Celebrity 
This movie is a masterpiece by the talented director Bong Joon-ho. The genre for this movie is a horror but this does not mean that it obeys every convention of a 'normal' horror movie.
Bong uses The Host to address the political relationship between America and South Korea. This movie is often seen as a very anti-America film BUT this is not what Bong intended. Bong does not paint the South Korean people featured within the film well either.
Bong addresses the issue of heroism in America; he addresses the Korean people's attachment to cellphones and technology; he addresses political relationships; family relationships; etc etc etc
This movie may NOT seem like a horror movie. It is but then it also is not. It is not a gruesome movie, it does not have much gore, and the moments of tension and anxiousness that the Host will inflict on the viewer is broken will moments of black humor. These inserts of humor is not to get 'cheap laughs' but to distance the viewer from what is being shown on screen. The humor that Bong uses makes the viewer remember that it is just a story, it is a movie and not real, then the viewer can watch and make a judgement on the relationships being shown on screen without leaving the theater jumpy and scared.
The monster within the Host was accidentally created by the American base dumping a toxic chemical into the Han River. This is very significant as a situation like this happened in reality. The American base's morgue dumped hundreds of liters of embalming fluid into the Han river in 2000. The Han river did become toxic because of this. (although some people claim that this is only a myth).
During the Host Bong addresses some of the political issues between South Korea and America that are present in reality.
This movie was so popular in South Korea that 20% of the total population of South Korea, even today, watched The Host at the cinema (this does not include people watching it more than one or home viewings). I highly recommend watching this movie as it is not only an enjoyable storyline but it gives insight into reality.
I live in New Zealand and in my University Cinema Studies course The Host was featured and analyzed. This movie is influential enough to have been recognized in such a small country as New Zealand. I high recommend watching this movie.
Also if you are put off by the genre Horror don't be, this is not a conventional horror movie, to the casual viewer it will seem more to be more like a Thriller than Horror. And if you are put off by my review please don't be. This movie is a great watch on the surface and very enjoyable to the casual viewer.
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This review may contain spoilers
This is my first time ever watching such a movie, Honest truth I really wouldn't be into thee kinds of movies on my own. It's not the kind of a story I'd look upon my own. This movie aired here on Norwegian tv with subs so I decided to give it a go. This review will be written from my own point of view on the movie.First to start it off. I can't say I was to impressed about the music shown in the movie. I didn't expect much upon it, Still it wasn't too much to brag about the music. I felt that some of the music was just there and might not really be to fitting upon the scenes it was added into.
The story progressed kinda as expected from having read the review. I felt that most of the movie went to revolve about the main girl. I liked the movie for its storyline and acting. The actors did a really good job upon acting out the different characters. The story basically revolves around Park Hyun Seo. A young girl who by a mistake gets taken away by a mutated monster from the sea upon her father making a mistake grabbing the wrong persons hand while trying to flee. By the time he notices it is already to late to go and get her back as the monster already is right behind her about to take her. Her father starts grieving as he believes he has lost his only daughter. Later that night upon being admitted to the hospital he recieves a call from his daughter saying she is stuck hiding in the sewers and that she is alive. An ask for help turns into a family mission as her entire family heads out to find Park Hyun Seo. And it doesn't make things easier that the korean society aswell as police officers are out to catch their family because of a possibly deadly virus they may have gotten. The story takes on unexpected twists and it will show you just how strong a family bond really is, Aswell as the bond between a father and a daughter.
The genres of the movie were, Comedy, Drama and Horror.
I can understand why they put in the comedy and drama genres, But in overall the story didn't justify as a horror movie. It didn't scare you nor make you especially uptight.
It was a really good movie, I gave it a steady 7. I would recommend people to see it. The story will have you watching all the way, Allthough the movie might start off as somehow boring, It won't turn out that way..
Will Park Hyun Seo be saved?
