[FILM REVIEW] Colony (2026)

Directed by Yeon Sang-ho, the mastermind behind Train to Busan, and boasting a star-studded cast led by Jun Ji-hyun and Ji Chang-wook, it is no surprise that Colony stands as one of the most anticipated films of 2026. With audiences eager to see how Yeon Sang-ho would reinvent the zombie genre to make it stand out from his previous hit franchise, we are thrilled to report that he has once again masterfully delivered and exceeded all expectations.

Colony sets its scene in a highly evolved future where advanced technology has unlocked a terrifying hive-mind breakthrough: it is now possible for humans to communicate silently and seamlessly through a network similar to ant pheromones. 

This revolutionary concept was introduced in the Chains Bio Conference, a prestigious biotechnology convention where high-profile researchers, scientists and professors have all gathered, by the host Kang Woo-cheol. When the main villain of the film, Seo Yeong-Cheol (played by Koo Kyo-hwan), decides to launch a bio-terror attack inside the massive convention building, we know that the movie is about to take a dark twisted turn. 

We soon find out that Seo Yeong-Cheol was the original person who had discovered this hive-mind technology. He claims that Woo-cheol had stolen all his life’s work before unjustly sacking him from the company. Driven by a string of personal tragedies and traumas born from human misunderstandings, envy and conflicting opinions, Yeong-cheol envisions a global rebirth of humanity where everyone is united by the exact same thoughts at every given moment. Believing strongly in the beauty of “collective intelligence”, Yeong-cheol argued that all conflict could be eradicated if all of humanity just shared a single collective mind. 

In a bid to realise his twisted utopia, he injects Kang Woo-cheol with a mysterious green concoction he had created, causing Woo-cheol to mutate into a very aggressive zombie that viciously attacks every human in sight around him, kicking off the start of a highly infectious zombie outbreak.

Amidst the chaos stands Kwon Se-jeong (played by Jun Ji-hyun), a righteous biotechnology professor. Invited to Chains Bio Conference together with her ex-husband Han Gyu-seong (played by Go Soo), Se-jeong came with hopes of networking and landing a new job after her uncompromising moral code had caused her to lose her previous job. Suddenly trapped in the epicenter of the outbreak together with other fellow survivors including siblings Choi Hyun-seok (played by Ji Chang-wook) and Choi Hyun-hee (played by Kim Shin-rok), she utilises her wisdom and scientific expertise to analyse the evolving behaviour of the zombies around her, turning her intellect into her greatest weapon in the ultimate fight for survival and escape from the building.

The adaptability and evolving nature of the infected are undoubtedly one of the film’s greatest highlights, setting Colony apart from other zombie movies. Rather than acting as mindless creatures who blindly lunge at every human, these zombies actively learn from human tactics and tricks, transmit real-time information to each other, adapt and evolve on the fly. Since they share a unified hive mind, Seo Yeong-cheol was able to successfully weaponise the concept of “collective intelligence” to his advantage — and that is what makes the zombies in this film even more terrifying.

Betrayals, sacrifices, love and greed — Colony has it all. Packed with unpredictable twists from start to finish, the plot constantly keeps the audience guessing. Every moment truly keeps you at the edge of your seat. Beneath the action, Colony also explores the dark reality of how quickly humans can turn against one another in the name of survival. Yet, it also restores our faith in humanity, showcasing characters who risk everything to help those who may not even deserve it, reminding us of our shared human bond. 

Amidst the chaos and helplessness, we loved the small comedic touches injected by director Yeon Sang-ho. There were many moments sprinkled around the film that left everyone chuckling, such as the infected bizarrely mimicking Hyun-seok carrying his disabled sister, Hyun-hee, on his back. In other moments, certain scenes left everyone grunting in disgust or gasping in shock. In a brilliant thematic parallel, these unified audience reactions made the film’s recurring theme of “collective intelligence” come alive right inside the theatre.

Needless to say, the stellar cast delivers flawless performances that fully immerse the viewer in every scene. Koo Kyo-hwan masterfully showcases a villain you want to both pull your hair out over but yet have so much sympathy for with his tragic backstory. Jun Ji-hyun leaves the audience in awe, portraying a brilliant professor whose sharp theories and tactical escape ideas anchor the story, while Ji Chang-wook shone through his incredible combat scenes and moving devotion to his sister.

Overall, Colony is a masterpiece — an absolute must-watch for all zombie lovers!

Grab your tickets HERE!

Running Time: 122 minutes
The Seoul Story’s Rating: 4.5/5 

Written by: Min Yi
Photos by: Purple Plan SG

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