31 Days of Drafts and Darkness:

"The Host" (2006)

From South Korea comes this throwback to giant monster movies of old. Just like how Godzilla was a commentary on the twin nuclear strikes on Japan, this film's monster represents similar commentary on the effect of a corrupt government.

Going from horrifying to tragic to funny, sometimes all in the same scene, director Joon-ho Bong establishes frequent satire throughout "The Host". Even with its message, the film is hugely entertaining and takes archetypal giant monsters into a new direction. Here, while the rampaging beast is certainly dangerous, it's made out to be more threatening than it really is by a government trying to keep its people in check.

Note: This film is currently available on Netflix Instant Streaming, so be sure to check it out!

The Plot:

In the early 2000's, a Korean lab worker is pressured by a American government scientist to secretly dump hundreds of old formaldehyde bottles into the nearby Han river. In the following years, residents of the area witness odd amphibian-like creatures swimming around. No one cares much, as the mutants are never very large. 

Cut to 2006, and the riverside is now a popular urban site in Seoul. Shops and restaurants line the bustling waterfront. One of these establishments, a neighborhood snack stand, is run by Park Gang-du, a friendly but dim man-child. Lazy and incompetent, Park does his best to raise his young daughter (mom left years ago) while running the small business. Though he never aspires beyond the snack stand, his daughter is smart and has a bright future. The family hopes she can be successful and break free of their blue-collar trappings.

One day, a crowd begins to amass along the riverbank. Something large, the size of a 18-wheeler, is hanging upside down from the nearby bridge. As the spectators snap photos, the bizarre creature slips into the water and swims off. Eager to get more shots, the crowd begins pelting garbage at the animal. Moments later, they immediately regret the decision.

Bursting onto land, the frog-like monster begins rampaging through the waterfront, devouring citizens left and right. Park grabs the hand of his daughter Hyun-Seo and flees, barely managing to get away from the creature. However, once safe, Park is horrified to find that the girl he grabbed was not his daughter after all. Running back, Park see Hyun-Seo snared by the beast and pulled into the waters of the Han river.

After the attack, the government begins a mass-quarantine of all those involved in the attack. Reportedly, the creature carries a highly-contagious pathogen and may have spread it onto the victims. Thus, Park and his grieving family find themselves locked away by the government that failed to protect them.

All seems lost until a scared Hyun-Seo calls her father from the sewers. Her cell phone battery is dying and the creature still asleep. Park must now escape the quarantine and find his daughter before she becomes the beast's next meal.

The Flavor:

Most creature flicks give you fleeting glimpses of the monster up until the very end. You'll see a flash of claw here or dark shadow there, but until the final battle, never see it completely. Think of Jaws, Cloverfield, Super 8. For most of the movie, we're allowed to imagine what the creature might look like.

"The Host" does the opposite. When its monster attacks, it does so in broad daylight. A character turns, and suddenly there it is. Massive and hungry, the beast rampages into a crowded city and begins wrecking havoc. You're dumbstruck at the sight of how out in open the scene is. Without cut-aways or shadows, we witness the full gruesome attack and see citizens devoured as they run from the beast.  Instead of scaring you by holding back, "The Host" throws its monster into your face when you're not ready. You feel like you're in the moment, and thus just as afraid as the feeling characters.

Another thing that struck me was how "The Host" shifted its tone in-between scenes. And what's really emotionally off-putting, often within the same scene. While the monster attack is scary, the following memorial service is completely heartbreaking. At least initially. It ends on an almost comical note as the family begins to completely freak out over the supposed loss of their youngest. I think these moments are meant to amplify the more satirical sides of the film. While "The Host" does feature a giant monster, it never fails to remind you from where it came from.

Once the government quarantine goes up and the public put on alert, you start to wonder if they can be trusted. They accidentally created this mess in the first place. Are they here to protect the public, or simply clean up their mess?

Even further, once Park begins his escape and eventual mission to find his lost daughter, "The Host" takes on a lot of adventure. The entire family comes together to battle this creature. And the government that's trying to keep them away from it. This leads to plenty of additional scares and some intense action scenes.

Best Paired with:

"The Host" is a great movie, but an odd duck. Anyone who loves monster movies and off-beat horror will enjoy its mutating tone. Casual fans of horror may find themselves confused as to what sort of movie "The Host" actually is. Is it horror? Comedy? Social satire?

The answer is yes.

If you're up for watching, be ready to roll with the flow of the film. When the character's are comical, laugh. When they're serious, take the film seriously. It can involve some emotional exercise, and thus be quite exhausting, but it makes for a roller-coaster of an experience.

Accompanying Brew:

 Just as "The Host" brings the monster movie concept in a new direction, let's take the pumpkin brew down a new path.

From the Southampton Public House in Southampton, NY comes tonight's brew: Southampton Pumpkin Ale.

Pouring the usual light amber/golden of typical pumpkin ales, Southampton's offering seems pretty similar at first glance. Take a whiff, and you'll be treated to the usual blend of spices and malt/nutty scent. Your first sip is where the differences come up.

Southampton Pumpkin does contain spice and added malt, but takes the flavor in a more tart direction rather than sweet one. There's almost a vegetable-like and slightly sour tone to the flavor. This makes the pumpkin stick out more than usual and tempers the spices. It's a pleasant flavor, but different from any of the pumpkinheads I've tried before. Though it took some getting used to, the unique taste began to grow on me. With the array of super-sweet and overly-spiced pumphead ales out there, it's nice to see a brewery do things differently.

It makes me wonder what other flavors might go well with pumpkin other than the usual Fall array.

With "The Host" shifting things away from typical monster movies, Southampton's unique spin on their pumpkin ale makes for a perfect pairing. The brew is light and crisp enough to enjoy alone or with a cinnamon/sugar rim and has simultaneous moments of sweet, sour, and bitter. Changing flavors for a horror film with shifting tones. But in both cases, it's all intentional.