THE HOST

Here's another dispatch from the press screening stage of the 30th Portland International Film Festival (the fest officially opens on Friday, February 9). Today I saw a hugely entertaining horror/comedy film from South Korea. Don't sweat it if you don't catch it on the festival circuit because Magnolia Pictures will kick off a limited distribution on March 9.

The Host
Grade: A

If you only see one movie this year about a huge river monster that comes on land to devour people, make it this thrilling and inventive import from South Korea. A cheeky critique of U.S. environmental policies, it shows how the ferocious mutant owes its life to a U.S. Army base that dumped dusty bottles of formaldehyde down the drain. Director Jooh-ho Bong strikes a perfect balance between scares and laughs, drawing inspiration from legitimate horror classics like Alien and schlocky B-movies like The Blob.

To see the trailer for The Host & explore the website visit: http://www.hostmovie.com/