“All of Us Are Dead”: your next favorite K-Drama
Malia Kabwe, Staff Writer
The zombie thriller “All of Us Are Dead,” directed by Lee Jae-kyoo Kim Nam-su, was released on Netflix on Jan. 28. Foreign television series have been circulating in the United States’ pop culture recently; many of which have been Netflix originals. Shows such as “Elite,” “Squid Game” and “Alice in BorderLand” are some of the most popular. Netflix’s “All of Us Are Dead” is the newest foreign work to break boundaries in America.
Based on the webcomic “Now at Our School” by Joo Dong-Geun, “All of Us Are Dead’’ follows a group of high school students trapped in school during a zombie virus outbreak. Korea has produced masterful entertainment in the zombie genre with past movies like “Alive” and, a critical favorite, “Train to Busan.” “All of Us Are Dead” has also become the second Korean film series to reach the No. 1 spot on Netflix’s Top 10 list in the U.S. since “Squid Game.”
Although some parts of the show resemble overdone tropes, overall the show is extremely entertaining. Not only are the special effects and fight choreography enthralling, but the storyline is also thrilling. The students navigate through sacrificing themselves and their friends for the sake of the majority and the loss caused by the virus. COVID-19 is mentioned briefly within the show as the last major outbreak in the world, meaning that the citizens recently overcame one pandemic only to be met with a zombie virus. This explains why the government in the show was able to contain the virus within one city for so long.
The show mentions victims of bullying and harassment and the school system’s lack of concern for the issue. The virus was initially created as a way to strengthen the perceived weak that became victims of situations like bullying. Characters such as Min Eun-ji (Oh Hye-soo) were victims of extreme emotional and sexual harassment. These themes of harassment may be triggering to some people.
Overall, “All of Us Are Dead” surprised me. The show was very good despite being a simple zombie thriller. I was on the edge of my seat throughout the entire series. Although the show has not received an official renewal, fans are already excited to see what a second season might hold.
Lee Cheong-san (Chan- Young Yoon) hiding on top of a bookshelf to survive an attack by peers who caught zombie virus.