New Concept Art And Video Game News For 'The Host 2'

Written By: Ken Hulsey
Sources: Twitch / Avery Guerra

News has been very slow in coming for the prequel to Bong Joon-Ho's acclaimed monster movie "The Host". The film, which is tentatively being called, "The Host 2", reportedly takes place about three years before events in the first film, and is set to feature several mutant monsters.

It was announced this past week that "The Host 2" is scheduled for a 2011 release, which means that things are certain to start rolling very quickly at Cheongeoram, and the Singapore based, Boku Films, which stepped in to bail out the production last July.

It was also announced that Queens Soft, the makers of current online SF FPS "Another Day" had reached a deal with the film makers to produce a video game based on the film for mobile devices, home systems and PC.

Reports indicate that this game will feature mutant humanoids graced with superhuman skills who do battle with the giant monsters from the film.

No word yet, on whether there will be mutant super-humans in "The Host 2" or not.

Apparently the same financial bakers for the film, namely Boku Films, have also invested in the game as well.

As of this date, "The Host 2" still is without a director, a cast and a final script (being penned by Korean comic book artist Kang Full), which makes the news of a 2011 release sound a bit premature. Reportedly news on these fronts will be released before the end of the year.

There are, however two new concept images from "The Host 2" (above and below) for us to enjoy!

See Also: The First CGI Effects Shot From The Host 2 / The Host 2 Finally Gets The Green Light And Information On Boku's Rule #1 / Yet Another Korean Monster Film Goes Into Production / Korean Monster Sequels Slated For 2009

The First CGI Effects Shot From The Host 2

Written By: Ken Hulsey
Sources: Twitch / Avery Guerra

A little over a month ago I reported that the Singapore based, Boku Films, had bailed out the prequel to Bong Joon-Ho's acclaimed monster movie "The Host". Today I have the first effects shot from the film, which this time around is being done in Korea, as opposed to the prior film, whose effects were outsourced.

From everything I've heard about "The Host 2", it will be an entirely different breed of cat. Gone is director Bong Joon-Ho, who has moved on to his next film, "Le Transperceneige", and the cast from the original. In their place comes a horde of mutant monsters in a story written by Korean comic artist Kang Full.

Though the film looks cool, it is hard to imagine a story that takes place three years before "The Host", being able to 'jive' with the events from the original. If the excavation of the Cheonggye Stream unleashed a bunch of monsters on streets of Seoul, then why didn't anybody in the first film remember it?

And that folks, is why I really don't like prequels.

The effects shot does look really cool though!

See Also: The Host 2 Finally Gets The Green Light And Information On Boku's Rule #1 / Yet Another Korean Monster Film Goes Into Production / Korean Monster Sequels Slated For 2009

The Host 2 Finally Gets The Green Light And Information On Boku's Rule #1

Written By: Ken Hulsey
Sources: Undead Backbrain / Chungeorahm Films / Boku Films

The sequel (actually a prequel) to Bong Joon-Ho's acclaimed monster movie "The Host" has finally gotten the financial backing to begin production. The film, which was originally slated to be released this year, was bailed out by Singapore based, Boku Films, who recently produced the horror film "Rule #1" and the comedy "Men In White".

The film, which was originally announced back in 2007, has been in various stages of development ever since.

The script for "The Host 2" was written by Korean comic artist Kang Full and is set three years prior to the events of the original film. Details are scarce so far but word is this one revolves around the excavation of the Cheonggye Stream, an ancient waterway running through Seoul that was recently reclaimed and restored after years of being covered by a highway, and will feature multiple monsters.

In researching information for this article I came across the website for Boku Films, the financial backer for "The Host 2". Their most recent release was a horror/thriller called "Rule #1" and I thought that everyone would enjoy learning about this film.

I don't know if it is available here in The States, but it may be worth looking for?

Here is the official synopsis:

Every day, the Police Force receives 185 phone calls.

180 of them are about burglaries, murders, rapes and kidnappings.

The remaining 5 begin with: “There is something strange in my house, can you please send someone over to take a look?”

For rookie Sergeant Lee (Shawn Yu), being a cop means running down crooks and upholding the law. Injured in a shoot-out, he finds out to his horror that he is reassigned to the dubious-sounding Miscellaneous Affairs Department (MAD).

