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The Host
The Host Image
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Metascore
85 out of 100

Universal acclaim - based on 35 Critics What's this?

User Score
6.4 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 153 Ratings

Your Score
10 out of 10
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  • Starring: Hae-il Park, Hie-bong Byeon, Kang-ho Song
  • Summary: Utilizing state-of-the-art special effects, The Host is both a creature-feature thrill ride and a poignant human drama. (Magnolia Pictures)
  • Director: Joon-ho Bong
  • Genre(s): Sci-Fi, Drama, Thriller, Fantasy, Horror, Comedy
  • Rating: R
  • Runtime: 119 min
  • More Details and Credits »

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 34 out of 35
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 35
  3. Negative: 0 out of 35
  1. San Francisco Chronicle
    Reviewed by: Peter Hartlaub
    100
    A great piece of filmmaking and a legitimate science-fiction/horror classic.
  2. Film Threat
    Reviewed by: Felix Vasquez, Jr.
    100
    Joon-Ho's epic is a masterpiece of monster cinema that's intelligent, innovative, and reaches down to the basic core of family unity to propel its story beyond mere conventions of science fiction.
  3. Baltimore Sun
    Reviewed by: Michael Sragow
    58
    In "Jaws," you didn't know whether to laugh or to scream. In The Host, the yocks rarely mesh with the yucks.

See all 35 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 45 out of 95
  2. Mixed: 13 out of 95
  3. Negative: 37 out of 95
  1. grandpajoe6191
    8
    The movie offers more than a blockbuster spirit. It gives unpredictable humor and scares that differs from those western movies. In the end, I strongly recommend you to watch this. You won't regret.… Expand
    • 2 of 2 users said yes
  2. BrandonB
    5
    I guess the movie it self wasnt all that bad....but boy was i let down after hearing of all the "great reviews" this film was given. one review said this was "On Par with Jaws" You kidding me!!!!! I was expecting tense scary moments but instead all i found my self doing when the monster appeared was casually say "o i wonder if the thing is going to take someone...." in the end if you want an okay monster movie to watch go out and rent it. Jaws i felt terrified to swim in the ocean for awhile The Host... well I think ill still brave tubing down rivers without any fear.… Expand
    • 1 of 1 users said yes
  3. SteveK
    3
    Wow, this movie is overrated. Movies that make no sense are not enjoyable. Even fantasy/sci-fi movies must play by their own rules, and this one definitely does not. Why does the monster only eat certain people that are not crucial to the plot? Why does chemical gas only affect people who are not crucial to the plot? Why is it that a full-frontal lobotomy does absolutely nothing to a person's brain function? (well, you guessed it... he's crucial to the plot.) The creature effects are kinda cool, but the creature doesn't seem to have any definition, we're not really sure about anything about this creature except for that it only eats/kills people half of the time, and it is really quiet (even though it's huge, it can sneak up on people without making a sound). I didn't even mention the terrible translations in the subtitles. "He's always B-minus, not A-positive! Don't give him a hard time!" WTH? This movie had some potential, but it's a senseless, frustrating mess with way too many holes. Avoid, avoid, avoid.… Expand
    • 1 of 1 users said yes

See all 95 User Reviews

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