The monster movie has long been a staple of sci-fi and horror movies, with the sci-fi element coming to the fore as the Cold War began and the constant fear of nuclear attack inspired people with the possibilities of radiation’s mutative properties.
In the last half century the creature feature has invariably begun because of man’s meddling with nature, just as Shelley had Frankenstein bring about his monster and so on and so forth with each new variation in a recurring Faustian tale, and THE HOST is little different.
Based on a true story (up to a point), THE HOST sees a US military employee insist on formaldehyde being poured into the sewers and therefore directly into Seoul’s Han River.
In real life, this lead to arguments between the pro and anti US camps about US arrogance and the already existing severe pollution of the Han, but in movie land, there is something else in the water…
Park Kang-du (Kang-ho Song) is a layabout father, working with his dad (Hie-ong Byeon) in a convenience food shack on the banks of the Han River. His daughter Hyun-seu (Ah-sung Ko) is in school and gives him a hard time, his brother (Hae-il Park) an unemployed graduate and his sister Nam-su (Du-na Bae) a champion archer. On the afternoon of one of Nam-su’s competitions, the people eating by the store spy some thing hanging from a bridge, in broad daylight, which soon drops into the murky waters and comes over to greet them. Chaos ensues.
From director Joon-ho Bong (of the acclaimed MEMORIES OF MURDER) THE HOST is typical of much of Korean cinema in that there is no unifying tone throughout the film – in any given scene you could expect slapstick, terror or heartfelt drama. Unlike many Western attempts at a stylistic mash Korean films often work, with each vying tone managing to succeed. The fact that the audience is not given signposts as to whether they should be laughing or shocked has undoubtedly contributed to the success of Korean cinema in the West, but that’s another story for another day.
What you need to know is that THE HOST is one of the best monster movies in too long. Somehow everything seems to have been crammed in but it still works – there are genuinely funny moments right up against tongue-in-cheek political jabs about the US military, a portrait of a well-meaning but struggling father and the most tense scenes in the last ten years, right up there with CHILDREN OF MEN and UNITED 93. There is even a protracted scene in the middle of the film where Grandpa gives a little speech his own kids can’t stay awake for, it’s actually a little boring and at this point you wonder if the director has lost his way, just as he snaps your head back for a heart-pounding final third as if it was planned all along.
As well as being well structured, the film is beautifully shot making the most of the riverside locations and is highly detailed with lots of incidental characters and moments that help add to the flavour of the film, but all of this pales next to the performances of the main cast. The three male leads all appeared in MEMORIES OF MURDER, whilst Du-na Bae worked with Joon-ho Bon in his first film, BARKING DOGS NEVER BITE.
Lead Kang-ho Song is prolific in Korean cinema with roles in Shiri and the Chan-wook Park films JOINT SECURITY AREA, SYMPATHY FOR MR. VENGEANCE and LADY VENGEANCE, and brings considerable weight to the role of the slow father with a tendency to sleep too much. All of the actors portraying the family have their chance to shine in the film, and Ah-sun Ko as the young Hyun-seu is particularly impressive in her first film performance for what is a pretty demanding role. These characters really anchor you into the story, acting believably in an unbelievable situation but rarely doing what you would expect.
Inevitably the remake rights have already been purchased, expect the English language version from Universal in the next couple of years. But will it star Nicholas Cage? Enquiring minds need to know.
I urge you to catch THE HOST in the cinema while you can, and stick with it through the comparatively slightly duller mid-section, as you’ll be well rewarded. A gem.
Ross Taylor