The fact that the movie turned out to be such a masterpiece should not be such a shock; it is, after all, the brainchild of the legendary Bong Joon-ho, responsible for classics such as Memories of Murder, The Host, Snowpiercer and most recently Okja. However, as a testament to it’s magnificence, Parasite manages to stand out from such a decorated catalogue of features.
The film is one of two halves; you may be forgiven for not understanding how the movie is labelled a thriller at the beginning, although this isn’t to say the first half of the movie was a bore, in fact, it’s far from dull. The first hour of the movie has been utilised by Joon-ho to get viewers invested in the characters through his signature devices of dark humour, artistic shots and painstaking attention to detail. Of course, this is assisted by the fact that the cast remains largely the same throughout the movie, and therefore there is no lack of substance afforded to any major part of the plotline.
Once you’ve firmly connected with the background and events on screen, the second half is unbelievably gripping; an overwhelmingly thrilling experience. The entire screenplay is characterised by the excellent synergy created by Bong Joon-ho’s stellar direction, compelling acting performances and the hair raising crests and dips of the score. Of course, there are moments of humour and tragedy, but nothing takes away from the air of suspense that looms over the film. It simply can’t be understated how beautifully Joon-ho has managed to construct an extremely powerful narrative from a seemingly harmless premise.
Undoubtedly one of the best movies of 2019, Parasite may even be one of the best movies of the last decade. It has wrapped up many of the most prestigious movie awards in the world, including the Palme D’Or, and is in contention for many more, including the Best Picture at the upcoming Academy Awards. Simply listing out its achievements, however, does not do this film even the most remote justice. It is a must watch, and guaranteed to leave a lasting impression on anyone who experiences it.
5/5
