Anna Daniels
The Host is the kind of sci-fi film that can leave you holding your breath every time the monster slips out of sight — you know it could strike at any moment, and you don’t want to let your guard down.
After an American military pathologist tells his Korean assistant to dispose of the contents of 200 bottles of formaldehyde by dumping them in the Han River, the fish population gradually declines, and locals report sightings of a large unidentified creature lurking in the water. Years later, we’re introduced to snack bar owner Park Gang-du, who works by the riverbank with his family. When a massive serpent emerges from the water, snatching his daughter and killing countless passersby, Gang-du must fight with everything he has to try and save her life.
Bong Joon Ho makes some unexpected directorial choices in this film — most notably, he reveals the monster very early on, which will satisfy some viewers’ curiosity while leaving others wishing he spent more time building up the mystery. But the relationships within Gang-du’s family feel very realistic, and you’ll definitely feel emotionally invested in their fate. The Host is a solid film — it just has some stiff competition among Bong Joon Ho’s other projects.
Written by: Looper
