Quite correctly hailed as ‘Jaws via Jurassic Park’ by Total Film, The Host is a big budget (for once) creature feature that begins as a huge mutated sea beast emerges from the Han River in Seoul and attacks everyone in sight before snatching 13 year-old Hyun-Seo. Her grandfather and father are devastated until her father receives a phone call from her stating that she is still alive and is trapped in a huge sewer underground. Her family begins to search for her whilst having to continuously flee soldiers, doctors, government officials and members of the CDC when it is discovered that those who have come into contact with the creature may be carrying an infection.
The film has a wicked spirit which provides viewers with plenty of laughs, scares and gross moments but it also has many sad and dramatic moments and has wonderful things to convey with regards to traditional family values, respect, love and honour as well as the kindness of humanity. That said, The Host was not as awe inspiring as the majority of reviews would have you believe.
OVERALL SUMMARY
A little too long at just under two hours, the film dallies in places and forces you to suspend disbelief a little too much towards the end. It is still a visually impressive well crafted film which holds onto core B-movie values, and for that reason alone fans of creature features are sure to have fun with it. More cultured families might enjoy this as alternative Saturday night viewing.
