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IMDbPro

The Host

Original title: Gwoemul
  • 20062006
  • RR
  • 2h
IMDb RATING
7.1/10
120K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
3,678
57
Ko Asung in The Host (2006)
Home Video Trailer from Magnolia Home Entertainment
Play trailer2:07
3 Videos
50 Photos
  • Action
  • Drama
  • Horror
A monster emerges from Seoul's Han River and begins attacking people. One victim's loving family does what it can to rescue her from its clutches.A monster emerges from Seoul's Han River and begins attacking people. One victim's loving family does what it can to rescue her from its clutches.A monster emerges from Seoul's Han River and begins attacking people. One victim's loving family does what it can to rescue her from its clutches.
IMDb RATING
7.1/10
120K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
3,678
57
  • Director
    • Bong Joon Ho
  • Writers
    • Bong Joon Ho(screenplay)
    • Won-jun Ha(screenplay)
    • Chul-hyun Baek(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Song Kang-ho
    • Byun Hee-Bong
    • Park Hae-il
Top credits
  • Director
    • Bong Joon Ho
  • Writers
    • Bong Joon Ho(screenplay)
    • Won-jun Ha(screenplay)
    • Chul-hyun Baek(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Song Kang-ho
    • Byun Hee-Bong
    • Park Hae-il
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 384User reviews
    • 396Critic reviews
    • 85Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 29 wins & 35 nominations

    Videos3

    The Host (2006)
    Trailer 2:07
    The Host (2006)
    Bong Joon Ho Makes Oscars History
    Clip 3:24
    Bong Joon Ho Makes Oscars History
    'Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3' Director Selects
    Clip 4:05
    'Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3' Director Selects

    Photos50

    Ko Asung in The Host (2006)
    Song Kang-ho, Park Hae-il, and Byun Hee-Bong in The Host (2006)
    Bae Doona, Song Kang-ho, Park Hae-il, and Byun Hee-Bong in The Host (2006)
    Ko Asung and Dong-ho Lee in The Host (2006)
    Song Kang-ho in The Host (2006)
    Byun Hee-Bong in The Host (2006)
    Ko Asung in The Host (2006)
    Park Hae-il in The Host (2006)
    Bae Doona in The Host (2006)
    Dal-su Oh and Ko Asung in The Host (2006)
    Dal-su Oh and Ko Asung in The Host (2006)
    Song Kang-ho and Ko Asung in The Host (2006)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Song Kang-ho
    Song Kang-ho
    • Park Gang-Dooas Park Gang-Doo
    Byun Hee-Bong
    Byun Hee-Bong
    • Park Hie-bongas Park Hie-bong
    • (as Byun Hee-bong)
    Park Hae-il
    Park Hae-il
    • Park Nam-ilas Park Nam-il
    Bae Doona
    Bae Doona
    • Park Nam-Jooas Park Nam-Joo
    • (as Bae Doo-na)
    Ko Asung
    Ko Asung
    • Park Hyun-seoas Park Hyun-seo
    • (as Ko A-sung)
    Dal-su Oh
    Dal-su Oh
    • The Monsteras The Monster
    • (voice)
    Jae-eung Lee
    • Se-jinas Se-jin
    Dong-ho Lee
    • Se-jooas Se-joo
    Je-mun Yun
    Je-mun Yun
    • Homeless Manas Homeless Man
    Pil-sung Yim
    Pil-sung Yim
    • Fat Guevaraas Fat Guevara
    • (as Pil-Sung Yim)
    Roe-ha Kim
    Roe-ha Kim
    • Hazmat Suit Man at Funeralas Hazmat Suit Man at Funeral
    Yeon-su Yu
    • District officer Mr. Joas District officer Mr. Jo
    No-shik Park
    No-shik Park
    • Inquiry officeras Inquiry officer
    Su-hee Go
    • Hostage nurseas Hostage nurse
    Scott Wilson
    Scott Wilson
    • Douglasas Douglas
    Hak-seon Kim
    • Civilian Military Mr. Kimas Civilian Military Mr. Kim
    Paul Lazar
    Paul Lazar
    • American Doctoras American Doctor
    Brian Rhee
    • Young Korean Doctoras Young Korean Doctor
    • (as Brian Lee)
    • Director
      • Bong Joon Ho
    • Writers
      • Bong Joon Ho(screenplay)
      • Won-jun Ha(screenplay)
      • Chul-hyun Baek(screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Co-Writer and Director Bong Joon Ho and the designer of the creature nicknamed it Steve Buscemi, based on the actor's screen persona and the way he acted in Fargo (1996).
    • Goofs
      The sewage they are searching the monster in, is dry and clean.
    • Quotes

      Park Gang-Du: Let's have a cold one. Here.

      [He hands Hyun-seo a can of beer]

      Park Hyun-seo: This is alcohol.

      Park Gang-Du: Well, you're in middle school now.

    • Crazy credits
      Just before the credits ends, you can hear a loud roar of the monster.
    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: 300/The Namesake/I Think I Love My Wife/Beyond the Gates/The Host (2007)

    User reviews384

    Review
    Top review
    10/10
    Funny, scary, emotional, intense, thrilling, sad. And then funny some more.
    What else is there to say? The Host elicits every feeling, every sense of urgency, dread, sadness and happiness with ease. And somehow it manages to cram all of that into the first fifthteen minutes. After that it speeds along and doesn't let up. I was with it till the end, laughing when I was supposed to, crying, and even cheering. It is one of those rare films that blends all the respective genres into one with an almost scary simplicity. I shouldn't be surprised, it is from writer and director Joon Ho Bong whose last films the equally brilliant Memories of Murder and the excellent black comedy Barking Dogs Never Bite featured a similar feeling.

    How does the man do it? Like with his other films particularly Memories of Murder he manages to break the conventions of the genre by frequently poking fun at the rather stale "monster" genre and by taking a fresh, appealing perspective. It's funny at all the right moments and even in moments when you feel you shouldn't be laughing you cant help but laugh. It's full of vibrantly realized characters, who each have their "moment" that make you laugh at the ridiculousness or gasp at the coolness. It is written with care and love, the pace never stagnates and the dialogue is never forced. The CG monster effects are nice and appropriately unrealistic in appearance. Perhaps too unconventional for American audiences but it really works in the context of the films rather serious yet quirky atmosphere. The acting is excellent, Kang Ho-Song continues to impress, star in the making Ah-sung Ko gives a very good first performance, and the rest of the cast give great performances. All managing the frequent dips into serious and comical and even both at the same time.

    The Host is a brilliant, brilliant film. I'm so pleased I had the pleasure of seeing it at the cinemas, the way it deserves to be seen. Despite fitting into a rather common genre, The Host is an original. It is a unique and refreshing film, full of charming characters, awesome action sequences and even an emotional poignancy that weaves itself into the film at the most appropriate of times.

    The Host is undoubtedly my favourite film of the year and one of the most entertaining films I have seen in recent years. If you like your films to be highly enjoyable, but also smart and even emotional, you will love what The Host has to offer.
    helpful•234
    95
    • Hoban-W
    • Aug 18, 2006

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 30, 2007 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • South Korea
    • Official sites
      • Hoycinema
      • Official site (Australia)
    • Languages
      • Korean
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Monster
    • Filming locations
      • Wonhyo Bridge, Seoul, South Korea
    • Production companies
      • Chungeorahm Film
      • Boston Investments
      • CJ E&M Film Financing & Investment Entertainment & Comics
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • ₩12,215,500,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $2,201,923
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $320,000
      • Mar 11, 2007
    • Gross worldwide
      • $89,433,436
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital EX
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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