A record note of 4.8 out of 5! 6 years ago, this masterful thriller was unanimous … and his end left everyone speechless

Six years ago, the world of cinema was shaken by a film that took everyone short: parasite. This unique masterpiece of his kind of Bong Joon-Ho marked the spirits with his breathtaking, unexpected and dizzying outcome.

A cinematographic tidal wave

Rewarded with the Palme d’Or in Cannes in 2019, by the César for the best foreign film in 2020, and a rain of Oscar statuettes the same year (including those of the best film, the best original scenario, and the best director), Parasite has turned upside down the film industry. This South Korean film, which no one saw arriving and noted 4.8 out of 5 on our site, ignited international scenes and has become a phenomenon of popular culture, imposing Bong Joon-Ho Like an essential figure in world cinema.

With his sharp scenario, his acerbic social criticism and his sequence of reversals of the situation, Parasite was able to capture public attention and become an instant classic. The staging, as brilliant as it is entertaining, serves a reflection on social inequalities, while the skillfully chopped writing immerses us in a constant suspense, now on alert throughout the film.

Reversals from the start

Attention spoilers! This article reveals the plot as well as the end of “parasite” (2019). If you have not yet seen the film and prefer to keep the surprise intact, it is best not to read the rest of this article.

From the first scenes, Bong Joon-Howhich also co-signs the scenario, takes its time to forge a canvas of tensions between the two families, the Kim and the Park. Kim family members, in search of work, manage to be hired as servants in the luxurious house of the Park. But everything changes when they take advantage of the owners’ absence to organize an improvised little party in the large living room. It was then that the former governess (Lee Jeong-Eun), that the Kim family managed to send back, arrives with a disturbing mission: she wants to recover her husband (Park Myeong-Hoon) who has lived in the cellar of the house for several years.

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It is here that the first twist intervenes, radically modifying the trajectory of the film. A violent confrontation bursts, followed by the return of the owners, causing the Kim in a spiral of chaos and tensions. This moment, already breathless, is far from the last.

The dizzying outcome

The peak of the film occurs on the anniversary of the young Da-Song (Jung Hyeon-Jun), son of the Park, who will be struck by an explosion of violence-and the tragedy that has been looming on the horizon since the first twist will finally take place. The husband of the governess, determined to take revenge on the death of his wife, enters the reception armed with a knife. A brutal massacre follows, leaving several characters who died or seriously injured.

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But the story does not stop there. A few scenes later, an unexpected epilogue reveals to us that Ki-Woo (Choi Woo-Sik), the son of the Kim, escaped the prison-alongside his mother (Jang Hye-Jin), while his sister Ki-Jung (Park So-Dam) died. By observing the large house of the Park from a distant point of view, he sees a light flashing on the facade. The film then shows us Ki-Taek (Song Kang-Ho), his father, now refugee in the basement of the house to escape justice.

In a final act of despair, Ki-Woo swears to get rich to buy the house and release his father. Unattainable dream or reality intended to arrive? We will never know. This tragic loop, meticulously woven by Bong Joon-Hocloses on a note that is both poignant and cruel.

The genius of Parasite Resides in its ability to surprise at every moment, to upset the spectator’s expectations, while delivering a harsh reflection on social divisions – as well as a whole fascinating metaphor on parasites. A film which, six years after its release, continues to influence and inspire.

Parasite can be found on Max or VOD.

(Re) Discover an extract from the film below…