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A monster movie that devours its competition
The titular monster of 'The Host' starts off as a fish before mutating into an oversized amalgam of animalistic traits. Claws that have smaller claws attached, a serpentine body, a multilayered maw full of teeth and a prehensile tail. When it first attacks, it lumbers head-on like an enraged bull, but it is also capable of deception, striking from the shadows and swinging from overhead beams like a demented acrobat. Despite how its CGI is dated, the monster is not only grotesque and frightening but captivating and amusing. Much of this can also be said of 'The Host' as a movie. By definition it is a horror movie but under Bong Joon-ho's direction it morphs into dark comedy, family drama, tragedy and most notably, a barbed political allegory. Unlike the CGI, this allegory remains frighteningly relevant, even to- no, especially in this day and age.Director Bong's satirical attack is two-pronged. The film is known widely to be a critique of America's continuous presence in South Korea. The opening scene of an American doctor forcing his South Korean colleague to pour formaldehyde in the Han river was closely inspired by an uproar-causing real-life incident, and this notion of insidious poisoning leaves little to the imagination. As does the toxic chemical agent 'Agent Yellow', which evokes a fairly recent example of American Imperialism in Asia that ultimately caused more harm than good.
What is scarily applicable to the entire world, however, is the film's depiction in portraying government incompetence; both at preventing disasters and handling them. An unfortunate number of viewers have derided this film for showing its monster 'too soon', but this seems to be the point. The government knows that chemicals are mutating the fish in the Han river, they know of rumours that their irresponsibility in letting the Americans take charge is creating a literal monster- but they do absolutely nothing. The people, without the government's warning, behave likewise- they see the beast hanging like a fruitbat from a bridge, they throw snacks at it, and they only take action when it starts devouring them. Too little, too late. Rather than making amends and assisting the victims of the disaster, the government focuses on preventing their own fall by spinning a web of lies and red tape, and using the 'infected' as quasi-scapegoats on which to deflect public blame. This tragic process has been seen time and time again in human history- most recently, with a certain pandemic that starts with 'c' and rhymes with 'coronavirus'. It is Bong's ability to spin such a relevant allegory while creating a scary and fun movie that makes him such a fantastic director- hence why this film is just so brilliant.
Brilliant, but not perfect necessarily; the film's middle act drags slightly without a monster to chase it, though its more human emphasis helps build the political allegory.
The main characters in this film were highly likeable, both in their humorous family dynamics and their steely determination to take things into their own hands. They were buoyed by the film's venerable cast. Song Kang-ho was particularly memorable as the narcoleptic Gang-du, whose dimwittedness was matched only by his unyielding devotion to his daughter and his blubbering, sincere desire for his despair to fall on sympathetic ears. Ko Asung, then a child actor, delivered an endearing performance that packed both heart-stopping fear and resourceful bravery.
The monster scenes, especially the wild chase at the start, are some of the best that I've seen and were often unexpectedly hilarious. I also enjoyed seeing how the Park family took on the monster with largely scavenged weapons; signs, old Winchesters, bows and molotov cocktails.
The theme song of 'The Host' perfectly captures the film's prevailing mood; not terror, but amusement with a melancholy tint to it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6icONTC43dI
9.5/10
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Not your typical horror monster movie
After Parasite and Memories of Murder, The Host becomes the third movie by Bong Noon Ho which I had the pleasure to watch. The film attracted my attention due to its premise but what made me especially curious was the way many people talked about it, describing it as not your typical monster movie. All the fuss around it piqued my curiosity and naturally, I decided to watch it whenever I'd have the opportunity.The film opens with an American doctor forcing his South Korean colleague to throw a big amount of formaldehyde in the Han river, in the year of 2000. As a result, a horrifying monster is created through mutation and five years after the incident, it reveals itself and captures Park Hyun Seo, the only daughter of Park Gang Du.
The movie centers around the Parks' attempt to rescue Hyun Seo from the claws of the monster. Abandoned by the government and while being accused of being the hosts' of a deadly virus, Gang Du and the rest of the other family members decide to take matters into their own hands, no matter the cost.
Bong Noon Ho, who is known for his fondness of allegories and symbolisms in his works, proved yet again why his movies can produce so much food for thought. The origin of the creature was directly inspired by a real-life scandal in 2000 when an American mortician was found guilty of dumping formaldehyde into the Han River. From the get go, the involvement of American in South Korea's politics is addressed and as the story unfolds, the movie becomes bolder with this message. Bong Noon Ho showcases USA's power over South Korea's government and the great lengths both nations would go to in order to secure USA's presence in Korea.
