Oscar-Winning Director Bong Joon Ho Returns to The Host for a New 4K Remaster

Director Bong Joon Ho has brought back his 2006 monster film "The Host" for a special 20th-anniversary 4K restoration. Magnolia Pictures will release the remastered movie in theaters nationwide on November 20. Special screenings on November 21 and November 23 will feature an exclusive talk between Bong and filmmaker Edgar Wright.

What Happened

In the original plot, actor Song Kang-ho stars as Gang-du, a snack kiosk worker by Seoul's Han River. A giant creature emerges from the water and captures his schoolgirl daughter Hyun-seo, played by Ko A-sung. Other family members are played by Byun Hee-bong, Park Hae-il, and Bae Doo-na. New Zealand studio Weta Workshop built the creature models, while visual effects company The Orphanage handled the animation.

Production Details

Bong shot the movie on Fuji stock rather than Kodak. He worked with cinematographer Kim Hyung-ku to shape its look. The new digital remaster aims to recreate the feel of watching a fresh 35mm print from its 2006 Cannes premiere. The sound was originally mixed at Seoul's Livetone facility. The creature's voice combined processed sea lion sounds with a vocal performance from actor Oh Dal-su. Bong resisted the urge to cut one or two shots from the film, choosing to leave his past work unchanged.

Context

Bong wrote "The Host" with the SARS outbreak in mind, adding satire about official misinformation and the Iraq War. He notes that real-world conflicts continue to repeat themselves today, making the film's themes feel just as relevant. The director's later film "Parasite" made history in 2019 by winning the Palme d'Or and four Academy Awards.