The HostMovie Reviews

Poster art for "The Host."

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Must Go!
Avg. Critic Score: 85 out of 100 Universal acclaim Metascore® based on all critic reviews
Information for Parents:
15 Iffy for 15+
Read Common Sense Media review

Critic scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating more favorable reviews.

  • 100
    San Francisco Chronicle | Peter Hartlaub

    A great piece of filmmaking and a legitimate science-fiction/horror classic. Read full review

  • 91
    Entertainment Weekly | Lisa Schwarzbaum

    Bong Joon-ho's wildly entertaining saga should become the hip, thinking-person's monster movie of choice. Read full review

  • 90
    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

  • 90
    The New York Times | Manohla Dargis

    The Host is a cautionary environmental tale about the domination of nature and the costs of human folly, and it may send chills up your spine. But only one will tickle your fancy and make you cry encore, not just uncle. Read full review

  • 88
    Rolling Stone | Peter Travers

    Is it that scary? Yes. Will it reduce you to quivering jelly? Oh, my, yes! Does it bust the bonds of the Godzilla formula to fuse fright with feeling? Better believe it, dudes. Read full review

  • 88
    USA Today | Claudia Puig

    This Korean-made film takes the well-worn creature-feature genre and spins it on its head thrillingly. Read full review

  • 88
    Boston Globe | Ty Burr

    Mostly, though, it's "Godzilla" with a severe case of Murphy's Law, and it is never less than bizarrely delightful. Read full review

  • 80
    Variety | Derek Elley

    On almost every level, there's never quite been a monster movie like The Host. Egregiously subverting its own genre while still delivering shocks at a pure genre level, and marbled with straight-faced character humor that constantly throws the viewer off balance. Read full review

  • 70
    Washington Post | Stephen Hunter

    It's the last thing anyone expected: an old-fashioned monster movie with a heart. Read full review

  • 70
    The Hollywood Reporter |

    Bong has pulled together a multilayered horror-drama that works more often than not. The film gets back on track after a clumsy middle section that's too long and finishes strong, and Bong fans, horror fans and Asiaphiles are likely to be thoroughly satisfied. Read full review

View more reviews for The Host on Metacritic

Information for Parents
Common Sense Media says Iffy for 15+ South Korean creature feature is wild and witty.
What Parents Need to Know Parents need to know that creature-feature loving teens will want to see this movie, subtitles or no. If they go, they'll see plenty of scenes of the half-fish, half-reptile monster chasing, attacking, eating, and ripping up its human victims (its lair is filled with corpses and bones). In fact, the CGI-heavy violence is so excessive that it ends up being somewhat comedic. Humans use a variety of weapons against the monster (and each other), including guns, arrows (some flaming), and gas. The government lies about a virus and then assaults demonstrators with a toxic gas called "Agent Yellow." Some mourning scenes show characters crying over lost loved ones. Subtitled swearing includes multiple uses of "f--k" and plenty more salty language.
  • Families can talk about monster movies. What's the appeal of creature features like this one?\ Families can also talk about the Parks' bravery. What brings them together with unity and purpose?
  • How does the movie update and also pay homage to classic monster movies that warn against human carelessness and arrogance, like Godzilla?
  • Are the characters in this movie being warned against anything? What could the creature be a symbol of?
  • How does Hyun-seo become a hero in the film, rather than only a victim?
The good stuff
  • message true1 Positive messages: The central family counters the officials' deceit and oppression with displays of courage, loyalty, and intelligence; homeless kids and man are brave in the face of danger.
  • rolemodels true0 Positive role models: Korean and U.S. officials (police, media, medical, military) commit illegal acts and/or engage in cover-up;
What to watch for
  • violence false4 Violence: Multiple attacks by monster. It chases, terrifies, eats/chomps, throws/drops, and dismembers human victims; dog attacks owner; suspected infection victims are dragged off in plastic bags (resembling body bags); humans fight monster and each other with guns; brief scene shows brain surgery (some cutting and drilling); Nam-joo shoots monster with arrows; homeless man pours gasoline on monster so flaming arrow can light it on fire; children confront monster in sewer (dark shadows, tense moments, brave kids); memorial services and mourning; sad scene showing a child's death.
  • sex false0 Sex: Brief reference to an ex-wife who "popped out the baby and ran off" brief shot of girls' legs under a table.
  • language false4 Language: In subtitles: several uses of "f--k," plus other language ("s--t," "god damn," "bastard," and "bitch"), as well as "Jesus Christ."
  • consumerism false0 Consumerism: Not an issue
  • drugsalcoholtobacco false3 Drinking, drugs and smoking: Homeless man is drunk on soju (Korean rice-based alcoholic beverage).
An independent nonprofit dedicated to providing families the information they need to help kids thrive in a world of media and technology. © Common Sense Media Inc. 2010. All rights reserved.

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