We are going to look at the reasons why trains have proven so popular as movie settings and focus points. As well as looking at their cliches and variety. First though, here are some good “train movies” to watch.

Cinematic Trainspotting

Some popular train movies include the previously mentioned Arrival of a Train and Bullet Train. As well as The Great Train Robbery, The General, Shanghai Express, The Lady Vanishes, Brief Encounter, Strangers on a Train, The Train, Murder on the Orient Express, Snowpiercer, and Train to Busan. 

Even these few examples showcase the creativity train movies can yield. The genres of these movies vary wildly. There are documentaries, westerns, comedies, romances, murder mysteries, horror movies, WWII movies, sci-fi socio-political commentaries, action movies, and thrillers. And all use trains to drive their story in some fashion.

Why Do We Like Trains?

So, why are trains effective vehicles for gripping stories? Firstly, trains provide great engagement opportunities for audiences. The setting’s confined nature heightens the dramatic tension between the characters, due to it being an enclosed space, with no way off and almost nowhere to hide. But there’s still enough space for the characters to move and ponder. The train’s constant movement allows new visuals to pass by the window regularly, always keeping the visuals fresh. And the speed of the train, as well as how closely timed departures and arrivals are keeps the pace lively. Therefore giving audiences a visually and dramatically engaging experience.

Trains also act as a relatable anchor for their stories. Millions of people worldwide use trains every day. Thus, the use of trains allows audiences to easily relate to the situation the characters of train movies find themselves in.

However, many filmmakers keep returning to train movies because trains serve as interesting thematic elements to make bigger points about humanity, our history, and our relationship with technology. For example, westerns like The Great Train Robbery use trains to showcase historic progress. Brief Encounter’s trains represent the intrusion of the modern into the romantic ideal. And Snowpiercer’s train is a class metaphor (though, all train movies deal with class in some form). Making even simple train movies, subtextually rich.

Common Stops

Now while train movies are hugely imaginative they do have several common tropes. Many movies in the subgenre revolve around attempts to either stop a train from moving or solve a problem before the train reaches its final destination. 

In train-set movies, there’s usually some contrivance for the protagonists to get off the train at some point – Usually to allow the audience some downtime. Or the film will split its time between the train’s occupants and people outside trying to help. 

Almost every movie in the genre uses scenes of trains driving through their surroundings as transitions. As well as featuring an interminable number of shots of characters staring out of windows. And of course, there is always a dash to get on a train before it departs. While these tropes are expected, given the setting, it’s tiring to see them so often repeated.

Conclusion

Despite all the cliches, train movies are firmly entrenched within cinema. And Bullet Train proved they can still capture an audience’s attention. Hopefully, this means the confined cinematic niche, like a Southern Rail train, won’t be leaving anytime soon.

Also Read: The Evolution of the Murder Mystery

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Today we are going to look over Netflix’s commitment in more detail. As well as what this could mean for Netflix and the media produced in South Korea. But first, we are going to look at what led to this decision.

South Korea’s International Stardom

South Korea has been producing critically well-regarded media for years. Movies like Oldboy, The Host, Train to Busan and Burning (among others) found critical acclaim across the world. Some films also performed moderately well at the international box office. The Handmaiden was one of the highest-grossing foreign-language films in the UK in 2017. Burn the Stage: The Movie also had moderate success in the UK in 2018. K-dramas also rose in appeal over the years. With Winter Sonata, My Love from the Star (Both listed in the book 1001 TV shows to watch before you die) and more gaining international cult followings. However, the successes of Korean media still seemed relatively small in western territories such as the UK and USA. Until 2020.

Parasite had a large impact on how western cinemagoers perceived South Korean cinema. It won the 2020 Best Picture Oscar and became the highest-grossing Korean Language film in the USA and the highest-grossing foreign-language film of all time in the UK. Subsequent streaming hits, including the zombie film #Alive, which was US Netflix’s 4th most popular foreign-language film in 2020, and the TV show Sweet Home, which acquired 22 million viewers worldwide, appearing on the Netflix Top 10 in the UK and USA, showed definitively that western audiences were ready to devour South Korean entertainment.

Netflix’s Investment

With successes both nationally and internationally, particularly on Netflix (Netflix recorded 3.8 million paid memberships in South Korea by the end of 2020, largely fuelled by the Netflix content produced in Korea. Its K-drama viewing figures also rose by 100% over the last year in the US), proving that there is a growing appetite for more of what Korea has to offer, it is only natural that Netflix would want to capitalise on this opportunity and do what it can to keep subscribers happy and increasing.

Recently Netflix’s VP of Content for South Korea, Minyoung Kim, announced the company would be investing almost $500 million into Korean content. It will be working with both established creators and emerging talents to, “add more variety and diversity to our growing slate”.

A Recipe For Success

This investment is fantastic news for both fans of South Korean entertainment and the content makers themselves.

From the fan’s perspective, it means that more projects will be made available. Which will include Netflix financed original productions. Movie projects such as Carter and Moral Sense, dramas like The Silent Sea, the documentary My Love, and Netflix’s first K-sitcom So Not Worth It are already planned. And also thanks to partnerships with major South Korean companies other programs may have the chance to have wider distribution. With well-received shows like My Love from the Star and The Good Detective already being made available through their platform.

And for the makers, it is an exciting opportunity. It will allow older creative talents to make projects they’ve always wanted to make. Thanks to Netflix’s ethic of creative freedom. Newer creators will have the opportunity to showcase their talents on a well-regarded platform. And it means both will be able to have a large worldwide audience.

Conclusion

After years of acclaimed and moderately successful South Korean products being exported internationally, Parasite showed how successful South Korean media can be in western territories. And with the growing number of South Korean Netflix subscribers and an international audience hungry for more of the country’s movies and TV shows, Netflix’s investment into production and distribution, as well as its pledge to work with creators both new and old on a variety of projects, is not only a smart move for Netflix but an exciting one for Korean creators and K-fans.

Also Read: #Alive (Review)

Read More: Parasite Director Bong Joon-Ho Once Described The Oscars As Very Local

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