There, he is paired up with Inspector Wong (Ekin Cheng), a jaded and alcoholic veteran who explains that MAD’s role is to answer supernatural calls.

A swimming pool caretaker calls the Police about strange noises at his workplace. Lee and Wong are dispatched to the scene. Lee seems to be on the brink of uncovering something sinister when Wong traces the source of the ghastly noise–a clogged-up water pump.

Putting Lee down, Wong explains MAD’s rule number one–There are no ghosts.

For every seemingly-inexplicable phenomenon, there is a corresponding scientific and rational explanation.

When Lee and Wong arrive at a nursing home to investigate a bizarre TV that keeps turning itself on and off, the veteran cop immediately uncovers the culprit. A man in the opposite apartment is channel-surfing with a remote control that is of the same brand as the TV in the nursing home.

Unconvinced by Wong’s easy explanations, Lee investigates on his own and finds himself confronted by the impossible. At the swimming pool, he is haunted by the ghost of a young girl who had drowned there. At the nursing home, he encounters the spirit of an old woman who enjoyed watching TV before she passed away.

Confronted by Lee, Wong reveals the true mission of MAD. When members of the public call the Police about strange noises or ghostly shadows, MAD shows up and reassures the complainants with scientific and rational explanations. The truth must never be known or else society will descend into chaos.

A firm believer of truth and justice, Lee cannot reconcile himself to MAD’s shady practices. As he rebels against the system, the young cop realizes that there is a grain of truth in Wong’s advice.

Slowly, Lee is sucked into a world of deceit and cover-ups. His relationship with his girlfriend May (Fiona Xie) suffers as MAD begins investigating a string of bizarre teenage suicides.

A girl is found to have hung herself from a height of five feet.

Another girl is discovered to have drowned herself in a fish tank.

Impossible suicides. Unless, the victims were possessed.

As Lee and Wong follow the clues, they realize that something sinister is heading their way.

A serial killer who was shot by Lee before his reassignment to MAD is back–as a ghost. He is moving from girl to girl, leaving a grisly trail of carnage in his wake.

While Lee doggedly pursues this ancient feud, Wong has second thoughts about his flagging career at MAD. The veteran hooks up with his former wife Esther (Stephanie Che) and makes plans to quit the force.

On Wong’s last day, Lee tracks the serial killer’s ghost down to a warehouse. A showdown ensues–in which nobody is let off.

Here are some production stills:

See Also: Yet Another Korean Monster Film Goes Into Production / Korean Monster Sequels Slated For 2009

Korean Monster Sequels Slated For 2009

Sources: Avery Guerra, Sci Fi Japan, Monster Island News

Sequels to the latest Korean monster films, The Host and D-War (Dragon Wars), have been pegged for release in 2009.

The follow-up to the award winning monster movie, "The Host", will actually be a prequel. Though original director Bong Joon-Ho is not returning to the director’s chair for this one a follow up to hit Korean monster flick The Host was announced back in June and fresh details have just surfaced.

The script is being handled by Korean comic artist Kang Full and is set three years prior to the events of the original film. Details are scarce so far but word is this one revolves around the excavation of the Cheonggye Stream - an ancient waterway running through Seoul that was recently reclaimed and restored after years of being covered by a highway - and will feature multiple monsters. Shooting is slated for later this year.

Likewise, a sequel to the monster movie 'D-War' appears to be in the works sooner than expected.

During a news conference at the Korean Cultural Center in New York last September, comedian-turned-film director Shim Hyung-rae said he has received a proposal to shoot a sequel very soon, targeting a summer 2009 release date.

"Some major companies have seen how Dragon Wars has performed at box office and approached me about making a sequel", Shim said. "I am considering making Dragon Wars 2 and competing with real Hollywood blockbusters in 2009 summer, fair and square".

Dragon Wars is a story of a couple's fight against the Imoogi, Korean mythological creatures. Young Ethan Kendrick (Cody Arens) meets Jack, an antique dealer (Robert Forster) who claims that Ethan is the reincarnation of ancient warrior apprentice Haram who saved his lover Narin from Buraki, an evil Imoogi.

Both, The Host and D-War, made huge amounts of money in their native Korea, but failed to generate much interest at the American box office. It will be interesting to see what kind of plan, Shim Hyung-rae will be able to come up with to compete with strong American summer movie muscle.