The Host (DVD, 2007)

Bong Joon-ho's "The Host" is the best kind of genre film; a movie that delivers the conventions audiences expect from a horror flick., while also offering surprising new variations on the formula.
The plot resembles any number of Environmental Monster Movies; like "Gojira" or Roger Corman's "Attack of the Crab Monsters", in which human carelessness with toxic chemicals leads to the formation of destructive creatures.
In "The Host", a U.S. Military Officer (veteran character actor Scott Wilson) orders an underling to dump hazardous waste down a drain that leads to a river in Korea; Years later, a Lethal Destructive Monster emerges from the river and wreaks havoc.
The premise promises a lot of old-fashioned sci-fi/horror kitsch; and Bong does not disappoint in the least !! Loaded with delightful images of the creature rampaging on land and in the water as dozens of screaming extras flee; and these scenes will bring a smile to the face of anyone with fond memories of Japanese Monster Movies or Steven Spielberg's "Jaws", (a key influence on Bong's film).
Like Spielberg, Bong seems never to make a wrong choice in terms of editing or camera placement — every action sequence is timed for maximum impact, and the movie contains big scares. It's a very different kind of horror filmmaking from what one finds in movies like the "Saw" series and "Hostel".
Bong doesn't skimp on the scares, but the movie doesn't have any truly 'nasty moments'. It's scary, yet you don't finish the feature shaken and depressed; rather energized and fulfilled (given the extent of visuaized stimulation in special-effects and storytelling premise).
While Bong provides all the expected pleasures of a movie in this genre, what makes "The Host" special is its completely unexpected emotional resonance. The film also focuses on a dysfunctional family; troubled long before one of its members — a young girl — is kidnapped by the creature.
After the child is taken, the tensions in her family reach a boiling point as the characters try to assign blame for the tragedy before eventually joining forces to try and save the girl's life. The scenes of domestic strife are perfectly balanced with the supernatural sequences so that each complements the other - the family arguments are given more intensity because of the high physical stakes involved, and the action set pieces are more exciting because of the complex and compelling characters.
The result is an odd, but highly-effective cross between "Jaws" and "The Family Stone", though to imply that Bong is doing nothing more than combining elements from other films would be inaccurate — he assimilates his influences but doesn't imitate them. And the sincerity of his characterizations gives "The Host" a specific sensibility that distinguishes it from its predecessors; it's cheerfully entertaining; but its emotional pull gives it an appeal for audiences who would normally steer clear of movies about rampaging sea beasts. Bong's love of filmmaking is as obvious and infectious as his love of humanity, and his stylish and entertaining movie is irresistible.

This is a guaranteed hit. Cannot fail you !! SEE THIS !!

The Host

I really enjoyed this film. I wish it was a little shorter and I really wish the subtitles matched what the film was saying as I watched it with my deaf cousin and it's dubbed in English but the dubbing doesn't match what the subtitles say.

Other than the length and the subtitles I think the film was extremely well done. Cool concept, great story, tons of different angles, and amazing special effects.

I definitely recommend watching this film.

Final Verdict:

4/5

Worth buying?: Probably not, but definitely worth watching.