Released in 2006 and presented at the Directors' Fortnight in Cannes, The Host is a hybrid of horror, drama and slapstick comedy. Bong Joon Ho, already known for Memories of Murder, tells the story of Gang-du, an awkward family man, who races against time after his daughter is kidnapped by a creature from the Han River.
The film reunites Song Kang-ho, the director's favorite actor, with Byun Hee-bong and Park Hae-il. Thanks to virtuoso direction and special effects supervised by The Orphanage and Weta Workshop(Lord of the Rings, King Kong), The Host has established itself as a benchmark of South Korean genre cinema.
The Host will be broadcast on Max from March 1, 2025.
Synopsis: In Seoul, Gang-du runs a small riverside snack bar where he lives with his family, including his beloved daughter Hyun-seo. One day, a giant monster emerges from the depths of the river and attacks the crowd. Gang-du tries to escape with his daughter, but she is abducted by the creature, who disappears into the depths of the river. The Park family decide to set off in search of the creature, to find Hyun-seo...
With its blend of monster cinema, black comedy and social satire, The Host could appeal to fans of fantasy thrillers as well as those who appreciate Bong Joon Ho's critical look at society. Like Snowpiercer or Parasite, the film is not content with a simple horrific spectacle, and questions the inequalities and dysfunctions of the modern world.
Viewers looking for a spectacular creature feature will find influences from genre classics, from the original Godzilla to Alien, but with a decidedly Korean approach, where burlesque rubs shoulders with family drama. Those who prefer more frontal horror, in the style of The Mist or Cloverfield, may be surprised by the film's unique tone, oscillating between the tragic and the absurd.
Bong Joon Ho wanted to anchor his story in a familiar setting, transforming the peaceful Han River into a nightmare scene, as he had already done in Memories of Murder, when he confronted realism and fantasy. He claims an influence from M. Night Shyamalan's Signs, integrating a supernatural threat into a realistic, everyday setting.
The film's title, The Host, offers several possible interpretations, evoking both an organism that is host to a parasite and a metaphor for exploitation and manipulation. The film thus follows in the tradition of works denouncing industrial pollution and its consequences for the environment and people.
Special effects were entrusted to The Orphanage, a studio founded by former members of Industrial Light & Magic, and to Weta Workshop, specialists in digital creatures. This blend of Hollywood expertise and Korean sensibility has helped make The Host one of South Korea's biggest box-office successes.
The Host remains a benchmark of modern monster cinema, driven by inventive direction and a talented cast led by Song Kang-ho. Between terror, satire and emotion, the film bears witness to Bong Joon Ho's unique talent for renewing genres and captivating viewers.
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