The Host

This is a good old monster movie imported from South Korea. It is shown with subtitles, and the movie has good special effects and a smart script. Think of a very hip Godzilla movie. The film was directed by Joon-ho Bong. He also received one of the three writing credits for the film.

The film is on a limited type of release so hopefully it is close enough for you to catch. The script and dialogue of The Host is razor sharp. Not one character, well maybe one, that doesn't run up against some kind of wall or indignity in their own little world, be it the main characters trying to explain where their sister is while the government officials do not believe them, to the government officials trying to tell the crowds what to do and then the crowds won't do it. The movie constantly dashes our expectations to the rocks, and does it in a way that we like it. This is a classy movie. The movie is full of surprises. The movie is scary. The movie is funny in a surreal and absurd way.

To give you just a hint of the plot, as a result of the USA dumping chemicals down the drain, many years later a huge creature, which is a cross between a fish and some type of amphibian, starts chomping down on the citizens for a snack. A young girl is grabbed by the monster and the rest of the family gives chase trying to save her.

The movie has one shot that I think is the most beautiful thing I have seen in a movie in a long time. The younger son's daughter, while looking for the monster, sticks her head out of what appears to be a part of the undercarriage of a bridge. The metal is bright orange and far below we can see the river. It is a very disorienting shot but works very well and has a resonance far beyond the story itself. If you go see the movie watch for this shot. It is the small things that count.

You can write James Harper at movielover77061@yahoo.com