6:25PM Screening at Hyland Cinema
Theatre Service: 10/10
Projection: 10/10
Parasite 2hr 12mins
A film with no specific genre, that is slowly captivating with its execution of acting, plot development, and set design. Keeping the audience constantly guessing until the last 10 minutes, this film has an outstanding original screenplay that delves into themes of classism, family, betrayal, trust, and the true meaning of wealth. At times this film played with elements of horror movie tropes - doorways full of darkness, flashbacks of ghost stories, hiding in plain sight, silence contrast with a score riddled with tension.
At other times it was a family drama, dealing with deeper issues such as surviving poverty, the meaning of being a nice person, and struggling to be positive and keep faith despite dire circumstances. There was romance, sex, comedy, action, loss, and continuous twists that keep the momentum fresh and mysterious creating an extremely well paced film.
The direction and acting was phenomenal; the main family was a believable cohesive unit that showed a unique kind of love and understanding for each other that is relatable to many families in impoverished living conditions. They were able to show a sort of comradery and humor that was refreshing and heartwarming. The upper class family was perfectly cast, the mother (Yeo-jeong Jo) who’s naivety and hysteria was constantly plot propelling as well as comic relief. The child actors as well had outstanding performances considering their roles, making the film overall easily sold.
Cinematography was beautifully done; lighting had a naturalistic look opting for dramatic, dark, interiors when necessary. Smooth camera moves that were reminiscent of horror movie steady-cam shots, specifically when the mother Chung-sook (Hye-jin Jang) follows the housekeeper into the basement when she returns to retrieve what she left behind. The sickly green color of the basement resonates and the soundtrack aids this unease.
The soundtrack from beginning to end was cohesive and tension building, not overzealous but perfect accompaniment for both the drama, action, and horror elements. Personally I was able to watch the film twice in theatres at both the Hyland Cinema twice and would gladly pay to watch it again. It’s one of those films that reveals new humor on the second watch and gives a deeper understanding of the themes and new meaning to the analogy of who the parasite in the film really is.
(Peach Emoji)
>> 9/10 <<
Pacing: 9/10
Editing: 9/10
Plot: 9.5/10
Acting: 9/10
Cinematography: 8.5/10
Re-watch-ability: 10/10
Soundtrack: 8.5/10