07-08-07 The Host (Gwoemul) (2006)

Seen: July 28th, 2007
Format: Blu-Ray
Rating: 8

You may associate Asian monster movies with drive-ins, cheap special effects, and brain dead scripts. Gojira was more than that, it was a commentary on impact of industrialization on the environment, among other things. But many consider it a simple and pointless film about a monster ravaging Tokyo.

Even if you're one of these, see The Host anyway.

For those of you who actually like Asian monster movies, or monster movies of any ilk, this is right up your alley.

The remarkable thing about this film is how little the monster really matters. At it's heart this is a film about family. However you define family, there's a fundamental responsibility in that bond, a loyalty that can transcend reason and personal safety. We sacrifice for our families. We go wanting so that they can thrive.

The family at the heart of this picture is an unusual one. There's a lazy and dim-witted Dad, and a hardworking grandfather with a questionable past. There's a brother with a degree, no job and a drinking problem, and the sister, a competitive archer with concentration issues. At the heart of this family is the hope of the next generation, a slightly spoiled and precocious tween daughter. They're a bit of a mess, but tragedy will bring them together.

The film isn't so much horror as it's thriller. It's an abduction film, really, and the family bonds together to pursue the abductor, who happens to be a huge mutant fish-like creature, created by the indiscretions of an ugly American.

There's thrills and chills here aplenty. There's moments of high tension and heroism. But mostly, there's humor. This is a funny movie. There's a dark and comedic edge to this film. Humor is usually successful because at it's core it's both painful and true. There's a lot of that in this film. It doesn't shirk from uncomfortable moments. It doesn't make excuses for its characters, but it does laugh at them and then forgive them.

The special effects are good here. They're my favorite kind in that the serve the picture instead of comprise it. Story is king here, make no mistake. The score is interesting as well. It's fairly simple and even feels a bit amateur, but again, serves the picture well.

Americans aren't portrayed particularly well in this film. The opening scene references the McFarland incident, an act of environmental irresponsibility performed by a American civilian at an American military base in Korea. Americans, and particularly the CDC and military are portrayed as authoritarian and duplicitous here, but not more so than in some American films.

If you can even stand an occasional monster movie, see this one. I think you'll be surprised at the depth of the characters and the story.

The Good: Strong family story

The Bad: Government ineptitude and conspiracies

The Ugly: Americans