A rampaging monster, panicking citizens, and a dysfunctional family. What better recipe for fun? Korea’s latest export The Host is receiving heaps of hype, and while it’s not the new Godzilla or Jaws that some breathless reviewers claim, it’s still a refreshing treat. Director Bong Joon-Ho knows that creating a proper atmosphere requires a well-planned foundation. The time spent getting to know the family at the heart of the story pays off when each of them faces the creature holding their youngest member hostage. There are very few pointless deaths, as in so many recent videogame-to-film adaptations. Even random victims show some personality in their seconds of screen life. The best ingredient at work is the unapologetic humor. The down-on-its-luck family crosses the line into slapstick at times, and the contrast with the horrific mutant sea creature amps up the tension and suspense. The monster itself is quite cool and fearsome, sucking up people like popsicles and regurgitating piles of bones. There’s also subtext galore, mostly taking aim at the US military and its self-serving agendas. The depiction of a realistic, squabbling family and how they deal with a supernatural threat and possible underlying conspiracy reminds me of Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Enjoyable on a variety of levels, and hopefully resetting the bar for similar genre films.

There are no comments yet. You could be the first!