The Host

This Korean horror import has the kind of cinematic cred that most mutant monster movies could only dream about. After debuting last May in a prestigious slot at the Cannes International Film Festival, this oddly funny, scary, politically potent tale of a giant monster wreaking havoc on the population is already a cult smash before it has even opened. So is it worthy of all the hype? Yes, and uh, maybe. After a lethal substance finds its way into Seoul's Han River (by way of careless Americans, of course), the film jumps forward in time several years to spookily reveal a monster (a distant cousin of neighboring Japan's favorite whipping boy Godzilla?) that is now roaming those waters, "hosting" a deadly virus that could threaten the whole community. The focus, however, is on one local family who was there when he was first spotted, apparently dining on one of their young daughters. When they are given reason to believe she is actually still alive, they decide to ignore government quarantines and go after the Host in order to save her. Most films of this genre usually turn into a series of munchfests. But here, talented director Bong Joon-ho is more interested in character development than fright, and much of the movie's (long) running time is devoted to quirky forays into the effect the monster's actions has on the people. Some of the unexpectedly funny touches throughout are clearly indigenous to the region and may catch U.S. viewers off guard, but The Host is indeed a creature feature of a different stripe. If you're willing to be cast under its spell, it's worth the time and investment.