The Host didn't fail to call out the government's incompetence when it came to handling national matters. Just like in the movie the government didn't take any actions to reduce the pollution in Hand River and thus, prevent the casualties of the beast, in real life the government doesn't take measure against national problems, prioritizing its own power instead of the netizens' safety. In times of despair and distrust, those with power will always try to direct people's attention and anger towards a different target. Media always prey upon a scapegoat and once the opportunity arises, they launch onto it, feeding people's fears with propaganda.
The theme of propaganda and misinformation is tackled directly by the movie. South Korean government representatives and the United States Forces Korea force the victims of the creatures attack to be quarantined, proclaiming the beast as the host of a deadly virus. By making a big deal of the virus, the governments were trying to distract the public from their negligence to protect the citizens and kill the monster. Among the people who were forced to be quarantined was the Park family, who broke out of the hospital they were forced to stay in, in order to go and save Hyun Seo.
Unlike other monster movies which usually put the chase of the creature in the spotlight, The Host highlighted the bond between the members of the Park Family and their desperation to save one of their own. The hardships and the obstacles the family had to cross in order to save Hyun Seo made me feel for the Parks, especially since no one was willing to help them after the government declared them as a threat. It was them against everyone and that emphasized their desperation and their bleak circumstances.
The actors did a good job showcasing their characters and the dynamic between them. Song Kang Ho proved yet again how amazing of an actor he is in this dark, comedic roles, adding more layers to Gang DJ's character. This was the first time I watched anything with Bae Doo Na and although her range was limited in the movie, I could see that she's a fierce actress. And the young Go Ah Sung did an excellent job portraying Hyun Seo.
The subtle comedic elements only enhanced the goal of the movie. Instead of adding unnecessary funny moments which would take the viewers out of the story, Bong Noon Ho utilized these bits in order to highlight the exaggerated tone of the story and add to the political commentary. Particularly in the lobotomy scene, I didn't laugh because I found it funny but because of how absurd it was and because it was laughable to watch the great lengths the government would go to in order to secure people's trust.
The movie wasn't without its flaws, however. I found the second part to be kinda weaker until the last quarter. My attention wasn't that devoted to the story compared to the beginning and I found myself kinda indifferent during some parts. Additionally, I would have liked to see even more interactions between the Park family in order to feel the emotional impact more, particularly towards the ending. Their relationship was complex and the film showed that, it's just that the movie would have benefited from more meaningful scenes between the family.
The Host might be marketed as a horror movie but it's not a horror movie in the classic way. The horror is not build around the monster. Nor it relies on cheap jumpscares. It's the fact that governments will not always do the best for the citizens and how quickly they'll try to shift the blame of their mistakes to someone else instead of taking accountability. It's the realization that people with power will always find a way to produce propaganda at the expense of others. In conclusion, the real horror is our society and the politicians who have been the real "monsters" all along.
The ending of the movie might be bittersweet but in my opinion, it ends in a hopeful note. It might not be possible to punish the people who are responsible for the tragedy of others but what we can do is try and live the best life possible, surrounded by people who we love. Contrary to the rest of the events before, the ending offers a more humane glance, one that filled me with a warm feeling, showing that while it's not possible to exterminate all "monsters", not all hope is lost.
Watch and judge for yourselves.
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On one hand, we are presented with a family drama that focuses on rescuing Hyun Seo, daughter of the protagonist. On the other hand, we are witnessing the inept behavior and planning from the government, which is too heavily influenced by the American presence. The at times ridiculous and uncaring attitude of certain groups of people did frustrate me to the core, but it was an important part of the storytelling that made the movie more impactful.
The performance was stellar. Song Kang Ho and Byun Hee Bong left such a strong impression on me. Not one performance felt off or below the standard set by the main cast.
I also appreciated the still camera shots that allowed me to truly grasp the situation and focus on the actors' performance and delivery. The directing wasn't distracting. It was a great balance of impressive and aesthetically pleasing shots (the visual aspect) and great storytelling.
