The monster movie epic that we have been waiting for!
Kang-ho Song: Park Gang-Du
Hie-bong Byeon: Park Hie-bong
Hae-il Park: Park Nam-il
Doo-na Bae: Park Nam-Joo
Ah-sung Ko: Park Hyun-seo
David Joseph Anselmo: Donald
Directed By: Joon-ho Bong
Release Date: March 9, 2006
Running Time: 119 minutes
Rated R for creature violence and language.
The Host is everything films like War of the Worlds, Godzilla (1998), and Lake Placid were not. It is a delightfully suspenseful mishmash of action, comedy, and horror. On the surface of the slimy skin, this may be simply a monster movie, but deep inside, this is a story about a dysfunctional family uniting in the height of a catastrophe. It is a rare treat that a picture mixes so many different elements so effectively. This epic is pure untamed entertainment from start to finish.
In Seoul, South Korea an American scientist (Scott Wilson) spots dust on his jars of formaldehyde. It is “dirty” according to him, so he orders his Korean assistant (Kim Hak-sun) to dump the hundreds of canisters down the drain. The assistant informs him that it is a toxic chemical, and the contents will eventually arrive in and contaminate the Han River, but the boss sticks to his orders, and the assistant follows them (this was based on actual events). Two years later, a beast has grown, and has commenced an assault on the shore of the river. Park Gang-du and his father Park Hie-bong run a tiny little nothing of a snack stand at this location. When his daughter is kidnapped by the monster, the rest of the family returns to mourn the tragedy. Together, they must put their discrepancies aside, and find a way to save Hyun-seo.
The title comes from the fact that this monster seems to be causing people to get infected with some sort of virus after they have direct contact with it. In other words, it acts as “the host” of this virus. The government is after the Park family because it is widely known that they dealt with the gigantic creature. After Park Nam-il is captured and quarantined, the family tries to find a way to escape quickly and begin their quest.
I would be interested to hear what Roger Ebert thinks of this. The reason I say that is because he is famous for preferring filmmakers that keep their creatures hidden, in order to generate more emotion and trepidation. This was a strategy employed by Alfred Hitchcock, and it works well, but Director Joon-ho Bong breaks that rule and tramps on it vigorously with his foot. He reveals the sea serpent in full approximately 20 minutes into the story. Normally, this would be a disaster, but that is far from the case here. Despite being able to analyze the monster from every angle in broad daylight, the appropriate amount of thrills and chills are still present. Scaring the audience was not his main priority.
The character development is rich and satisfying. Each loser member of this family is given adequate screen time. Bae Doo-na is the lovely champion archer that can’t run very fast. Park Nam-il is a frustrated unemployed salaryman who resents his brother for losing his daughter to the monster's clutches. Park Gang-du is the dimwitted member of the clan with bleached blond hair. Park Hie-bong is the father that cannot consistently maintain order. The performances are uniformly excellent with the group expressing undeniable chemistry. Thankfully, not one actor overshadows the other.
The Host, otherwise known as Gwoemul, has another dimension that exposes satirical tendencies. It actually has shades of Dr. Strangelove if one gazes hard enough. It suggests, not demands, that citizens stand up and examine their government, inquire about policies, and investigate the possibilities of corruption and half truths. It should be noted that the American military are involved in some capacity too. The social commentary is subtle and restrained, but can also lead to thought provoking discussion and debate for those who want to acknowledge it. Like V for Vendetta, the cautionary remarks are undoubtedly exhibited within, but not forced down our throats.
The organization of laughter and tension is amazing. Some notable scenes include riotous slapstick humor such as an instance when the family finally gathers at a memorial service for the presumed dead Hyun-seo. As they look at her picture on a shelf with other victims, the entire family breaks down and cries hysterically for an overly long period of time. It was a wondrous clash of emotions. Viewers were supposed to be near tears, but suddenly the mood abruptly switches to comedy. Shortly thereafter, a government agent, covered in a yellow outfit shielding him from harm, slips and falls, only to get up and pretend like he is invincible, right before informing everyone of the virus.
The opening action attack sequence is one of the best filmed in years, and while critics throw statements like that around, this time it is true. Steve Spielberg obviously had an influence on Director Joon-ho Bong, but he rises above that acclaimed filmmaker on this occasion with some truly stunning stunts from the amphibious beast as he hangs from a bridge, gallops on the sidewalks, backflips into the water, and swallows humans whole. Joon-ho had help for the script from Chul hyun-Baek and Jun-won Ha, but this dialogue is extraordinary nonetheless. Note the scene where the elder Park Hie-bong advises his son and daughter to be kind to Park Gang-du. It is a heartfelt moment, except that his children have fallen asleep as he continues to ramble. The special effects were designed by “The Orphanage” based in San Francisco, and a congratulations are in store for that company. Having already completed superb work on numerous Hollywood blockbusters like Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest and Fantastic Four: The Rise of the Silver Surfer, this is top-notch material.
Comparisons to Jaws are inevitable I guess, but The Host does not immediately fall under that category. It is a separate motion picture that expands the monster movie genre, recalls some B-movie qualities, and instills some wonderful new components. This is indeed a messy film, but that is intentional. It was molded in a way to be strange, daring, yet innovative. The Host was a smash hit in South Korea to no one's surprise, but I hope it has similar success in the U.S. The features contained would appeal to any and every American moviegoer. It is a triumph that will be hard to place in any one genre, but easy to mark as a glorious achievement.
The 411: Currently, The Host can be found only in a limited amount of theaters. I urge all of my readers to seek it out while they have the chance, as a better experience will be had by watching this family flee and hunt this monster on the big screen. Director Joon-ho Bong has crafted a jewel here that is destined to become a hit on DVD. It has everything, from comedy, to action and adventure, horror, science fiction, and politics. It is as if the filmmaker put all those features into a blender and hit puree. This spring has brought some stellar choices for audiences to enjoy. You just have to search a bit for them.
