The Host: Something to Stream on Netflix


If you're looking for a streaming movie on Netflix that is a little edgy but still fairly appropriate for the whole family (there's some violence and some Korean profanity) then I recommend Ba Joon-ho's dysfunctional family/monster flick The Host . . . the movie is tragic, funny, and intense by turns, and you're never quite sure which direction the plot and the tone will go-- it's also beautiful, even the disgusting and absurd creature (Jabberwocky/leech/amphibian mash-up) is mesmerizing-- and pace isn't like Cloverfield . . . right from the start, there are plenty of gratuitous shots of the monster, flinging itself gibbon-like from bridge strut to bridge strut, or causing near-comical chaos in crowds along the Han River . . . this is a great way to introduce kids to reading subtitles, and also to prepare them for films that aren't quite so "American," as there's a little bit of happiness at the end, but it's mixed with tragedy and melodrama, and while some of the monster/horror conventions are followed, others are discarded or toyed with . . . if you haven't seen this one yet, check it out: Nam-joo only brings home the bronze medal, but she deserves the gold.

5 comments:

  1. We watched Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and the abominable snowman scared the daylights out of zson so I think I'll wait a while to watch this with him.

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  2. The Bumble! Lookie what he can do.

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  3. zson is at the age when he would enjoy "el orfanato." or the human centipede . . .

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  4. The flying monkeys from The Wizard of Oz scared me and I think the Bumble did too. I'm a wimp though.

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  5. watch the host, the monster is fun and bumbling

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