The Host (2 DVDs)

Reading out the cast list for Korean movies is like singing the Crazy Frog ring tone, all manner of ding bong dangs...! Watching their movies, on the other hand, is anything but banal. There's a new world opening up to western film fans from this part of the world right now and I have yet to see a duff movie coming out of it. This engaging effort that reflects this emerging and energetic country is a film that's unique in one crucial aspect of the horror genre it sits in: it uses cell phones to its advantage, not dismiss them as irrelevant scene spoilers. Instead of the lame excuses of 'dead battery'or 'no signal', as danger approaches, 'The Host' embraces the ...  Read the complete review

The head mortician at an American military base orders his junior to empty bottles of formaldehyde into Seoul's Han river. As a result, a creature mutates and grows to massive proportions, because coming out of the water and feeding on a selection of human flesh. Schoolgirl Hyun-seo is carried off by the monster, much to her father, Gang-du's, distress. He is then carted off with his father because he was splashed by the monster's blood. While institutionalised, he receives a phone call from Hyun-seo, who is apparently trapped in the sewers. The authorities don't believe Gang-du's pleas, so, with the help of his family, he breaks out to find his daughter. Will he ever ...  Read the complete review

Everyone loves dysfunctional families. From the Simpsons to the Bundys, the Royal Tenenbaums to the Hoovers of Little Miss Sunshine, there's a rich tradition of feuding, messed-up, but ultimately loveable families on small and big screens. The Host features onesuch of these families - Park Gang-du and father, daughter, brother and sister, encamped in a snack bar by Seoul's Han River. The makers of this 2006 Korean film seem to have asked themselves, however; "How do you make a film about a dysfunctional family better, make it stand out?" The answer they came up with? Throw in a mutant fish monster terrorising the city, of course. The Host, ...  Read the complete review

The Host is one of those quirky little films that you either love or hate. It's either a fun, if inconsequential movie, or a complete waste of time. Conclusions have been drawn with Lake Placid, in terms of its mix of horror and humour. Whilst The Host might fall a little short of those standards, it's a handy benchmark to judge whether this is your type of film or not. The plot of The Host could not be simpler. A monster suddenly emerges from a river in a Korean City, causing death and chaos. It takes a number of people back to its lair, including a little girl, whose father swears he will get her back. Simplicity is one of the best things about ...  Read the complete review

Directed by Joon-ho Bong Writing by Chul-hyun Baek and Joon-ho Bong Comedy / Drama / Action / Adventure / Sci-Fi / Horror / Thriller Released 10th November, 2006 (UK) Original Title in South Korean is Gwoemul MAIN CAST: Kang-ho Song as Park Gang-Du Hie-bong Byeon as Park Hie-bong Hae-il Park as Park Nam-il Du-na Bae as Park Nam-Joo Ah-sung Ko as Park Hyun-seo SUMMARY: Park Hie-bong owns and operates a small snack bar on the banks of Seoul's Han River. Living with him are his eldest son Gang-Du, his daughter Nam-Joo, his youngest son Nam-il, and his granddaughter Hyun-seo. His ...  Read the complete review