The Host
Directed by Bong Joon Ho
An American military base of Yongson releases toxic chemicals in the drain to the Han River under the direct order of an arrogant U.S. Army coroner. Six years later, a mutant squid monster leaves the water and attacks people on the side of the river.
Where to Watch The Host
The Host Ratings & Reviews
- Joe MurgiaJanuary 31, 2026Great Korean Monster movie, I love how it goes from drama to comedy seamlessly. All his movies are like this.
- Salman NaseerJanuary 24, 2026One of the best, thought provoking movies I've seen. The social commentary doesn't shy away to bluntly present the ugliness of the society.
- RickDecember 2, 2025A tale of a pretty typical dysfunctional family having to single handedly clean up for the negligence of the American government. Great monster movie with a lot of heart. Didn’t expect such a well done family drama when I put this on.
- andy bOctober 30, 2025big river monster + grudge green tone + its aiight but not really my cup of oolong
- Dale LeerOctober 30, 2025Ah yes, The Host. Nothing says “family bonding” like a grotesque mutant fish-thing snatching your kid in broad daylight while the authorities argue over whose fault it is. Classic.
- myriamvielSeptember 13, 2025very good and perfect transcription
- gmeerbJuly 15, 2025Wasn’t very good. Too many plot holes, even for a campy movie.
- rg9400November 1, 2024The Host has all the hallmarks of being a bad movie: dated CGI, extreme overacting, and cheesy dialogue. Yet, it manages to transcend all of those, becoming much greater than the sum of its parts. From its opening scene set among a dimly lit laboratory and the corrosive steam wafting up from the chemicals being poured down the sink, you can tell that Bong Joon-ho has complete mastery over this movie, creating gorgeous cinematography despite the monster's clear CGI. Though the characters seem initially over the top, it becomes easy to quickly become enamored with this family, each facing their own struggles. Our main character in particular, Gang-du, makes multiple very clear mistakes caused by his carelessness with disastrous consequences, and I still was rooting for him to grow and redeem himself by the end of the movie. His siblings, to a lesser extent, follow similar arcs. Real terror and fear suffuse the movie as it becomes clear that no one is truly safe, and this brings real tension throughout the movie. Finally, this wouldn't be a Bong Joon-ho movie without sociopolitical commentary, and certainly there is a subtext showcasing the ineffectiveness and culpability of both the US and Korean governments. I would say this isn't exactly the central focus of the movie because it's still a very personal story about a family, but it's something that is present throughout. Overall, a thoroughly entertaining movie that is really well-crafted despite some flaws that hopefully do not turn people away.
The Host Trivia
The Host was released on July 27, 2006.
The Host was directed by Bong Joon Ho.
The Host has a runtime of 2h.
The Host was produced by Choi Yong-bae, Cho Neung-yeon.
An American military base of Yongson releases toxic chemicals in the drain to the Han River under the direct order of an arrogant U.S. Army coroner. Six years later, a mutant squid monster leaves the water and attacks people on the side of the river.
The key characters in The Host are Park Gang-du (Song Kang-ho), Park Hie-bong (Byun Hee-bong), Park Nam-il (Park Hae-il).
The Host is rated R.
The Host is a Horror, Drama, Science Fiction film.
The Host has an audience rating of 7.2 out of 10.
The Host had a budget of $11M.
The Host has made $88.5M at the box office.