By Claudia Puig, USA TODAYThough the masses will undoubtedly line up to see the predictable action epic 300, those who want something inventive and much more entertaining should check in with The Host.
This Korean-made film takes the well-worn creature-feature genre and spins it on its head thrillingly. Director Bong Joon-ho fashions a quirkily original film by cleverly blending classic horror/thriller elements, droll comedy, poignant family drama and socio-political satire. There is an appealingly absurdist quality to the film but also a dark undertone that taps into deeply held fears of monsters as well as contemporary paranoia about a pernicious global virus.
A gigantic mutant reptile with squid-like features and a prehensile tail rises out of the Han River to terrorize Seoul. The creature mutated thanks to toxic chemicals dumped several years before, which is revealed in a darkly funny opening scene.
This Korean-made film takes the well-worn creature-feature genre and spins it on its head thrillingly. Director Bong Joon-ho fashions a quirkily original film by cleverly blending classic horror/thriller elements, droll comedy, poignant family drama and socio-political satire. There is an appealingly absurdist quality to the film but also a dark undertone that taps into deeply held fears of monsters as well as contemporary paranoia about a pernicious global virus.
A gigantic mutant reptile with squid-like features and a prehensile tail rises out of the Han River to terrorize Seoul. The creature mutated thanks to toxic chemicals dumped several years before, which is revealed in a darkly funny opening scene.
We are introduced to the likable but dysfunctional Park family: The patriarch runs a food stand and has three adult children and a granddaughter. One of his two sons is Gang-du (Song Kang-ho), a ne'er-do-well with bleach-blond hair who has frequent on-the-job sleeping spells. He is the father of young Hyun-seo (Ko A-sung), the apple of her family's eye. Gang-du's brother is an unemployed college grad who looks down on his sibling. Their sister is an Olympic-caliber archer.
When the creature storms through the city, devouring everything in its wake, it whisks off sweet Hyun-seo. Because Gang-du tried bravely to fend off the beast, believed to be the host of a mysterious virus, he is branded as contaminated, and the family is whisked off to an evacuation center.
But a call from Hyun-seo, showing she has survived the monster's clutches, galvanizes their determination. Dad and his three grown children defy the quarantine and band together to save Hyun-seo. They hijack a van and outwit authorities, making the film a bit like an Asian Little Miss Sunshine.
The special effects involving the rampaging beast are impressive. And unlike most disaster or horror movies, the characters are well-developed. The film wisely focuses on the endearingly flawed Park family and the lengths to which they'll go to save a beloved child. What a pleasure to watch an ambitious horror film that not only frightens but also surprises and engages us completely with its artful shifting of tones.
1 comment:
"Though the masses will undoubtedly line up to see the predictable action epic 300..."
What a bitch! Why go out of your way to dis a movie you're not even reviewing? And what about the masses? They have feelings, too.
I might be less bitchy if her points about the movie's unique take on things didn't make her sound like she was completely unfamiliar with Asian cinema.
Post a Comment