Film Illiterate, wherein the proprietor records movies seen, and sporadic progress through assorted lists of the "best". Originally started after regretfully renting something forgettable for the third time. I've forgotten what, but never again! A tedious endeavour since 2005. Hello. 🙂
Brilliant Korean creature-feature that happily ignores the trend towards psychological horror and embraces the tradition of the classic monster-movie. The monster, a mutant fish-thing created by chemicals dumped into the Han river, isn't half-glimpsed through shadows: the first we see of it is a broad-daylight rampage among holidaymakers on the river shore. When Gang-du Park(Kang-ho Song) loses touch with his daughter Hyun-seo (Ah-sung Ko) in the commotion, the creature grabs her and escapes into the water.
What follows is a darkly humorous drama about the Park family's response to their loss, over a backdrop of the government's lacklustre efforts at damage control. The film is loosely based on a real-life incident of an American worker flushing toxic waste into the Han; the resulting popular anger was aimed not just as the U.S., but also at the Korean government for its ineffectual response. The Host's response is biting satire.
The political element adds depth to an otherwise fairly straightforward story, and it can't be denied that the creature itself is a marvel. Mutated enough that its uncanny-valley movement seems natural, it's the first example I've ever encountered of CG taking centre-stage without seeming offensively fake. Performances are excellent and the quirky score is one of the best in recent memory.
It's tragic and heartwarming and funny and intelligent and even a tiny bit scary. It's not your average monster movie, but whatever it is, it's magic. Absolutely not to be missed.