Overall, even though the movie was made almost 15 years ago, it aged really well. It did not feel dated, the effects and CGI were good. To some extent, it is a statement piece, so reading about the inspiration and political background of it, makes it a better watch.
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The story begins with the Park family, owners of a small diner on the banks of the Han River in Seoul. Their lives are turned upside down when an amphibious creature, a giant mutant monster, emerges from the water and kidnaps their youngest daughter, Hyun-seo. The monster is the result of the irresponsible disposal of toxic chemicals into the river by American scientists at a military base.
The family, now in mourning, struggles to cope with the tragedy. However, the father, Gang-du, is led to believe that his daughter is still alive and trapped in the sewer. He, along with his family, embarks on a desperate and often comical journey to rescue the girl and confront the monster.
Bong Joon-ho uses the creature as a metaphor for social and political criticism, addressing themes such as government bureaucracy, corporate greed, and American military intervention in South Korea. The director masterfully balances different genres and tones, alternating between moments of tension and comic relief, without ever losing empathy for the characters. The film is a cinematic experience that will surprise, move, and make you think.
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Qui est le monstre ? La créature ou le système ?
The Host fête ses vingt ans cette année, et s'il a pris quelques rides, elles lui vont si bien qu'il continue de faire illusion, partagé entre critique sociale, drame familial et film de monstre.La créature est magnifique, malgré l'aspect daté de ses effets numériques. Grande amatrice de films de monstres, je regrette toujours l'abandon des animatroniques au profit du numérique, tout en comprenant ce choix. Cela ne m'empêche pas d'apprécier les œuvres récentes. Quoiqu'il en soit, la créature convainc par sa mutation cohérente et son aspect dérangeant.
On pointe souvent du doigt les films de monstres comme des œuvres de seconde zone. Certes, il existe de sacrés navets dans le genre, mais aussi des films qui vont plus loin qu'une grosse bestiole repoussante qui boulotte tout sur son passage. Les films de monstres peuvent être une riche source de réflexion sur la nature humaine, sur l'Homme en général et, comme ici, une satire, notamment sur la colonisation des États-Unis et l'incompétence du système politique sud-coréen, car influencé.
Je ne mets pas ce film sur un piédestal, simplement parce qu'à mes yeux Bong Joon Ho n'a pas révolutionné le film de monstre comme on aime le dire. En effet, c'est un très bon film, mais il reste conventionnel avec des personnages imparfaits, des systèmes défaillants et la bêtise humaine. Des éléments que l'on retrouve dans les films de monstres en général, et bien avant 2006 : les Dents de la mer (1975), Alien (1979), The Thing (1982), Le Blob (1988) ou encore Mars Attacks! (1996).
En bref, The Host est un film de monstre sous couvert d'une critique peut-être plus anti-américaine qu'on ne le pense, et qui s'équilibre parfaitement entre son drame, son humour, son suspense et son horreur.
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En el caso de The Host, quizás es la que menos me gustó pero aún así la recomiendo muchísimo. La trama se centra en hacer una crítica social a Corea, como es normal en las películas del director, en este caso centrado en la contaminación de las aguas del río Han y el resultado que este tiene, la creación de un monstruo que aterroriza a la población de Seúl cuando despierta.
Los personajes me parecieron entrañables y es que Bong Joon-Ho suele crear personajes en sus películas que tienen la mezcla exacta de humor, ridiculez y coraje, algo que hace que la trama se pase muy rápido y entretenida.
El director suele hacer películas donde la trama no es muy complicada, a pesar de la denuncia social que realiza, lo que hace que sea fácil de ver y que el espectador no se líe con cuestiones que puedan entorpecer el entendimiento de la película. Por lo que en The Host, la historia es sencilla y fácil de seguir. Sin embargo, también te mantiene alerta en todo momento ya que también cuenta con la cantidad exacta de suspense.
Si quieres comenzar con el cine coreano, recomiendo mucho las películas de este director, Bong Joon-Ho y The Host, junto con Parásitos, es una de las más famosas.
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