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The Host

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 15, age appropriate for kids over 18; suggested age 15.

  • Is it any good?

    4.0
  • Common Sense says

    South Korean creature feature is wild and witty.

Themes in this movie include:   family relationships, friendship
updated 09.22.09

Why We Rated This iffy for Ages 15–18

The good stuff

  • 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.

What to watch out for

  • Role models:

    Korean and U.S. officials (police, media, medical, military) commit illegal acts and/or engage in cover-up;
  • 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:

    Brief reference to an ex-wife who "popped out the baby and ran off" brief shot of girls' legs under a table.
  • Language:

    In subtitles: several uses of "f--k," plus other language ("s--t," "god damn," "bastard," and "bitch"), as well as "Jesus Christ."
  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Homeless man is drunk on soju (Korean rice-based alcoholic beverage).

What Parents Need to Know

This review of The Host was written by Cynthia Fuchs

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

Talk to your kids about the media in their life. We have more tools and tips that can help
  • 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?
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More on The Host

What’s the Story?

A sinister U.S. military pathologist (Scott Wilson) instructs a minion to dump formaldehyde into South Korean waters. This act produces a ghastly mutation -- part fish, part reptile -- that emerges from a river in broad daylight and attacks a crowd, killing some and kidnapping others. Among the abductees is 11-year-old Hyun-seo (Ah-sung Ko). At first, her family -- including her father, Gang-Du (Kang-ho Song), and grandfather Hie-bong (Hie-bong Byeon) -- grieve along with other similarly afflicted Seoul citizens. Carted off and quarantined for possible monster contamination, Gang-Du is despondent until he gets a cell-phone call from his daughter, who describes the place where the monster has dumped her as a "really big sewer." With that, Gang-Du -- with help from his father, unemployed brother Nam-il (Hae-il Park), and champion archer sister Nam-Joo (Du-na Bae) -- sets off to find her, no matter what lies the government tells them.

Is It Any Good?

The top-grossing movie in South Korean history, THE HOST (Gwoemul) is a wild, rewarding ride that's equal parts creature feature, cautionary tale, family melodrama, and political critique. Its influences are many, from Godzilla, Jaws, and Alien to The Thing and Sally Mann's photographs.

While the Parks' adventure follows some conventions (family bickering and bonding, inscrutable monstrosity, institutional obstructions), Joon-ho Bong's film offers all sorts of brilliant visual surprises. Hyun-seo and her family are courageous. Looking small in her schoolgirl's plaid skirt, the girl makes her way through the shadowy underground, her face smudged with grime, determined to combat the creature as it threatens a very frightened younger boy. At once poignant and grim, she's a terrific young heroine.

Movie Details

Studio: Magnolia Pictures, Director: Joon-ho Bong
Run time: 119 minutes
Theatrical release: 3/8/2007, DVD release: 7/24/2007
MPAA Rating: R for creature violence and language.

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Our Members Say

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Most Recent Reviews

  1. I rate this title on for age 13 and give it 5.0
    • My concerns are:
    • Negative role models
    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages

    Honestly, i think it depends on the kid. And what the parent will allow. Some parents let their child be exposed to more mature content. If your Child has already read the book then i would say let them see it, because the book if far more detailed then the movie. But if your child is not exposed to this sort of content then i would recommend on you seeing it your self and then deciding for your child. Or if your not up for seeing the movie then read the book, or read a summery. Overall you would wanna let your child mature gradually over time. Listen to what they have to say about it, try with no interruptions this will give the child the option to give you their side of the story.I know im gonna see it. I am just beginning to read the book it is a little complicated if you would like then you could have your child read the book and then they could see the movie of vice versa. I really do think the child and parent(s)/guardian should discuss it. unless your just gonna let your child see it. AND this is coming from a 13 year old girl. :) - molly

  2. Teen Reviewer Age 16
    I rate this title iffy for age 8 and give it 3.0

    10 year olds might love it though...

    over used CGI.. turned horrific scenes into comedy...some nice parts ..overall just ok, reccomended to watch only when bored to death and have nothing else to do...

  3. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Ohio
    I rate this title iffy for age 15 and give it 4.0
    • My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate language

  4. Parent Reviewer
    Lives in Ohio
    I rate this title pause for age 13 and give it 2.0

  5. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Ohio
    I rate this title pause for age 0 and give it 0.0

    Absolutely Terrible

  6. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    Lives in California
    I rate this title on for age 0 and give it 5.0

    Amazing

    Great dramatic movie (animation kinda sucked)! Good action! I gave this a five star!

  7. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    Lives in Indiana
    I rate this title pause for age 0 and give it 4.0

    15+

    I THNIK ITS OVER SEX RELI

  8. Teen Reviewer Age 13
    I rate this title on for age 0 and give it 1.0

    TOTALY SUCKED!

    This movie was the worst movie I have ever watched in my life!!! It was boring, no action, just VERY CHEESY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  9. Teen Reviewer Age 13
    I rate this title pause for age 0 and give it 2.0

    Mildly entertaining flick with some lame effects but way better acting.

    This is by far one of the hardest reviews I'll ever have to give!!!! First off, it's it's kinda PG-13 in my opinion except for the big-bang swears(infrequent), blood, and the deadly virus aspect may freak some people out but only in a light degree since not much is shown related to the virus. There's a frightening medical scene as well when they think the man saying his daughter is alive in a sewer somewhere so they declare him with dementia and attempt to drill into his head. He then takes a syringe filled with his blood and holds a girl hostage saying if he isn't let go, he has the virus and can spread it. He goes on a rampage, etc. That and the chaotic opening sequence where the mutant goes on a flat-out rampage killing people(one disturbing scene includes a mob of people trapped in a metal room with the monster screaming "HELP US!!!! AH!!!!" preceding a very violent blood splattering noise and bloody hands clawing to get out, resulting in, yes, blood to be dripping off the sides due to their hands....BLOOD.)The girl is then taken and presumed dead, bla bla bla bla, it goes on and they need to escape, bla bla bla bla, virus, bla bla bla bla, police, death, etc. This story tends to drag on in most parts except for a funny part where it shows pictures of everyone who had died from the mutant in a gym filled with people crying and afraid which is when the family's part comes in and they start sobbing their eyes out, punching, kicking, and so forth until police and people wearing hazmat suits have to take them away!!!! Going further, I'd release a ton of spoilers related to this sorta cheesy thriller. I'm surprised it did so well, but the whole Japanese subtitles and/or dubbing gives it an edge....of some sort. So violence and some language is a factor, but sex and alcoholism are out(very mild). Alcohol and drugs come in only in one part where the father gives the daughter beer and says "Eh, you're close enough to 21, right?" and some other mentionings. Other than that, clean as a whistle. It's an OK flick if you wanna be entertained....for nearly 3 hour(that's a downside). So, yeah, 2 stars in my book. Pros....cons....difficult to really rate it officially. I dunno. Great acting definitely brings it up, as well as the incredibly ending, but as for the kinda lame effects, and drag-on moments....DOWN. Up, down, up, down, oh my god just rent it, it's fine, whatever!!!! :)

  10. Teen Reviewer Age 16
    Lives in Arizona
    I rate this title pause for age 0 and give it 4.0

    The Host

    This movie is just alot of fun. It's original, suspenseful, funny, even a bit emotional near the end - just an all-around great monster flick. Recommended for those who want something different AND extremely entertaining.

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