The Host (2006)

The Host(2006)

                                                                                 Gwoemul (original Title)

Director: Joon-ho Bong

Writers: Joon-ho Bong and Won-jun Ha, screenplay by Chul-hyun Baek

Starring: Kang-ho Song (Park Gang-Doo), Hie-bong Byeon (Park Hie-bong), Hae-il Park (Park Nam-il), Doona Bae (Park Nam-Joo), Ah-sung Ko (Park Hyun-seo), David Anelmo (Donald), Clinton Morgan (Agent Yellow), Brian Rhee (Young Korean Doctor), and Scott Wilson as the US Doctor in the Morgue.

  The Film starts off with an American military pathologist (Scott Wilson) commanding a reluctant Korean assistant (Brian Rhee) to break protocol and dump large amounts of bottles that contain formaldehyde down the drain, that leads to the Han River. 

  A man overwhelmed with mistakes of the past, is holding himself up on the bridge that overlooks the Han River.  His regrets are spoken softly, his mind is filled with the desire to jump into the river and all will go away.  Meanwhile a group of people run to his aid, but are to late, and the lone man with deep regret jumped into the river that swallowed him. 

  Years later, two men fishing in the Han, notice something strange that is swimming in the river.  The small creature has a tale.  It swims past them, but in fear, they cease to fish and leave the Han.

  Gang-Doo (Kang-ho Song) sleeping on the job, while a customer waits for someone to assist her.  An older man, father of Gang-Doo (Kang-ho Song) approaches and helps the customer.  Hie-Bong (Hie-bong Byeon) slaps his son on the head and tells him to wake up and help him, customers need help.  The young son tells his father that he is waiting for his daughter, Hyun-seo (Ah-sung Ko).  The arrival of his daughter makes him happy, He later tells Hyun-seo (Ah-sung Ko) that having a beer will clench your thirst.  Not understanding why? She can't have a beer, oh! Well! Gang-Doo (Kang-ho Song) waits for the televised Olympic event that is about to take place, his sister Nam-Joo (Donna Bae) awaits her turn in the archery event. She waits to be called, taking a deep breath, looking at her target, she pulls, waiting, waiting, the clock, ticks,Taking to long, time ran out and the older, sister will come home holding a bronze metal.  

  Something is swimming in the Han River, spectators throw beer cans and debris to get the attention of whatever is in the river.  Chaos takes control as the creature emerged from the Han and starts to kill whatever it can catch.  Gang-Doo (Kang-ho Song) runs and finds his daughter is in awe with the large beast.  Doo runs to her aid, grabs her hand,they both run as fast as they can.  Gang-Doo efforts are in vain, the creature has entangled his kid, turns back to the river.  Needless to say, many die without warning, and the creature trying to leave is attacked by Doo, in retaliation, the creature sees Doo and attacks, but is enpaled by a strret sign, causing it to bleed ,the blood that came from the beast is spattered over Doo.

  The film overall is pretty good, it doesn't disappoint as a good monster movie.  The acting is different than one would expect, not saying it was bad, it has a certain taste that one may enjoy. The scene with the family quarantined in the Korean hospital is classic.  many plots points are introduced here; the younger brother, Nam-il (Hae-il Park) arrives filled with insults on how stupid Gang-Doo (Kang-ho Song) was to let go of Hyun-seo's hand. The way he laid into him was pretty funny.  Next up the Bronze medalist, and older sister, Nam-Joo (Doona Bae) is overwhelmed with grief  when she finds out, Hyun-seo (Ah-sung Ko) has died in the clutches of the creature.  The family is together and instead of hateful words towards each other, they end up falling on the ground crying about the loss of a loved one, different but good.

  This creature feature gets better when Gang-Doo (Kang-ho Song) receives a phone call that came from his deceased daughter.  from that point, the family somehow becomes soldiers hunting a creature that is a host for the virus, that contains  formaldehyde, The escape from the Hospital is humorous, and it maybe a bit quirky but it works.  All the family is armed, the father has given all his life savings to a crime organization that helps them escape from the Hospital. Shotguns, some ammo, a bad van that will die halfway to there destination; lets not forget the creature they have to deal with; thats even if they find the right location. The family is really clueless on where the creature lair is.

  The film has its ups and downs, i get the plot, very simple, not over the top which some monster movies go into.  The action is fast, gets right to the point, and that's what you want in a creature feature, not an overly long plot that drags and someday you get a clip of the monster.  The monsters early appearance made it fun, not boring. 

  The appeal to monster movies has always had a special place in my heart.  I don't care about the plot, the monster has to look good, destroy things, while people run for there lives, is all i care about.  As a kid, watching horror movies back in the day was a great experience because you had fear, and laughter, with popcorn at hand. The point of this movie wasn't just killing, or people bleeding; it was the monster, it is and always shall be the main point of the movie. No one cares about the chemicals that were dumped in the Han. But, the moment the creature emerged that's when the fun kicks in. 

  Movies I recommend that are not only fun but great monster flicks. The Thing, Godzilla King of all monsters, King Kong (1976), creature from the black Lagoon(1954), and finally swamp thing (1982).  These maybe older films but great monster flicks. The Thing is in this category because of the cool effects that make it a true monster flick.