The Stream: Are you going to complain that this is a foreign language film? Okay, fine.

The Big Screen: Completely surprising at every turn.

The Final Bill: Enjoy the ride.

– Trip Fontaine

Genre: Comedy, Drama, Thriller
Director: Bong Joon Ho
Rating: R (language, some violence and sexual content )
Runtime: 2 hours 12 minutes
Starring: Song Kang Ho, Choi Woo Shik, Park So Dam

Parasite reminded me that there are actually some original ideas out there being made into movies. It also reminded me how annoyed I am by all of the sequels and remakes and reboots that have flooded Hollywood and American mainstream movie theaters. Directed and co-written by Bong Joon Ho, who also directed Snowpiercer and Okja both of which are on Netflix, Parasite is a South Korean film with English subtitles about… well, this where reviewing this movie gets difficult because I don’t want to spoil anything. Um… it’s about an out of work family who through a series of events find work and surprising things occur.

There is so much to admire about Parasite. The screenplay is so good because, while the setting may be foreign to American audiences, the story is familiar and takes unexpected turns that when you really think about them the turns were always somehow inevitable. The point of view is funny and insightful. The themes once completely revealed are devastatingly universal.

A further boon to Parasite is that the cast is great. Each member of the cast gets to shine in their distinct ways. The chemistry is familial and easy. The father played by Song Kang Ho and the daughter played by Park So Dam are the standouts; but, uniformly, each character plays their essential part in this tale. I’ll also note how the production design is architecturally awe-inspiring and meticulous. The sets that were built for the film tell just as much of the story by just existing as do the dialogue and the actors.

Parasite is an absolute must see. If it is in a theater near you, take the opportunity to enjoy this spectacle on the big screen. Do not read any spoilers. Go into this one knowing as little as possible.