COLONY

Colony (2026)

Directed by: Yeon Sang-ho

Since most zombie movies follow the same formula, they’ve become repetitive and exhausting to watch. You already know what to expect, and there’s barely any element of surprise left.

This movie is not totally different, but the way the zombies evolve adds a refreshing touch. The most fascinating aspect is actually the colony itself, which feels limitless and overwhelmingly powerful. The main antagonist is also intelligent enough to take advantage of the other people. His portrayal is effortlessly sinister.

Other characters lack personality to make the scenes more exciting. Their arcs mostly lead to misery, leaving their journeys unsatisfying to follow. The performances aren’t convincing enough to capture fear and desperation.

There are a few attempts to create irritating and emotional moments, and some of them work in heightening the experience. But the movie loses its grip on its characters. The direction barely holds the ensemble together and sustains the momentum.

The script loses balance when translating its ideas into fruition. It hints at resisting society’s norms and standing up for what’s right, but these themes never fully take shape.

Instead of elevating the scenes, the cinematography weakens the tension. The shaky shots leave you feeling dizzy rather than scared.

While the zombie colony is an interesting concept, the story behind its creation is weak due to the heavy reliance on lecture-like dialogue. The choreography looks cool and the solution is interesting to witness, but both fade too quickly before creating a bigger impact.

Nonetheless, the movie does its job of delivering the usual zombie flick experience — through its inclusion of reckless characters, dumb decisions, frustrating mistakes, noble sacrifices, and endless hordes.

The movie may follow the usual formula, but it finds ways to shake up the traditional zombie rules. Altogether, the colony-driven setup brings a few interesting ideas along the way, keeping the movie alive.

𝐂𝐎𝐋𝐎𝐍𝐘

Cast: Jun Ji-hyun, Koo Kyo-hwan, Ji Chang-wook, Kim Shin-rok, Shin Hyun-been, Go Soo

Screenplay by: Yeon Sang-ho and Choi Gyu-seok

Presented by: Wow Point, Smilegate

Release Date: May 27, 2026 in Philippine cinemas nationwide

A Movie Review by: Goldwin Reviews