Movie Review: Parasite

“You know what kind of plan never fails? No plan at all.” Making its world premiere at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival in May this year, Bong Joon-ho’s Parasite made an immediate splash, receiving Palme d’Or by unanimous vote, becoming the first Korean film to do so. Parasite’s success does not end there. It was selected as South Korea’s entry for the upcoming 92nd Academy Awards for Best International Feature Film. Parasite is a film that deals with the desperation of the working class, the niceties of the wealthy, and the ever-growing gap between those at the very top and those at the very bottom. With a superb script and high caliber performances, Parasite stands out as one of the best films of the year.

With a cohesive yet twisty plot that takes multiple turns, Parasite is one of the most well-written dramatic thrillers to date that maintains its trajectory without careening off the rails towards the end. The film begins innocently enough, following the Kim family, who are down on their luck, in search of jobs in order to escape the poverty in which they live. It’s not long before the film dives into an ever-escalating situation with higher and higher stakes surrounding the Kim family’s relationship with the extremely wealthy Park family. Making a commentary on the large disparity between the working-class and the wealthiest individuals at the top, Bong Joon-ho’s film is a powerful reminder that everyone is worthy of respect, no matter what their economic status is. His script contains powerful moments that are seared into the brain, along with witty dialogue that elicits laughter even in the darkest parts of the film. Bong’s script is also impressive in that it creates brief snapshots of comedy before bringing the audience right back into the stark reality of the film, creating a whiplash effect that gives the audience momentary (but necessary) respite from the increasing drama.

Not only is this film perfectly crafted from a writing standpoint, it is also acted incredibly well. The performances given by Song Kang-ho, Park So-dam, and Cho Yeo-jeong were all stunning in their ability to contrast a dramatic moment with a quiet and reserved one is unparalleled. Song Kang-ho plays the clever and penny-pinching Mr. Kim, the head of the Kim family. Song is a regular in the films of Bong Joon-ho, and so it is not a surprise to see him appear here as well. His performance is powerful, memorable, and resonant with the reality of many today. Song has moments of quiet reflection that contrast with violent outbursts that shock the audience. Park So-dam, who plays Mr. Kim’s daughter, plays a clever and resourceful daughter with quick wit and impeccable improvisation skills. Not only is Park clever, she provides several comedic moments with her deadpan delivery and her character’s satirical take on ‘art-therapy’. Cho Yeo-jeong plays Mrs. Park, the young, naïve wife of a wealthy, somewhat absent husband. Cho plays into the naivety of her character in inspiring fashion. She takes moments to accentuate the satire of her character before grounding her in the gravity that takes over the film as time progresses. While Song Kang-ho, Park So-dam, and Cho Yeo-jeong all give powerful and memorable performances, the rest of the cast also bring their all in spectacular fashion. The acting displayed in Parasite is on par with that of Awkwafina in The Farewell, as well as Brad Pitt and Leonardo DiCaprio in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, to name a couple notable films released this year.

With stunning cinematography and amazing blocking, Bong Joon-ho brings the Park house to life in Parasite. Unlike other films in which a large house feels disjointed and difficult to map out, the Park house is clearly laid out and easily navigable for the viewer. The house itself is a stunning feat of design and is perfectly reflective of the times, displaying great wealth without beating the audience over the head about it. Bong’s cinematography is patient and calculated. It brings the audience into the action while maintaining its distance, as if the audience is witnessing something that perhaps they shouldn’t be. Unlike many thrillers, Parasite takes its time before spiraling down the rabbit hole. However, once it does, it doesn’t stop until the very end. A piece of advice before going to see Parasite, which, at this point, is a must-see movie, is that you should probably go to the bathroom before the movie, since there is hardly a moment to be wasted in the entire film.

Rating: 9.5/10