Fantastic Fest 2009

US Premiere
A mutant monster rises out of Seoul’s Han river hell-bent on devouring all that stand in its way!

“The Host is a film that provides something of everything from suspense to terror, from drama to a little touch of comedy, this film has it all. What’s more surprising is that it delivers all of them very well and provides great entertainment on the way. The opening of the film is perhaps one of the strongest I’ve seen. Starting with introductions to some of the main characters we instantly get a feel for who they are and what they are about, all the time with a healthy amount of humor.” - (Twitch)

Bong rips up genre conventions, with the drama of a family caught in a crisis - the human factor left out of most Hollywood monster films - adding a hefty dose of pointed social and political satire. The Host is both frightening and tragic, yet cut with comic absurdity. This is a giant monster flick, after all. Luckily, Bong never forgets it. - (Colin Geddes, Toronto International Film Festival)

Something rather large, deadly, and mysterious is living under Seoul’s Han River. An otherwise peaceful day at the park turns into a bloody mess, when this giant beast emerges from the water to lay waste. While the premise may sound well-worn, Bong Joon-ho’s The Host ends up being one of the most refreshing monster movies in years. Already a sensational hit overseas, the film (to be released stateside in 2007) is more JAWS than Godzilla, wrapping human drama inside a thrilling, and action-packed, universe. Following the monster’s first ascension to present-day Seoul, the dysfunctional Park family is forced to band together in hopes of recovering the youngest of the clan, who may or may not be alive.

The road to rescue is littered with bodies, as the monster ventures out to find its latest prey. In the meantime, civilization is losing hope and the government has decided to unleash chemical warfare on the city. With the clock ticking, the Park family must rally its talents and destroy the monster before it destroys them, or the government destroys the city with nerve gas. Bong Joon-ho crafts a masterful chain of suspense and horror, but also a deft sense of humor. It’s obvious that he is securing his place in the “new wave” of Korean cinema. Neither conventional, nor stale, The Host will undoubtedly become a monster-movie classic for the decade. - Matt Dentler (Fantastic Fest)