The Host

Korean horror has been on a slippery slope towards mediocrity for a couple of years now, but The Host is a triumphant return to form. Leaving behind the usual ghostly shenanigans, it's an old fashioned creature feature wherein a toxic-waste-mutated beastie runs amok in downtown Seoul, forcing a layabout father to search the sewers for his missing daughter while trying to stay out of the way of the authorities. Fresh and energetic, it's terrific fun for the most part, although there's a bit of a lag in the middle when the monster disappears for long stretches and it takes a turn into government conspiracies, while occasional lapses into slapstick make for a slightly uneven tone. But it's creepy and tense in all the right places and the special effects are startlingly good, with several scenes of huge technical audacity and flair. The best monster mash in an age. [Paul Greenwood]