Review: Bong Joon-ho’s acclaimed PARASITE is a must-own on Blu-Ray

Bong Joon-ho’s Parasite has become a worldwide phenomenon. Already a smash hit in South Korea, the film has resonated with audiences around the globe; from deafening festival buzz earlier this year to its six Oscar nominations, Parasite is a film that’s been both critically-lauded and also proved to be a crowd-pleaser of the highest order.

From our Best Films of 2019 list:

There is a lot to said for going into a movie completely cold. With the year-long deluge of trailers and media blanketing, it often feels like you’ve seen and digested a movie entirely before it even hits theatres (Joker was a prime example of that this year). Bong Joon-ho’s Parasite is a film that plays best the less you know about it. At its core, the remarkable film from South Korea’s master filmmaker is a darkly comic look at income inequality and its potential ramifications. Joon-ho expertly ratchets up the tension throughout the film, while still allowing time for moments of black comedy and moving character moments. This is a film that will stick with you long after the credits and plays even better on a second watch when you can really pay close attention to how Joon-ho meticulously choreographs all the film’s moving parts.

Just in time for the Oscars, Parasite arrives on Blu-ray, giving audiences the chance to watch the film again or experience its brilliant puzzle-box construction at home. While it’s surprising that one of the most acclaimed films of the year isn’t being released on a 4K disc, the Parasite Blu-ray looks and sounds incredible, with a sharp transfer and a Korean 5.1 DTS-HD soundtrack that highlights Jung Jae-il’s surprisingly classical score.

Unfortunately, there isn’t much in the way of extras here. The highlight of the disc is a 19-minute Q&A with Bong Joon-ho from this year’s Fantastic Fest in Austin, where the director speaks with a moderator and answers fan questions (via an interpreter). A pair of excellent trailers for the film are also included, but anyone hoping for a deep dive into the making of the film will be disappointed.

Until we get the bonus-packed edition the film deserves, Parasite is still a must-own on Blu-ray. It’s a deeply layered film that truly benefits from repeated viewings, making this disc an easy recommendation. Here’s hoping the film makes Oscar history this weekend, but either way, Parasite will stand the test of time as a beautifully-shot and morally complex black comedy/thriller from one of our master directors.

Parasite is available on Blu-ray now.