The Host: I want to preclude this review with a statement and it may seem a little out of place but trust me, keep reading.
I really don�t think to much of imported horror.
So, why the hell am I reviewing a Korean made film? (is it technically K-Horror then?) Just something about this one kept drawing me in and last night I finally sat down and screened it and this might be the one, the K-Horror film that changes my mind about import horror.
I�m talking about THE HOST and I�ve got to say that I really enjoyed this film.
Directed by Bong Joon-ho THE HOST tells the tale of a family whose life is turned upside down when a creature emerges from the river that runs through their city and begins destroying things and killing folks left and right. Things take a very personal turn for our characters when the young daughter of our title family gets snatched by the rampaging beast and appears to be lost forever. A phone call from the frightened girl sends the family into action as they rush in to save their loved one.
Also, read: The Black Cat
THE HOST show how great film making knows no language. I have always hated subtitles and even worse than that is overdubbing but the story in THE HOST transcends these obstacles and really manages to hold the viewer’s attention. The emotions and plight of the family take center stage and the monster action become secondary. But the monster action is top-notch. Just something about a huge beast stomping city folk that brings a smile to your face. Bong Joon-ho has brought us something that we haven�t seen in a while, a good old fashioned monster movie.
THE HOST will be hitting theaters on March 9th and it�s one that really deserves your attention.
Here is the official synopsis and check out the pics at the bottom of this article
The talk of the 2006 Cannes International Film Festival and the latest film from critically acclaimed visionary director BONG Joon-ho, THE HOST has already garnered a substantial amount of international buzz. Utilizing state-of-the-art special effects, courtesy of a creative partnership between Weta Workshop (King Kong, The Lord of the Rings) and The Orphanage (Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Sin City), THE HOST is both a creature-feature thrill ride and a poignant human drama.
Gang-du (SONG Kang-ho) works at a food stand on the banks of the Han River. Dozing on the job, he is awakened by his daughter, Hyun-SEO ( KO A-sung), who is angry with him for missing a teacher-parent meeting at school. As Gang-du walks out to the riverbank with a delivery, he notices that a large crowd of people has gathered, taking pictures and talking about something hanging from the Han River Bridge. The otherwise idyllic landscape turns suddenly to bedlam when a terrifying creature climbs up onto the riverbank and begins to crush and eat people. Gang-du and his daughter run for their lives, but suddenly the being grabs Hyun-seo and disappears back into the river. The government announces that the monstrous thing apparently is the Host of an unidentified virus. Having feared the worst, Gang-du receives a phone call from his daughter who is frightened, but very much alive. Gang-du soon makes plans to infiltrate the forbidden zone near the Han River to rescue his daughter from the clutches of the horrifying Host�
For a look at the trailer and some other assorted goodies, you can visit the film’s official site by clicking here.
