Timecrimes Timecrimes
Aug
16
2006

Edinburgh Film Fest Report: The Host Review

Posted by Todd Brown at 5:19pm.

Posted in Film & DVD Reviews , Action, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Asia, Toronto Film Festival 2006.

hostopen.jpg

It doesn’t hit screens at the Toronto Film Festival for a few weeks yet but Bong Joon-Ho’s The Host has already hit screens at the Edinburgh fest, where Filmstalker’s Richard Brunton gives it a perfect five star rating ...

The Host is a film that had been talked about a lot during its production and the teasers and posters I’d seen to date had gotten me pretty interested. So when it was announced for the Edinburgh International Film Festival this year I had to go and see it.

I have to say I was more than impressed with what I saw. The Host is a film that provides something of everything from suspense to terror, from drama to a little touch of comedy, this film has it all. What’s more surprising is that it delivers all of them very well and provides great entertainment on the way.

The opening of the film is perhaps one of the strongest I’ve seen. Starting with introductions to some of the main characters we instantly get a feel for who they are and what they are about, all the time with a healthy amount of humour. The first appearance of the creature is viewed quite satirically, or rather the peoples attitude and “car crash” mentality is.

Then when it races through a busy park attacking people, it’s probably the best portrayal of group blind panic I’ve seen, and coupled with some excellent edge of your seat and distressing scenes. The shot of the girl standing in shock is one of the most disturbing scenes you’ll witness, it’s not something you’d expect to happen in a typical film and it’s indicative of scenes to come.

Throughout the film you’ll be toyed with, there are the usual straightforward scares, and one so effective I leapt out of my seat. There are also moments like the opening one at the park, where the unexpected happens and you really do get a surprise at the direction the story has just taken.

There are other similar incredibly strong moments that will hit you with a shock, and they seem out of place and going against what you believe should be happening. I felt myself looking at the screen in surprise thinking “That’s not fair!”, and that’s a great response to illicit.

The frequent humour is an aspect of the story that is really well handled, it never detracts from other areas of the story, and often helps to relax a tense or distressing moment in order for the filmmakers to return to the situation and build it up again. Sneaky devils.

One of the oddest moments is when the family are mourning wildly in the school hall, this begins sadly and slowly, building in your uncomfortableness and sadness. Then something strange happens, they just manage to tip the performance into humour, just enough to lighten the situation and raise a few sniggers. Then photographers and film crews descend and we’re presented with an interesting social commentary, yet you’re still feeling the humour of the moment and just coming out from the sadness of the family. It’s all wonderfully woven together.

The leads are good, particularly the young girl, Park Hyun-seo played by Ah-sung Ko, who is very convincing and strong in character. At times the emotions she shows are so natural and believable, you’ll find yourself caught up in her scenes.

The other characters continually walk that fine line between comedic and serious performances. Each of them have their flaws which are shown throughout the film, but in the end each get their chance to redeem themselves and sometimes they get multiple chances, often they need them too.

That raises another interesting aspect, instead of following a standard route with the characters, their development follows the unusual turns of the film itself and we’re treated to surprises and failures when we don’t really expect them. Indeed you could almost say that these characters are more human than many fully focussed dramatic character based films.

The creature effects in this film are quite superb. It has weight and a natural, organic movement. So often CGI creatures will appear to run over the ground or not properly interact and collide with real life objects, here though every effort has been made to address this, and it works superbly.

I don’t believe I’m spoiling anything about the movie when I say that the ending seems slightly flat against the amount of entertainment that the rest of the film has managed to deliver. It wraps everything up incredibly neatly, with each character having had their shot at redemption. Yet it was a little too neatly tied up for me, although it didn’t detract from anything else the film gave.

I’d recommend this film even for those not interested in Asian Horror, for this can’t be classed alongside what you would expect from a typical Asian Horror, indeed there’s not even a lot of horror. This is a suspenseful, thriller, drama, comedy, you’re getting the idea. It’s great entertainment with some brilliant moments of shock and terror. Well worth watching.

Review by Richard Brunton.

