A review of "The Host" by Joon-ho Bong from an American Perspective

In a satirical spoof about the institutions of government set in South Korea the audience follows the story of the Park family during a major biological crisis. A spoof to the core, complete with English translation a few seconds before the actors’ lips move, Joon-ho Bong focuses the attention of the audience on the idea that the government is against the people. While the film factually refers to the South Korean government, there are major implications about American government and lifestyle. Bong touches on many issues which may cause a few Americans to question their traditional interpretation of the system of government and general social institutions like health care and the police force.

While Bong’s primary focus are the agencies and role of government, he introduces many related topics. Although minor issues often appear through one –liners or in a single scene, the impression is lasting and contributes greatly to the overall theme of the work. Bong smartly incorporates the power of media in culture, “if the news says so, it must be true,” as well as other influences like the presence of the mafia, the incompetence of the police force and maybe an implication that the police acts as a pawn for government. Bong also alludes to the cell phone industry, comically mocking the unreliability of the technology. Overall, Joon-ho Bong parallels his monster movie to the reaction of the public to crisis situations, like the hype of Y2K.

While Bong effectively depicts the anti-government message, the film style is stale and overused. The use of humor and satire to poke fun at authority is far too reminiscent of American parodies like the popular movie "American Dreamz". Although Bong introduces a few insightful messages about the role of government during crisis situations and the reaction of the population, two hours is two hours too long. While many minor scenes may cause a chuckle, overall “The Host” was a crisis in and of itself.