31 Days of Asian Horror: The Host (2006)

It’s officially October, and day one of the 31 Days of Asian Horror! What better way to start than with a personal favorite genre and one of my top Korean movies, the 2006 monster movie The Host.

After a military scientist flushes down a liquid that enters the Han River, a creature is created that makes landfall and takes the daughter of a snack bar attendant, Gang Du (Song Kang Ho). Written and directed by Bong Joon Ho (Parasite), The Host follows Gang Du’s family’s fight as they try to get back Hyun Seo from the creature and the obstacles that the creature’s presence creates.

The Host is a little bit different than most creature features, as it focuses it’s satire through the characters and not the creature. It combines action horror with an underlying plot about the background of the creature, the public’s response, and a larger coverup. The character’s are constantly grounded. The film portrays a view that is closer to what would happen in a situation like this rather than other action films with a super-powered hero that gets everything right.

We see this throughout the film not just within the main characters. The way the crowd reacts when the creature first emerges, throwing beer cans into the water or the white male hero trying to take down the creature to only get eaten within minutes. No character is necessarily good or evil. They all lack the skills to survive unlike normal main characters in an action film and the plot allows for those faults to work within satire and comedy that doesn’t go over the top. Even the way the government and the police handle it, and how the citizens who weren’t at the river view what happened, all help form a smart and entertaining story that keeps you guessing even when you think you have it.

Korean films, in general, tend to focus on families (related or found) as it is engrained in their culture, and khorror does not stray away from it. Much like films such as Train to Busan or The Quiet Family, through the wackiness of the central plot The Host focuses on the underdogs working as a team and the importance of them all working together to become the hero. At the end of the day, The Host is a focus on the importance of family and the fight (to help family or those in trouble) makes you a hero even when you don’t think you possess those skills.

I highly suggest watching this movie even if you are not a horror fan. It’s a fun watch that will keep you entertained and engaged throughout. The movie is wacky, quick-witted, and has a lot of heart.

If you are looking for more movies similar to this, I suggest giving Chaw a chance. I previously reviewed it here.

The Host is currently streaming on a number of sites such as Hulu, Amazon Prime, and Tubi and available on Blu-Ray/DVD.

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