By: debbie lynn elias
Never have I waited so long to issue a review of a film and never have I been so excited to do so until now. So, let’s cut to the chase. THE HOST is not only hysterical but it has all the requisite elements that make “monster” movies such monstrous hits – some real nail biting, jump-out-of- your-seats scares, a really cool slick monster, some socio-political commentary with very timely jabs at the American military and superb special effects. THE HOST comes to us from Korea compliments of acclaimed Korean director Bong Joon-ho.
Now I don’t know if raucous laughter was the director’s intent, but it certainly is part of the result with this latest entry into the world of monster movie mania. You all know how much horror films and monsters remind me of my brother Ed, well this one takes the cake. (In fact, in certain light, he bears a striking resemblance to The Host.) But, besides the monster, you’ve got moronic siblings bashing each other in the head, screaming, yelling, crying, insulting each other at every step. Ah yes, felt like home to me the entire length of the film!
The time is post-war Korea. We are first greeted by a Colonel in the US military tying up some details in the US maintained morgue. Seems there are some rather dusty old bottles of toxic formaldehyde cluttering up the work area. Instructing a very nervous little assistant to dump the toxins down the drain, it’s not hard to anticipate what’s coming next. And by the way, where do you think those toxins are going? That’s right. Right into the Han River, Seoul’s main waterway. Fast forward a few years to a peaceful time. A prosperous time. Locals and tourists alike picnic along the Han. Family patriarch Hee-bong has a little food stand that he operates with the help of his not so bright/missing a few screws upstairs son, Gang-du. Although not quite right, Gang-du is nevertheless a “devoted” father to 12 year old Hyun-seo. More mature than her father, or his college-educated but lazy unemployed brother Nam-il or falls-apart-in-the-clinch Olympic caliber archery competing sister, Nam-joo, it’s obvious that Hyun-seo is the glue that holds this family together.
More than miffed at her father for giving her an “old” cell phone, Gang-du tries to gain some respect from his daughter by showing her his stash of dimes that he is saving so he can buy her a new cell phone. Of course, he’s saving the money by stealing from grandfather’s till. And then of course, she’s frustrated with Nam-il who showed up at father-daughter day in place of Gang-du, reeking of alcohol. And last but not least, Hyun-seo’s got angst from her aunt who didn’t release her arrow in time and lost Olympic gold. Exasperated as only a 12 year old can be, Hyun-seo goes off among the crowd along the river.
There is a sudden stir of excitement at the river’s edge. Materializing as if out of the blue, a parachute or something strange, maybe an overgrown bat, is handing upside down from the bridge tressels that span the Han. Uh, oh. Wait a minute! That’s no bat and that’s no parachute! Suddenly the creature drops into the water, and lunges onto land, bounding effortlessly like a T-Rex, sucking up everyone in its path.
Somewhere in the madness and mayhem, Hyun-seo gets separated from Gang-du who has made a beeline to protect her from the monster, but to no avail. Hyun-seo is wrapped in the monster’s tail and taken off to its lair. Where that is, nobody knows.
Needless to say, it’s not long before military madness rears its ugly head as does familial irreverence, melodrama and “brotherly love.” Carted off for medical quarantine because of exposure to the monster, everyone soon believes what Kang-du’s father has always known – that Kang-du isn’t quite right – especially when he insists that Hyun-seo is alive. But what makes him think that? Guess that old cell phone might come in handy for something! And so Kang-du, with the help of his moronic siblings, proving that nothing can stop a parent’s love and determination, sets out to save his daughter from the creature in the Han River.
Comical and campy beyond belief, THE HOST is Harold Lloyd pratfall funny. But oh, oh, oh – the dialogue. You don’t even need the sub-titles! The visuals and character antics are enough, but let me tell you, they come in handy above all the laughter. With just a “tinge” or “twinge” of familial sweetness to it (depending on how you look at it), this film reminds me from start to finish of my darling brothers. (Of course, they would be feeding me to the monster not trying to save me.) The dialogue is divinely funny and the sibling squabbles are delicious! People falling asleep while the family patriarch is opining…….You will be rolling in the aisles with this one. And the underlying sociopolitical satire on biological warfare and the subtle US government/military bashing is just too rich for words.
A superstar to Korean films, Song Kang Ho is a riot as Kang-du. According to director Bong Joon-ho, “You wouldn’t need a lot of convincing to see that Song is himself an otherworldly creature, erupting with an awesome level of explosive energy at the least expected moment.” From his dyed Crayola yellow hair to ill-fitting little tramp clothing, Song Kang Ho brings not only comedy, but the deep rooted simplicity and sincerity of a child to the part of Kang-du. Korean actress Bae Doo-na steps in as Kang-du’s freeze-in-the-clutch sister Nam-joo. Well known to Korean audiences, her tacit grace provides a lovely balance to her male counterparts and brings a new dimension to the character structure. Easily recognizable to American audiences is Scott Wilson as the military mastermind who started the whole ball rolling ordering the toxins be dumped in the river. Probably known best for his recent appearances on “CSI” as casino owner Sam Braun, Wilson gives a nonchalant credibility to his character and the events he puts into play. But the real star of this film is 14 year old Ko A-sung as Hyun-seo. Making her big screen debut as Hyun-seo, all I can say is WOW!!! She IS Korea’s answer to Dakota Fanning! Intense, determined, pragmatic, an adult in child’s clothing, she is simply mesmerizing.
Sadly, the premise of toxic dumping in the Han is based on an actual event that occurred in February 2000 when at a US military facility located in the center of Seoul, US military civilian employee Mr. McFarland was ordered to dump formaldehyde into the sewer system leading to Han River despite the objection of a Korean subordinate. The Korean government attempted to prosecute McFarland in a Korean court but the US military refused to turn him over. McFarland was eventually convicted in absentia although Korean public outrage was never quenched because McFarland never personally appeared and never served time.
Helmed by award winning director Bong Joon-Ho, it’s easy to see why THE HOST is already Korea’s top grossing horror movie. A perfect blend of characters, action and unfortunately, an actual historical event of toxic dumping to set the stage, Joon-Ho interlaces fantastical premise with everyday human emotion – albeit some very funny human emotion – in a catastrophic situation.
But, this is a horror movie and I would be more than remiss to not mention the fantastic creature creation. Designed by creature designer Jang Heui-cheol, FX supervisor Ken Rafferty and the San Francisco based The Orphanage take the monster mash to new heights with a fluid blend of CGI and live action compliments of animatronic’s ace John Cox and his life-size models of the creature. You may recognize Rafferty’s patented style from his work on “Star Wars: The Phantom Menace” and “Men in Black II” while The Orphanage is responsible for some of Harry Potter’s wizardry and the global disasters in “The Day After Tomorrow.” Two years in its creation, the monster is fascinatingly sleek with the sexiness and sheen of a new car. Created by Jang Hee-chul, extensive research and study was made into fish and amphibious species in order to design a creature that would appear capable of traversing on both land and see. With the look of an overgrown tadpole, the teeth and mouth of a Venus Flytrap, leaping legs like a dinosaur on drugs, this is one chomping tromping monster! Divinely and deliriously delicious!
Fast-paced, outrageously witty and wild, you can’t go wrong this weekend if you pick the monster with the most and catch THE HOST.
Kang-du: Song Kang-ho Nam-il: Park Hae-il Nam-joo: Bae Doo-na Hyun-seo: Ko A-sung
Directed by Bong Joon-ho. Written by Bong Joon-ho, Hah Joon-won and Baek Chul-hyun. Rated R. (119 min)
