2006 NYFF-HOST, THE (GWOEMUL)

The Host
(Gwoemul)

Kang-ho Song as Park Kang-du
in The Host (Gwoemul)
Directed by Bong Joon-ho,
South Korea

Photo Credit: Magnolia Pictures

          At every film festival I've attended, there's always at least one movie
  (sometimes more) whose inclusion leaves you scratching your head.
  At this year's New York Film Festival, it was THE HOST (GWOEMUL).

          Don't misunderstand me. THE HOST is a terrific popcorn movie that
  has already set box-office records in South Korea. But it's also a genre
  film that doesn't strike me as worthy of inclusion alongside some of the
  more artistic entries at the Festival. In fact, when someone asked me for my
  opinion, I could only say, "Imagine that the Festival existed in the 1950s.
  and GODZILLA was selected for inclusion." I know that sounds a bit harsh
  or perhaps even snobbish -- but that's how I felt. I guess I missed something
  that the programmers saw.

          Taken on its own, THE HOST is a thoroughly enjoyable creature movie,
  a popcorn movie filled with equal parts humor, horror and drama. The plot
  involves an evil American (Scott Wilson) who demands that an underling dump
  harsh chemicals down the drain (which is based on fact). Years later, an
  odd creature is seen in the Han River (not based on fact -- at least, not yet
  anyway). Several more years pass and that creature has become a mutant
  fish with prehensile tails, a shark-like mouth (which recalls JAWS) and the
  ability to travel on land.

          One idyllic afternoon, said creature attacks a resort area and
  wreaks havoc. It also kidnaps a young girl and the remaining members
  of her dysfunctional family must band together, overcome both their grief
  and their differences, and try to save not only the girl but the world.

          The creature isn't nearly as terrifying as other film monsters,
  but that may be the director's point. He clearly intends to lobby criticism at
  governments (who jump to the conclusion that the monster is carrying
  a deadly virus). When it is decided to destroy the monster with a chemical
  called Agent Yellow (and what does that immediately bring to mind?), he
  raises the spectre of global destruction by chemical warfare.

          As a pure monster movie, THE HOST is entertaining in a B-movie
  sort of way. As an allegory for the troubles of the world, I found it less
  successful.

                          Rating:                B