I Don't Give 10's, I Had To Here

Rating: 10/10 (11 April 2020)

When I look at a movie as a whole I'm more focused on story then execution first, and am always pleased when the films execution is excellent too, like this film. I went into this movie with very low expectations because it seemed confused and I wasn't convinced the thriller part of the film would work because I set a pretty high bar there. I also never give out 10's because a project can always be improved. In this case, it reached at something instinctual that has only happened a few times, where at the end of a film or book, I immediately, almost impulsively want to experience it again.
Parasite succeeds in a big way for a couple of really important reasons. The intelligent wit and comedy of the film draws out great empathy from the viewer without them even realizing it, and brings you along just enough to be fully invested in the characters. The family is relatable, poor, and have their sense of humor and love for each other that has great reach for those watching. As things take a dark turn into its thriller act, the transition is natural and a part of you wants that playful interaction to come back, but as things unfold you know there isn't a turning point and that it's about to get worse before it gets better. At this point in the film, the meaningful narrative on wealth inequality and its impacts quickly take a full cast you enjoy together and almost seems to divide them against each other. By the end of the film, you've been fully primed for the message and will probably feel a bit torn towards the protagonists and plot as a whole. That feeling is coming from the reality so many have experienced, and for it's masterful strokes I found myself completely hooked.
There isn't a single negative I can think of with this film. From direction to acting, costuming and screenwriting, this film was highly intelligent and used genre as a way to paint new aspects of the story rather than relying on tropes or frameworks within a single genre. The changes from comedy to tragedy itself compels the narrative and that achievement alone makes this an excellent film!