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From: angelina Category: Films Date: 10 April 2007 Time: 07:45 AM Review: I deliberately describe this as a Korean film. As much as I hate to pigeon hole things into categories, in addition to the backdrop, the humour and cultural sensitivities were definitely not of the Hollywood kind. Which was the film's saving grace, as otherwise it would have been a run of the mill horror/humour genre film, similar to Tremors and the like. Brief synopsis- evil/careless US scientist instructs powerless/naive Korean assistant to chuck away old formaldehyde down sink. Subsequent mutation in river life form takes shape as a grotesque carnivorous monster that wreaks mayhem in the Han River vicinity. Korean stall holder, poor and not very bright, has daughter taken by monster, is quarantined by officials as could have deadly virus transmitted by creature. In hospital gets call from daughter saying she's still alive. Mission is to find daughter with motley crew of dysfunctional family (though in my Oriental opinion stereotypical- lazy alcoholic uncle, humble Dad, go getter sister). Lots of monster action. In the meantime, US off duty army soldier is heralded as hero for helping fend off initial monster attack, but dies due to this mysterious virus. Without giving too much away, good triumphs over evil, but only partially. Along the way there are insights into the US realtionship with Korea, both during and post war. Mass hysteria reflecting the pandemic (SARS-like) and media cover ups are shown as all too real, though the monster is totally unbelieveable, even compared to the early Jaws it is too comical to take seriously. a kind of ecological disaster film with an alien and East/West conflicts thrown in, I wouldn't say it was an amazing film but good Easter holiday fodder, the one remaining question being- why was it titled HOST? Implies that the host was harbouring the virus ie. is the monster, but there was not a parasitic element to the story. Any ideas? Anyone watched this...?