Review: Bong Joon Ho’s ‘Parasite’ on Blu-ray

After establishing itself as one of the best movies of 2019 last year, Bong Joon Ho’s Parasite has now made its way to Blu-ray. Known for his work on films like The Host, Snowpiercer, and Okja, Joon-ho’s Parasite seems to be his biggest hit yet. In addition to winning the Best Foreign Language Film Golden Globe, Parasite is also up for multiple Oscars, which includes Best Picture and even Best Director for Joon Ho.

Needless to say, Parasite comes with a lot of hype based on all of the acclaim from critics and horror fans alike. It’s easy to see why once you see the film for yourself – there’s nothing out there quite like it. The film follows the story of two families, the Kims and the Parks. Living in poverty and seeking a better way of life, the Kims essentially infiltrate the Parks’ household through means of fraud, forming a “symbiotic relationship” between the two families. Complications ensue when their secrets are threatened with bloody and horrific results.

One of the aspects of Parasite I appreciate most is how it manages to blend dark humor into the story, making the film just as funny as it is unsettling. Combine that storytelling with the great acting and compelling plot and the film is highly entertaining from beginning to end. It’s certainly a powerful film that will stick with you in your mind for some time to come after the credits roll, and though I look forward to visiting the film again – it’s going to probably be a little while. It’s darkly hilarious but also incredibly intense and I think I’m gonna need just a little bit of recovery time.

There’s not much in the way of special features, though the Blu-ray does include a Q&A with the director. It’s an interesting watch, especially after just finishing the film, as it adds some insight into the making of the movie. Watching these together and thinking of Joon Ho’s past work, it’s hard not to anticipate what’s coming next from the modern horror maestro. All in all, I’m pretty happy to have the Parasite Blu-ray in my collection, as it’s certainly one of my favorite foreign horror flicks of recent years.

Parasite is now available on Blu-ray, DVD, and Digital. You can watch the official trailer below.

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