UHM - Review - The Host

Acclaimed Korean director Joon-ho Bong has done the seemingly impossible and resurrected a dying sub-genre that many have tackled countless times in the past. Premiering at the Cannes Film Festival last year, it reportedly received a standing ovation from all those who were lucky enough to catch the showing. Director Joon-ho Bong decided to tweak a few CGI sequences before it opened in its native country of South Korea a couple months later. The film went on to become one of the countries biggest box office openers and received nominations and wins from various award festivals. Now, the movie is finally hitting major theater chains here in the US (thanks to Magnolia Pictures), giving American audiences a chance to view what all the talk is about. I've seen this movie two times now and I noticed that after my second viewing I was still as entertained as I was with my first. Being a fan of South Korean cinema and Joon-ho Bong's work on Memories of Murder (excellent film), I had high hopes for this, and for once I was not let down.

The film has a cast of South Korean stars that have all worked with the director in previous films, so they're no strangers to each other. The most noticeable actor (for me anyway) is Kang-ho Song, whom I've seen in films like The Quiet Family, The Foul King, JSA, and of course, Memories of Murder. The film follows the events after chemicals are poured down a drain, leading to the popular Han River in Seoul. The chemicals eventually mutate a tadpole into some sort of giant monster that terrorizes the public as they try to picnic and relax around the river. Kang-ho plays the father in search of his missing daughter, whom was taken away by the monster. She was thought to have been dead until the father received a phone call from the girl while he was held in quarantine by the military. Apparently this creature is somewhat radioactive and may cause people who have come in contact with it to catch some sort of virus. The family manages to escape the grasp of the military, and attempts to search for the missing daughter.

Much like a lot of South Korean cinema, the movie is a standard two-hours, and there are scenes that may seem a bit unnecessary or rather slow-paced compared to the rest of the film, but that aside, it's a pretty fun and entertaining flick. I always found Korean cinema to be the master of blending numerous genres together. You could be watching a dramatic gangster flick one minute then a slapstick comedy the next. This may seem inconsistent at times, but it normally makes for a good watch. Thus is the case with The Host, which is essentially a comedy-drama, disguised as a monster flick. The movie isn't focused on the scares, which would normally be the case had it been an American flick, but rather the bond and struggle a family goes through as they try to save the daughter. It just so happens to revolve around the chaos of a giant monster as it roams around a highly-populated river.

The biggest let down many seem to have with the movie would have to be the ending, which I have to admit, I'm not all that fond of either. Never-the-less, I won't let something like that sway my rating for the film. I still came out relived after seeing a monster movie done right. It doesn't come as a surprise that there are already talks of a sequel and possible US remake. Though, if a sequel is made, it's said that original director Joon-ho Bong will not be returning.

OVERALL

Finally a monster movie done right. Not focusing on scares or a completely ridiculous plot, the film is packed with drama, comedy, cool sequences and an awesome and original creature. Check this baby out.

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Shane Szandzik

Posted 632 days ago

This movie was as ridiculous as any that came before it. The story just jumped around way too much, and dragged on far too long. Cloverfield was ten thousand times better!!! If you want a good oriental horror movie, watch Versus, or even Stacey was better than this pile of garbage!!!

Werewolf Hunter

Posted 767 days ago

Eh, I didn't like this too much. Not enough monster action and definatly not the best monster movie ever. It just doesn't compare with the Godzilla movies or Gamera movies or even flicks like "Gorgo". Heck, I liked "Shakey-Cam: The Movie", aka "Cloverfield", more than this. Not that I'm saying I hate it, because I do love me a good monster movie, but this is just overated. Let's hope the prequel is better.

Icaras

Posted 800 days ago

Not a masterpeice by a long shot. I enjoyed it and woudl see it again but it was not the end all be all of the monster movie genre.

Professor Chaos

Posted 906 days ago

A *** ing awesome monster movie! The monster attacks were very badass!

Tuishimi

Posted 910 days ago

I agree. Fantastic monster movie. It was well done.

Casshole

Posted 964 days ago

Loved this!!! It was SO nice to see something different for once. I liked how the monster looked too, very creative. Go see this if u haven't already!!

kao

Posted 1019 days ago

Masterpiece indeed everything you have in a monster movie all roll up in one. Move aside "Jaws" we've got a new Host 10/10 for me.

Brandon

Posted 1033 days ago

A masterpiece!Awesome movie!It goes up there with the classics!

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