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Reader Comments

  1. Greg 08/16/2006 @ 6:43pm

    I take it you were also at the press screening as you are not that fast.

    Bong Joon-Ho was at the 22:15 creening this evening, he introduced the movie and held a q&a session after. I got my memories of murder LE signed and my picture taken with him. There was also a korean TV crew with him that were filming the into and q&a. Off to be but will post more later as its almost 02:00 in the morning and im up at 6am.

  2. Greg 08/16/2006 @ 6:44pm

    <a href="http://img131.imageshack.us/img131/52/dsc00052ww2.th.jpg">http://img131.imageshack.us/img131/52/dsc00052ww2.th.jpg</a>

  3. Hoon 08/16/2006 @ 10:54pm

    OMG~!!! I really Have to watch it. Anyone knows when I can see it at Toronto International Film Festival?

  4. Richard Brunton 08/16/2006 @ 11:55pm

    Yeah I was at the press screening on Monday 14th.

    The EIFF don’t tell the Press who is going to be appearing at public screenings, which I think is quite insane, these guys are missing out on tons of publicity.

  5. TiGrBaLm 08/17/2006 @ 12:26am

    Gosh you lucky TO folk, us here in Calgary for the CIFF will probably be getting 1 korean film and it too being 3 years old! (>_Gosh you lucky TO folk, us here in Calgary for the CIFF will probably be getting 1 korean film and it too being 3 years old! (>_<)

  6. Eben 08/17/2006 @ 1:24am

    It’s showing at 9pm, Monday the 28th of August in London, Odeon West End Leicester Sq as part of the ‘fright-fest’, tickets are about £10! http://www.frightfest.co.uk/frightfest2006dd.html

  7. Dara 08/17/2006 @ 7:46am

    Gee- Is it real that good? I havent watched it yet and I wasnt planning to watch it either. Does it worth it? I thought it would be a typical, stereotype horror movie (which I hate!). Well, yeah, I really liked this director’s previous movies though… Maybe I should watch it.

  8. Greg 08/17/2006 @ 8:56am

    Dara, Yeah its really good. Its not your conventional monster movie. Its similer to Memories of Murder in that it steps outside its genre, MOM is a crime movie but at the same time there are several laugh out loud moments and plenty of suspense, thrills and spills. Much the same with The Host. This film will be talked about in the same way, i loved MOM and i hold The host in as much high regard.

  9. Hosting 08/17/2006 @ 1:00pm

    Here’s another excellent review.

    http://www.lovehkfilm.com/panasia/host.htm

  10. Troy 08/17/2006 @ 6:09pm

    Great review. Thanks, now I am looking forward to it even more.

    I’m seeeing it today, they are showing it in Sydney here in Australia, for the next week or so in a couple of cinemas in the city.

    Apparently the tickets all sold out when they had a few sessiona at the Melbourne film festival.

  11. Swarez 08/18/2006 @ 1:08pm

    The Reykjavik International Film Festival is trying to get The Host and Bong to come over and have a good time. God I hope they do.

  12. Jake 08/19/2006 @ 10:11am

    A great introductory film from Bong Joon-Ho. I was fortunate enough to be at the screening last night (Friday) at Cineworld in Edinburgh and enjoyed every minute of it. Shane Danielson introduced the film as something special before introducing the Director himself.

    The film itself was something fantastic. I am pretty new to the world of Asian movies, seeing a handful including 2046, Old Boy etc I think I have been lucky as each choice I have made has been nothing short of spectacular, including Guimul (The Host). I look forward to catching up on Bong Joon-Ho’s other films.

    J

  13. Richard Brunton 08/19/2006 @ 1:10pm

    Damn, see that’s what I don’t like about the EIFF, the filmmakers don’t come to the press events, after all why should they we’re not fans and we’re all tired old reporters - sarcasm. I think they miss out on that. Then the filmmakers miss out on the great publicity they’d have from a reported Q&A session.

    Lucky you Jake. You’re definitely in the right place to continue your Asian learning. Hope you’re going to check out Infernal Affairs, 9 Iron, etc etc…
    -----

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