Review: "Parasite"
Daniel Martinez, Staff Writer
Bong Joon-ho’s “Parasite” is a wildly entertaining comedy, horror, and thriller, a true crowd-pleaser that fires on all cylinders. Despite its genre fun, however, “Parasite” also manages to deliver one of the most thought-provoking, moving stories put to film in some time, and critics have been heralding it as an honest contender for the greatest film in the last decade. Now that it has had a wide release, I had the opportunity to catch Joon-ho’s latest and am here to confirm the hype. If not the best, “Parasite” is an incredible experience.
What makes a ‘good movie’ varies across a spectrum of moviegoers, with preferences leaning toward action, character dramas, or fully-fledged allegory. “Parasite” sports all of these components, and you’re unlikely to find anyone besides Joon-ho himself who can explain how it pulls it off. To preserve our readers’ viewing experience of the film, I will avoid details. “Parasite” is best seen totally blind. Nonetheless, the following synopsis describes the deceptively simple set-up without spoiling anything:
As the impoverished Kim family gradually infiltrates the affluent lifestyle of a privileged household, greed and classist conflict escalate with unforeseen consequences.
For some, the set-up might come across as another instance of the bland, uninspired Oscar-bait that usually surfaces around this time of year. Thankfully, the movie’s thematic throughline of classism never veers into preachy pretentiousness. The film certainly has a lot to say, but Joon-ho’s way of saying it is shockingly entertaining.
The Kims’ destitute lifestyle, for example, is played for laughs— laughs admittedly followed by a wave of guilt— and the film’s wealthy characters are ridiculed for their ignorance and naivety. During “Parasite,” whenever you’re not screaming, gasping, or crying, you’re laughing.
Speaking of those tears, do not let the whimsical first act fool you. The film is carried by powerful performances throughout, but as the plot unfolds— and unfold it does— shock and grief run rampant. The film can blindside you just as easily as it puts a smile on your face, and it is a major credit to the main cast that this range of emotions feels genuine. Similarly, it is to Joon-ho’s credit that the shifting tones of “Parasite,” light-hearted, mournful, intense, are never at odds with each other. There is no tonal whiplash, but instead a well-paced, masterfully orchestrated development of events that flow naturally in cause-and-effect. The result is a story that is equally unpredictable and moving.
If not the best movie of the decade, “Parasite” should serve as a stark reminder not to underestimate the power of an entertaining movie.
