Parasite - Review

Release Date:  October 11, 2019​​​​​​​​​

The Best of the Year?

​It seems that every film this year is steeped in controversy; from online to public perception, none can escape. Bong Joon Ho's latest picture, Parasite, is not part of this group. It seems to be in a category all its own as it's showered in praise. With critical perception saying it strikes the perfect balance of its message and how its depicted. For the most part, there are no blemishes on this movie as its one of the best of 2019, but it's by no means a perfect film.

Parasite is an easy movie to recommend due to its engaging plot. It doesn't feel arthouse enough to deter regular moviegoers, who probably don't know of the film's existence anyways. It's a very straightforward experience that doesn't distract from the story. By keeping the viewer captivated the whole time, it's able to overcome some of the typical problems of Ho's other work. From start to finish, this is by far one of the tightest pieces he's ever written. It feels like something out of the 80s but with an apparent foreign flair. 

​The picture wouldn't work without the great performances by the cast, though. Kang-ho Song delivers a bewitching performance along with the necessary demeanor to convey the family's mentality. He's not quite peerless as So-dam Park does a fantastic job bringing levity to the film. As the daughter, she is afforded ample screentime to make a strong impression and steals every scene she's in. Everyone else does an adequate job maintaining the tone and keeping the movie believable, but it's those two actors that stand out. 

Every aspect of the film didn't receive the same amount of attention⁠—the score and cinematography weren't always operating on the same level as everything else. There were moments where these elements got to shine, but for the majority of the runtime, they were underutilized. It's not a huge knock against the movie, but it is something that I noticed. 

As you can tell, I don't have too much negative to say. There is no denying that Parasite is a very well made film. The production design is probably one of the greatest achievements that it can boast; with great locations and set decorations, it helps to bring the whole thing come to life. As many people have pointed out, this is probably a shoo-in for Best Foreign Film at the Oscars, so why not see it before 2020 comes?

9/10
You should see this movie but I doubt its playing near you