The Host

Name: The Host
Genre: Sci-Fi, Drama, Thriller, Fantasy, Horror
Released: March 9, 2007
Duration: 119 min
Rating: 85
Cast: Hae-il Park, Hie-bong Byeon, Kang-ho Song

2007

METASCORE

Universal acclaim based on 35 Critics

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 246 Ratings

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6.8

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6.8	Your Score
6.8	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 246 Ratings

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THE HOST

Movie Details & Credits

Magnolia Pictures | Release Date: March 9, 2007

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

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Awards & Rankings

16	#16 Best Movie of 2007
39	#39 Most Discussed Movie of 2007
43	#43 Most Shared Movie of 2007

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

Chicago Reader - J.R. Jones

The mix of dark humor, creeping suspense, and a sort of apocalyptic tenderness makes this the best horror flick in years. Read full review

100

The New Yorker - Anthony Lane

I have seen The Host twice and have every intention of watching it again. Read full review

Los Angeles Times - Kevin Crust

With a subversive streak as wide as the Han and a title open to interpretation, The Host confounds our expectations while providing top-notch entertainment. For Bong, the monster movie is an ample vessel, one that he can fill with social criticism while discovering exuberant amusement in the process. Read full review

The Globe and Mail (Toronto) - Liam Lacey

The first 20 minutes of the South Korean film The Host represents one of the most entertaining movie openings in memory. It's the same kind of pop-culture thrill provided by Steven Spielberg's "Jaws," with the same sense of astonishment, fear and pleasure at something genuinely new. Read full review

TV Guide Magazine - Maitland McDonagh

Boon's film is both funny and heartbreaking, a supremely confident mix of political satire, free-floating paranoia, fractured family dynamics and the kind of comedy that regularly reconfigures itself into tragedy. Read full review

L.A. Weekly - Ella Taylor

The Host is a miracle of breathless play with form and tone that also seethes with attitude and ideas, from pure movie love to pointed sociopolitical commentary to a bleak existentialism about the inherent cruelty of our world. Read full review

Baltimore Sun - Michael Sragow

In "Jaws," you didn't know whether to laugh or to scream. In The Host, the yocks rarely mesh with the yucks. Read full review

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User Reviews

[Anonymous]

Mar 8, 2007

The Host is a loose, almost borderline messy film, one that sometimes feels like a mash-up of contrasting, at times warring movies, methods and moods. Mr. Bong would as soon have us shriek with laughter as with fright. But it

2 of 2 users found this helpful

BillyB.

Mar 25, 2007

Not only was this movie hilarious in it's own creepy way, but it made me remember what horror movies were supposed to be about: slimy monsters that made you squirm!

0 of 0 users found this helpful

Nov 16, 2007

Genius. A film for the intelligent; those who don't "get it"will still be able to enjoy some laughs here and there.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

MichaelL.

Mar 10, 2007

Not so much. I REALLY wanted to like this movie, I haven't been genuinely scared by a horror film since "The Descent". The reviews are so positive; maybe that's why I'm disappointed. Built up too big. But, frankly, it's just so-so. Great cast. Pretty dumb-dumb script. Not so much. I REALLY wanted to like this movie, I haven't been genuinely scared by a horror film since "The Descent". The reviews are so positive; maybe that's why I'm disappointed. Built up too big. But, frankly, it's just so-so. Great cast. Pretty dumb-dumb script. Decent FX. But nothing new. Evil government. Disfunctional, clownish family ( a little too "Three Stooges" for my taste). "Tremors" combined horror and humor far more effectively. This was "Little Miss Sunshine" meets "C.H.U.D.". And that's not a great combination--then again, that might have been more fun than "The Host".… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

BobH

Aug 25, 2007

I wanted to like it, but it's not a good movie. There was so much undeveloped potential with the plot, character development, satire, climax. The only worthwhile thing I got out of my two hours was a libertarian story, like Katrina & New Orleans, that demonstrates that the government I wanted to like it, but it's not a good movie. There was so much undeveloped potential with the plot, character development, satire, climax. The only worthwhile thing I got out of my two hours was a libertarian story, like Katrina & New Orleans, that demonstrates that the government and its associated bureaucracy is the real monster.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

Sep 7, 2007

What looked like a promising film turned into a boring, dumb story with no suspense or terror. I don't see how this was well reviewed. Bad acting, silly characters....too bad.

0 of 1 users found this helpful

JaredC.

Aug 13, 2007

Probably the worst overrated movie of all time.

0 of 1 users found this helpful

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