The Host tells the tale of America's heartless and threatening approach to world events from the perspective of another country: South Korea.
In the beginning, the film shows us careless military personnel casually dumping chemicals into the Han River; the result of such actions is a seemingly mutated creature that wreaks havoc upon nearby residents. The film follows a loving father that tends to a family-owned vendor, although he is suffering mentally from his own incompetent nature.
With reports of a strange creature attacking people, the American military quickly intervenes, setting up various camps and zones in which they claim to assess the threat in hopes of ceasing it; although that really isn't the case: the United States created this problem, and they generally do not care. What's interesting about The Host is its inspiration came from a real event --but obviously without the mutated creature--in which a Korean mortician working for the United States military in Seoul poured formaldehyde down the drain.
The Host, for the most part, isn't really about the creature, but about the path a father must take in order to save and protect his daughter from the threats of the world; he must rise up and change his ways if he is to do so, which is easier said than done. Numerous hurdles are thrown at our protagonist, not all can be jumped over. His lack of responsibility certainly haunts him each time he must remain independent.
For a film from 2006, it certainly doesn't want to be associated with those thrillers/horrors filled to the brink with poor CGI and scenes that lack authenticity, even with budget costs coming into consideration: many scenes were filmed in genuine sewers, with the cast and production team having to ensure they are safe from the various bacteria within. Typically, most of the film was shot in real locations, the main CGI elements being the creature, although it looks surprisingly good.
In summary, The Host is a film that delves into the destructive nature of people; their lack of awareness; their inability to witness the damage they are causing to those who surround them.
