[HanCinema's Image Gallery] "The Host"
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A selection of shots from Bong Joon-ho's monster mash-up "The Host" (2006).
A Korean subordinate is ordered to pour copious amounts of dusty formaldehyde into Korea's Han river.
"Morons till the very end", says the doomed man to the living.
After a Korean businessman commits suicide, the film's title appears in the water.
The first shot of our hero (Song Kang-ho).
Nam-joo (Bae Doona) on T.V. losing the gold medal due to time pressures.
Before the monster showed itself the park crowd was amused by the looming shadow in the water. Throwing more 'waste' at the creature.
The view from the bus of the chaos.
Spectators gather, stunned, as the monster terrorises the flock of people who chose to hide in a cramped space.
Hyun-seo behind you!
Your guess is as good as mine.
The media capturing the family grieving.
They aren't specialists, and one of them can't count, but they will have to do.
The monster has taken the young one, not high up the tallest skyscaper, but into its dark lair under the city.
Instead of dealing with the actual monster, the Korean government chases its own tail over a potential outbreak of the 'virus' the monster supposedly carries.
This is a rather strange scene. After escaping and exploring the sewers, the broken family retreat for the night at their farther's food stall in the park. They say nothing as they eat together, exhuasted from their search, and suddenly Hyun-seo appears and is fed by all of them. No one says a word, and it's the last time the whole family is 'together'. Magic.
Gang-du went through hell behind closed doors.
The American scientist tells him exactly where the problem is.
Can't say I've seen too many of my screen heroes be lobotomised before.
Molysmophobia: The fear of germs, dirt, and contamination.
Strange the police force didn't take aim at the actual monster.
Scenes of protestors and the police engaged over the treatment of Gang-du and his family, as well as the planned release of the U.S-manufactured "Agent Yellow".
In all its gas-guzzling glory.
Former alcoholic and activist Nam-il (Park Hae-il) drops the molotov during the film's final moments, igniting the ground instead of the petrol-soaked monster....That would never happen in Hollywood!
Gang-du keeps the 'wanted poster' of his family's failed mission.
Our lobotomised hero and his newly adopted son are the watch guards going into Korea's dark future...The Host 2 is coming.
- C.J. Wheeler (chriscjw@gmail.com; @KoreaOnTheCouch)
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