The Host

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2:05

The Host

R

Released Mar 9, 2007

1h 59m

Horror

Comedy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

93%

Tomatometer

156 Reviews

72%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

Careless American military personnel dump chemicals into South Korea's Han River. Several years later, a creature emerges from the tainted waters and sinks its ravenous jaws into local residents. When the creature abducts their daughter (Go Ah-sung), a vendor (Song Kang-ho) and his family decide that they are the only ones who can save her.

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Critics Consensus

As populace pleasing as it is intellectually satisfying, The Host combines scares, laughs, and satire into a riveting, monster movie.

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Mark Holcomb

Time Out

Rated: 5/5

Nov 17, 2011

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Liam Lacey

Globe and Mail

As ebullient and bizarre as a monster that can do back flips, leaving the viewer in a shock of delight.

Rated: 3.5/4

Apr 1, 2007

Full Review

Jim Emerson

Chicago Sun-Times

A horror thriller, a political satire, a dysfunctional family comedy, and a touching melodrama, Bong Joon-ho's The Host is also one helluva monster movie.

Rated: 3.5/4

Apr 1, 2007

Full Review

Joshua Polanski

There Were No Gods Left

The Host, in addition to being a wonderful family drama and a fun creature flick, serves as a critique of American consumerism, and in particular, the way Americans treat the world itself as a commodity.

May 27, 2025

Full Review

Chance Solem-Pfeifer

Willamette Week

Bong plays the monster’s origin very literally…right up until he starts masterfully modulating tones.

Jan 22, 2025

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Joshua Stevens

Loud and Clear Reviews

A film about protecting family and the environment as much as it is about a giant fish creature, The Host is a genre-traversing thrill ride with simple but potent messaging.

Rated: 4/5

Jan 21, 2025

Full Review

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Malcolm M

I watched the English dubbed version. SURELY the translation was very poor. I don't care that the dubbing didn't match closely their mouth movements. But, the dialog was inane. Frankly, I do not understand how this movie has a 93% on here. The special effects are horrible, the story line basic, the dialog inane to unintelligible and nonsensical. The acting might be good, hard to tell with the movie getting in the way. At some points in the movie it was almost impossible to follow. Frankly, a little girl getting dragged into the water that powerfully would be dead or seriously injured. Yet, she is walking about. There is so much wrong with this film, it is horrible. You would be more entertained watching reruns of commercials for some personal injury lawyer than this. There were a few spots that will lmake you jump. the rest is pure boredom to confusion. 93%? My spouse picked this movie tonight and she is apologizing to the kids for making them watch such a seriously BAD movie. IF you are considering watching this movie, stop, take some sleeping pills or drink a fifth of rum and tomorrow you will be better off. even with the hangover. And, I actually like to watch cut-rate B-movies. This makes Ed Wood look like a genius.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

06/22/25

Full Review

Audience Member

Pfft. Meh. A silly movie by any countries standards- even theirs. The story is hokey and the acting is SO over the top cheesy= it borders on being a comedy, lol. I'm guessing the high score are from people from the place where it's made b/c in any Real Cinema way- it's B-Movie all the way.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

05/23/25

Full Review

Steven P

One of the best monster movies I've ever seen. Huge changes in tone throughout. Laugh, cry, get scared and finish with a perfectly imperfect ending. (Directed By Bong Joon ho, Parasite, Micky 17)

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/02/25

Full Review

Xiaotong Y

I do wonder if American viewers really understand the satirical materials. You do know that the Koreans are the host and you Americans are the monsters, right?

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/12/25

Full Review

Gustavo R

Korean monster movie. A little girl gets kidnapped by a River monster. The family is determined to rescue her. Average. Tries to be funny but at the same time is cruel. No spoilers but maybe trying to be different, it ends up being cruel. Also special effects are bad 🍿🍿🍿/5 on Max

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/08/25

Full Review

K Y

I can see why Tarantino picked this movie in his top 20 list, and called the director Bong out for having 70’s Spielberg type genre entertainment. I never had more fun in any other monster movies than this one.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

03/11/25

Full Review

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The Host: Trailer 1

2:05

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Synopsis

Careless American military personnel dump chemicals into South Korea's Han River. Several years later, a creature emerges from the tainted waters and sinks its ravenous jaws into local residents. When the creature abducts their daughter (Go Ah-sung), a vendor (Song Kang-ho) and his family decide that they are the only ones who can save her.

Director: Bong Joon Ho
Screenwriter: Bong Joon Ho, Baek Cheol-hyeon, Ha Junwon
Distributor: Magnolia Films
Production Co: Nick Wechsler, Silver Reel, Chockstone Pictures
Rating: R (Language|Creature Violence)
Genre: Horror, Comedy
Original Language: Korean
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 9, 2007, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 1, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $2.2M
Runtime: 1h 59m
Sound Mix: Dolby SRD
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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