come for carnage, particularly action with a grounded feel, you’ll get that in spades here. Working with an impressive array of stunt performers, contortionists, make-up artists and production designers, Yeon has added another exciting new wrinkle t…
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 50% of the sources lean Left
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
