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:

zman said...

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.

Clarence said...

The Bumble! Lookie what he can do.

Dave said...

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

zman said...

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

Dave said...

watch the host, the monster is fun and bumbling

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