The Host (2006)

Caution: This Might Contain Spoilers!

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Park Gang-Doo and his family struggle to rescue his daughter, Park Hyun-seo, after she is taken by a mutated creature. Things become tougher with the threat of a virus.

This film was directed by Joon-ho Bong. This South Korean film is both a creature flick and a virus flick. The story is fairly straightforward, with chemicals introduced into the water supply a fish becomes mutated and begins attacking humans years later. A family fights the government, and scientists, to recover a missing girl. There is also a political agenda behind the story. It loosely based around an incident in 2000, where a Korean mortician (working for the U.S. military) dumped formaldehyde down the drain; which is how this film this film begins. It strongly antagonizes America, and shows their own politicians as inept. There is also a few cultural references used. The film isn't very gore, but it is violent. The computer animation for the creature was great until it caught fire. There is moments when this film becomes a little cartoonish and corny, but it still holds itself together. Even though the virus aspect was meant to be a message, it still felt unnecessary to the overall story. The creature design, itself, was unique. There was meant to be a prequel, video game release, and an American remake of the film (but none have come to fruition). Kang-ho Song played the role of Park Gang-Doo. He was great at performing the part of the desperate and inept father. There were a few times when he felt too childlike to be believed. Ah-sung Ko, Ko A-sung, played the role of Park Hyun-seo. For the amount of time she was on screen, she was great. Her performance gave the film its life.

I give this film 3 out of 5 stars! It is a decent creature flick with some good actors.

This film can be seen on Netflix Instant Que.

Answer to last blog: Actors Colin Firth and Mark Strong, Kingsman: The Secret Service, worked together in the spy film Tinker Tailer Soldier Spy.

Que: What other film has director Joon-ho Bong directed?

New World
Snowpiercer
Cole Eyes
The Terror Live