Parasite
by Ava Fineza
It’s honestly best to go into Parasite blind. If that means clicking away from this review, please do, I’d rather you enjoy this film to the fullest extent possible…but I mean, I’m not going to spoil anything, so maybe just stay a little longer? Anyways, Parasite. It’s a kind of movie that, no matter if you’ve seen the trailer or heard things from your friends about it, you will be speechless by the end. The film mutates and spirals out of control as you watch more, and Bong Joon Ho masterfully switches the movie’s tone from humorous to suspenseful in a matter of seconds - multiple times in the film. Parasite is an immersive experience, and after finishing it, I prescribe one to two hours of sitting alone just thinking about the movie because all of its hidden metaphors and details carefully planted throughout may cause several moments of intense realizations, as well as *cough* allergic reactions…you will understand later. The direction on Parasite is also amazing, with the reuse of angles and shots doing a great job of “show don’t tell,” and Joon Ho proves that great cinematography and pacing can get your heart racing faster than most action-packed blockbusters. I don’t want to say too much - I promised no spoilers - but one last part of Parasite must be appreciated - the actors. They all gave wonderful performances and the chemistry of the Kim family seems so familiar and realistic, while the performances of the Park family spark a feeling of anxiety and discomfort that perfectly captures the stark contrast of the two worlds these characters live in. I strongly encourage you to watch Parasite subbed if possible, any other way(well the only other way) isn’t as complete, and emotion and tone just aren’t captured in the same way dubbed than the actors who worked extremely hard to give the movie the feeling it has. I hope you give Parasite a watch, it’s really an amazing movie worthy of all of the praise, and worthy of your audience. It’s so metaphorical.
logline: Greed and class discrimination threaten the newly formed symbiotic relationship between the wealthy Park family and the destitute Kim clan.
Source: IMDb
Fun Fact: The Park’s mansion was one of many sets in the movie that was built from scratch for the film.
My Favorite Characters:
Park So-dam as Ki-jung - Ah! She is my favorite character, she’s so cool. Very badass, sarcastic and confident - someone I’d try to make friends w/ but most likely wouldn’t :(. I can’t say too much, but just watch and you’ll see the charm of Ki-jung. ♬♪♫Jessica, only child. Illinois, Chicago.♬♪♫
Song Kang-ho as Ki-taek - Such a moving character. You will root for him and watch as he tries to do all he can for his family. Again, I can’t say too much, but his monologues and facial expressions always have me stunned. “You know what kind of plan never fails?”
Where to Watch: Hulu with subscription, YouTube, Google Play, Apple, Amazon Prime Video, and Vudu for purchase.
Rated R for strong language, some violence, and sexual content.
Another poster because there is so much cool fanart!! This one is a team up of Curzon Artificial Eye with La Boca.