The host movie review
The host movie credits:
Directed by: Joon-ho Bong
Written by: Chul-hyun Baek and Joon-ho Bong
Cast:
Kang-ho Song (Gang-Du)
Hie-bong Byeon (Hie-bong)
Du-na Bae (Nam-Joo)
Release date: 2006
Spoiler alert: some crucial elements of the movie are commented in the following review. Be warned!
My bloody rating:
The host movie review:
If you are getting tired watching big Hollywood movies and want something original and fresh, you might want to try "The host".
This South Korean movie is really the closest you can come to an Hollywood film without watching one. So what's the point of watching a South Korean movie that was made like an American one?
Well, let's just say that this one probably has kept the good stuff from Hollywood features (nice CGI effects, lots of action and a good script) with a touch of Korean humor!
The storyline is quite simple: A monster emerges from a South Korean river, killing civilians randomly. The daughter of Gang-du, one of the main characters, is kidnapped by the beast while this one is going back into the waters.
Since no one seems to be able to help them, some family members of the young girl are hunting down the creature, hoping to find her alive.
What I really liked about "The host" was the fact that this movie is graciously mixing horror, comedy and politics. The humor in this movie is not too disturbing, even if sometimes, the tension might be a little disrupted by an irrelevant joke.
But overall, I was glad to finally see a movie that made me smile, that scared me a little and that had a political message, all of that without being too loaded or too confused.
The pace of the movie is great and some shots (and scenes) are original and rendered very well. Clearly, the director did a great job turning this low budget movie into a respectable feature!
The special effects in this movie are great. Of course, nobody is scared by CGI creatures anymore. However, the director did a good job showing us enough of the beast to satisfy monster lovers.
For the others, the moments of tension are also well-done, making this movie a nice thrill for those who don't really like gory scenes.
The design of the monster is not 100% original (we've seen better!), but the beast is well-rendered, making it an enjoyable experience overall!
The characters are sympathetic enough to keep the viewer's attention. We really feel sorry for the main character, Gang-du, and his personal evolution throughout the movie is funny and touching.
So if you are looking for a good monster movie, I recommend you this one. Most elements of the storyline might be a little outdated, but they are nicely put together, making this movie an excellent choice if you want to switch your brain to off and be entertained!
The host movie review written by: Martin Berube
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