The Park family is always looking to work an angle to bring in extra cash and get ahead. They own and operate a struggling service station where they tend to overcharge stranded motorists. Their shady behavior extends to leaving sharp objects along the twisty roads to knock out the tires on passing cars. One of the Parks’ friends, Nan-Loo, drives the only tow truck in the village and of course he brings stranded drivers back to the shop for expensive repairs. The family is not mean-spirited, just desperate scam artists low on funds and morals.

The big story grabbing all the headlines recently is of a whistleblower accusing a bio-company of running illegal experiments on vagrants and college students, causing strange side effects. A young man who is actually a zombie escapes the building and makes his way to the village where he attempts to bite the locals, but he is clumsy and awkward and easily avoided. He successfully bites Mr. Park and runs away. When the old man wakes up, he is significantly younger and full of energy. The family tracks the zombie down and locks him in their barn until they can find a way to monetize the situation.

Starting with the village elders, the Parks charge by the bite. As their customers grow more youthful in appearance, word spreads and soon everyone is lining up to pay for a nip on the arm. This zombie is by nature a vegetarian with a taste for raw cabbage, but with a little ketchup he is compliant. Mr. Park’s daughter Hae-Gul bonds with the ghoul and the two form a tenuous relationship. Everything is going wonderfully until the incubation period wears off and suddenly the town is overrun by zombies. Can the family avoid danger long enough to find a vaccine and restore order?

Zombie movies have long been a part of the horror community, a subgenre that comes in cycles and refuses to die. Popular the world over, the living dead got a resurgent boost with the Korean hit Train to Busan (2016). Zombie for Sale, another Korean export, is a refreshing twist on the well-worn material that succeeds with its playful tone and colorful characters. The film opts for light-hearted comic mayhem over grisly scenes of gory gut munching. One of its greatest assets is turning the titular character into a childlike innocent. Our protagonists are opportunistic clowns with an underlying loyalty that keeps you firmly planted on their side despite some of their unscrupulous acts.

Writer/director Lee Min-Jae makes a strong debut with this briskly paced, humorous misadventure that taps into the popular theme of the family unit in peril. Financial concerns outweigh a potential zombie outbreak, and when such a ghoul is introduced, he is taken in and becomes something of an extended member of the group. He is not much of a threat and it is interesting watching him interact with the Parks’ daughter. There is a budding love story at the heart of all the ensuing mayhem that is endearing. Lee draws solid performances from his cast and keeps audiences fully engaged no matter how bonkers the situation.

Zombie for Sale is definitely worth checking out, especially to fans that enjoy horror/comedy hybrids. In addition to confident direction and acting, the film benefits from some gorgeous cinematography and creative camera work. Adding to the fun is the quirky soundtrack that really nails the tone as things shift from comedic to horrific to batshit chaos. The picture ends on a strong note that invites further adventures of the Park family and I look forward to seeing what this director does next.