The Host

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2:05

The Host

R

2007

1h 59m

Horror

Comedy

Action

Adventure

Sci-Fi

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

93%

Tomatometer

155 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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Liam Lacey

Globe and Mail

Apr 1, 2007

3.5/4

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

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Marc Savlov

Austin Chronicle

Mar 31, 2007

3.5/5

Comes up with not only a fistful of nervous pools of fear but also a heady wellspring of classic monster-movie matinee fun.

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Geoff Pevere

Toronto Star

Mar 30, 2007

3/4

Bravely shifting tones from the horrific to the slapstick and back again, Bong Joon-ho has made a movie that's comprised almost equally of family sitcom, political indictment, high-urban paranoia and maximum-geek, monster-movie delight.

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Joshua Polanski

There Were No Gods Left

May 27, 2025

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.

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Chance Solem-Pfeifer

Willamette Week

Jan 22, 2025

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

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Joshua Stevens

Loud and Clear Reviews

Jan 21, 2025

4/5

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.

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Robert P

@Superbad 3 hrs ago

The Host = a *4* star movie

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Bobby E

@RT23212962 Jul 25, 2026

I liked this flick . Original . Take a look at it .

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Jaisibi S

@RT14436527 May 31, 2026

The Host is one of the most unique creature features I've seen. Bong Joon-ho uses a monster movie as a vehicle for family drama, dark comedy, environmental commentary, and social satire. The family chemistry is excellent, especially Song Kang-ho as the slow but lovable father and Go Ah-sung as the resourceful daughter. What makes the film stand out is its ability to switch between tragedy, humor, and suspense without losing its identity. The monster design and movement remain memorable, even if the visual effects show their age today. The atmosphere created through tunnels, hospitals, and riverfront locations adds constant tension. More than a monster film, it's a story about flawed people navigating failure, loss, and institutional incompetence. Thought-provoking, entertaining, and distinctly Bong Joon-ho.

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Clark T.

@RT11871854 Mar 20, 2026

I absolutely love this film. Very suspenseful and very interesting concept. This movie is extremely well paced with an amazing story that gets you hooked right from the start. Really like that it gets straight down to business with a very quick explanation of what creates this beast, then goes right into the horror section. Given the technology at the time I will say the final outcome for the monster was perfect. The art of storytelling in the movie is something that directors should be study. So many callbacks and signs of character growth in this movie that really make you think.

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Xane B.

@xabobinchuck Jan 8, 2026

I was not the biggest fan of the acting.

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Torin F

@nonlinearize Dec 27, 2025

THE HOST is an innovative film that emerged as an early pioneer in the modern comedy-horror resurgence. Combining monster movie, family drama, political satire, and more, the film's genre mashup is a bit uneven but broadly effective, resulting in a memorably oddball gem. Watching it again nearly two decades later, however, the film hasn't aged as well as expected, though it does still have its charms.

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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: Baek Cheol-hyeon, Ha Junwon
Distributor: Magnolia Films
Production Co: Nick Wechsler, Silver Reel, Chockstone Pictures
Rating: R (Language|Creature Violence)
Genre: Horror, Comedy, Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
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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