7 Incredible Films By Bong Joon-Ho
You’ve already seen the Oscar winning, fantiscally odd dark-comedy film Parasite by Bong Joon-Ho. It’s about an impoverished family that manages to interjet their lives into a wealthy family’s life and slowly start to take over. Bong Joon- Ho films are unique in their own right. Mostly dark comedies, each film has a message weaved throughout the movie. Here are seven of his films with more to come from a fantastic director. Enjoy!
Let me know your favorite Bong Joon-Ho film in the comments below!
1.The Host
What’s It About: An American military pathologist orders his Korean assistant to dump formaldehyde down the drain that leads into the Han River. Over the next few years there are reported sightings of a strange amphibious creature swimming in the river. One day on the banks of the Han River the creature emerges from the water. The riverbank is turned into a riverbed of blood. Park Gang-Du runs a small snack bar by the river. He lives with his daughter, Hyun-Seo and elderly father, Hee-Bong. While running from the creature, Park Gang-Du grabs the wrong person’s hand thinking it was his daughter. The creature has grabbed her and taken her back into the river. Will Park Gang-Du and his family be able to rescue his daughter in a battle with the monster?
Starring: Song Kang-Ho, Bae Doona, Go Ah-Sung
Where To Watch: Tubi, Vudu, Pluto TV
Watch The Trailer Here:
2.Okja
What’s It About: In the year 2007, environmentalist and CEO of the Mirando Corporation, Lucy Mirando announces she has been breeding a special kind of super pig. Twenty-six specimens are sent to farmers around the world and the winner will be announced in ten years. 2017 Mija, lives in South Korea with her grandfather and their super pig. Mija and Okja have a very close relationship. One day they are visited by a representitive of the Mirando Corp and are told Okja is the best super pig and will be taken to New York City. Devastated, Mija goes to Seoul to search for her beloved Okja where she see her being loaded onto a truck. Mija finds out what is happening to Okja. Will she risk everything to prevent a powerful corporation from destroying her best friend?
Starring: Steven Yeun, Seo-Hyeon Ahn, Tilda Swinton
Where To Watch: Netflix
Watch The Trailer Here:
3. Memories Of Murder
What’s It About: Based on the shocking true story. In the province of Gyunngi, South Korea, in 1986, a second woman is found dead in the town. Detective Park Doo-Man is feeling overwhelmed, having never dealt with a case like this before. Seo Tae-Yoon, a detective from Seoul, volunteers to help Park Doo-Man. The two clash on their methods of finding the serial killer. As more and more crimes are committed, will the detectives be able to get past their differences and solve the murders?
Starring: Song Kang-Ho, Kim Sang-Kyung, Kim Roi-Ha
Where To Watch: Hulu, Google Play Movies & TV, Apple TV
Watch The Trailer Here:
4.Barking Dogs Never Bite
What’s It About: Ko Yun-Ju is an unemployed academic. He lives in an apartment complex with his pregnant wife, Eun-Sil. After days and days of a non-stop barking dog, Ko Yun-Ju is going crazy. He plots to find all of the barking dogs in the complex. He starts by kidnapping and hiding the dogs from the unattentive tenants. Park Hyun-Nam dreams of being famous. Her current job is the building custodian and local bookkeeper. She starts to recieve notices from the tenants about their missing dogs and decides to investigate the matter. Will the dognapper be discovered for his crimes?
Starring: Bae Doona, Lee Sung-Jae, Byun Hee-Bong
Where To Watch: Tubi, Vudu, Pluto TV, Crackle
Watch The Trailer Here:
5. Mother
What’s It About: Hye-Ja is a widow that lives alone with her son Yoon Do-Joon. He has an intellectual disability for someone his age and an erratic personality. After one druken evening at the bar, Yoon Do-Joon follows a schoolgirl walking down an alley and into an abandoned building. The next morning the girl is found dead. The police arrest Yoon Do-Joon on circumstantial evidence. With Yoon Do-Joon facing a long sentence, Hye-Ja is left with no options but to take the initiative to prove her son’s innocence.
Starring: Won Bin, Kim Hye-Ja, Jin Goo
Where To Watch: Tubi, Crackle, Vudu
Watch The Trailer Here:
6.Tokyo
What’s It About: An anthology film by three non-Japanese directors. Bong Joon-Ho is the third segment called “Shaking Tokyo”. The story is about Teruyuki Kagawa, a shut-in that lives in Tokyo and has not left his apartment in a decade. He orders pizza every Saturday night. One fateful Saturday, his pizza is delivered by a young woman. She immediately catches Teruyuki’s eye. An earthquake suddenly strikes Tokyo and the young woman faints in his apartment. After everything settles, and Teruyuki’s life returns to normal, he decides to take a big step into the unknown to look for the girl of his dreams.
Starring: Akayo Fujitani, Ayumi Ito, Yu Aoi
Where To Watch: Tubi, Pluto TV, Amazon Prime Video
Watch The Trailer Here:
7.Snowpiercer
What’s It About: In the year 2032, after a disasterous attempt at stopping global warming, an ice age has covered the Earth and the last remnants of humanity live out their days on a non-stop moving train. The passengers on the train are seperated by class. The wealthy in the elite front cars while the poor are crammed into the tail compartments with guards watching. Led by Curtis, a group of lower-class citizens are determined to get to the front of the train and spread the wealth around. Each section of the train holds a new surprise for the revolutionaries to battle their way through.
Starring: Song Kang-Ho, Chris Evans, Tilda Swinton
Where To Watch: Pluto TV, Apple TV, Vudu
Watch The Trailer Here:
I didn’t know he directed snowpiercer too. That movie was dark and disturbing.