It's our first foray into a non-English language film! I have been wanting to watch Parasite since it premiered in 2019 and finally made it happen for all of you. I went into my viewing without knowing much about the story, which I would recommend for a first watch. It is strange, layered, and weirdly hilarious at parts - though you may regret laughing as you get further into the film. Without further ado, let's discuss Parasite!
The Gist
The Kim family is struggling to make ends meet in Seoul when an opportunity arises for them to earn wages from the wealthy Park family. They proceed to lie and con their way into the Park family's world, but secrets within the home threaten to spoil their plans. Also, there is a large rock.
Here is the trailer for more details:
MPAA Rating: R
The Take
The term "comedy thriller" is a paradox, considering thrillers are all about tension and comedy is all about releasing tension. And yet that is the best way to describe Parasite, a film that will have you at turns laughing out loud and covering your eyes. As the story progresses, it manages to slowly tighten that knot in your stomach while you wait for the other shoe to drop, while punctuating moments with humor that feels lived-in. Even as the tension ratchets up to its peak halfway through the story, it never fails to have moments of humor, though the jokes become darker later in the film. Even the title manages to have a bit of these opposing feelings, with the word "parasite" conjuring images of disease-wielding worms as well as ridiculous snake oil salesmen.
The Kim family is the definition of hustle; we are introduced to them as they race around their apartment looking for free Wi-Fi and calculating how many pizza boxes they need to fold in order to cover their bills. The opening scene sets up the characters' personalities so well, from Ki-taek's (Kang ho Song) laid-back demeanor to Ki-jung's (Park So-dam) manipulative ways. You can predict from the start how the family's scheme will play out because of these establishing moments. You can also sense their closeness throughout the story; as they con their way into the Park family's lives, they do so as a united front, even when their plan starts to unravel.
The play on class differences is a brilliant display throughout the film, with many clever examples fed into the story by Joon-ho. The lighting in the Kim residence is a sickly green, while the Park residence is lit with a warm golden glow. The food at the Park's is all fresh produce and gourmet meats, whereas the Kims are often snacking on canned beverages and packaged foods - and in one hilarious moment, dog treats. The characters themselves are foils of one another; while Ki-taek is soft-spoken and humble, patriarch Park Dong-ik (Lee Sun-kyun) is direct and assertive. The myriad examples of the class differences permeating the story are at times shown for comedic effect, but primarily serve to widen the gap between these families and increase the tension between characters.
About halfway through the story, there is a twist that changes the trajectory of the plot, and it was a complete surprise to me. This is where the real thriller aspects ramp up, and while the comedy doesn't disappear, it does take on a more disturbing feel. I don't want to spoil the surprise because it was well-executed, but the shift causes the Kim family to reach the pinnacle of their selfish tendencies and sets in motion the explosive climax. It may be debatable whether the twist is surprising because it is well crafted or because it is dropped into the story with no sense or reason; I believe it was deliberately out of left field.
The final scenes following the climax are where the film lets me down. I understand the symbolism and methodology of the scene Joon-ho crafted, but it lacks the punch that the rest of the film delivered. The whole ending had a different feel from the rest of the movie, which gave it a sense of afterthought that is blessedly absent from the bulk of the story. While it doesn't ruin the whole experience, I prefer the movie to end in the prior scene.
This is a weird, funny, and stressful film that is as much about family bonds as it is about wealth and deception. If you can handle viewing a film that is entirely subtitled (unless you're fluent in Korean, which I applaud), you will have a unique experience watching Parasite.
Rating: 7.5/10
Memorable Moments
That first birthday cake memory will haunt my nightmares.
"Nice because she's rich, you know? Hell, if I had all this money, I'd be nice too!"
Kim Ki-jung is a mastermind and hilarious to watch.
Try It If...
You want to experience a strange film that is both scary and hilarious.
Stories about class disparity fascinate you.
You like Bong Joon-ho's other films, like Snowpiercer (2013) and Okja (2017).
Avoid It If...
You can't sit through a movie with subtitles.
You are squeamish about bloody violence.
You prefer a traditional plot structure.
Where to Watch
Parasite is currently streaming on Max.
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