Director Bong Joon Ho continues his ascension into the top tier of filmmakers with his latest called Parasite. Storywise, it’s a simple concept. The Kim family, living on the lower side of the economic scale, con their way into working for a wealthy family, the Parks. Soon after settling in with the Parks, something happens that threatens to ruin everything for the Kims.

This is an amazingly fun movie that is pulled off to perfection. The building blocks of the Kim’s scam are expertly placed. Each family member, starting with the son, has a believable way in and the introduction of the next family member into the fold is also smartly done. This kind of movie has been done before so it becomes a matter of what new direction can they do here to make it a story worth telling? The fun of Parasite is watching each step of the plan come together. Then, you wait on pins and needles to see what’s going to push over the first domino into a disaster. Finally, the anticipation on how it concludes. Can they stick the landing? The hook that sets off the tragedy of the story is just as well done as the setup, as is the ending. This script is so well thought out and executed that I was impressed with every scene–there’s a purpose to every single thing you are shown.

This is pretty much a tale of the have and the have nots. The Park’s seemingly have everything and the Kim’s are struggling to make ends meet week to week. Their semi-underground apartment (it’s a basement) only gives them a sliver of a view to the outside world. And practically everyday that view is ruined by a drunk man relieving himself next to their kitchen. The Park’s, on the other hand, have floor to ceiling windows in their gigantic home, and beautiful landscaping in a posh neighborhood. So when the son, Woo, starts weaseling his way into tutoring the Park’s daughter thanks to one of his friends, you understand this kid wanting to do anything to advance himself, which will help his family.

The beginning of the movie perfectly establishes the Kim family. The four of them are a tight-knit family and they’re easy to like. One of my favorite scenes is when Woo goes to meet Mrs. Park to interview for the tutoring gig. With a forged document in his hand thanks to the handiwork of his sister, Jung, he stops and smiles at his father. He proclaims that it isn’t a fake, he just printed it out a year early. He’s going to get this great paying job, save up, go to the school where the forgery says he’s been attending, and everything will get better for them. This is just what he has to do to start the rest of his life. So while what he’s doing is shady, you’re on his side. Now, while he gets his sister in pretty easily, it’s bringing in the Kim parents where things turn much more dishonest and morally awful.

And that’s the brilliant pivot of the movie. Things are going well for the Kim’s, they are working hard and for the first time in a while see a bright future for themselves. With four great incomes, they’re making real money. It’s only at this point where they briefly ponder what’s happened to the good people they got fired. The moral question is asked and shortly after, their con blows up in their face in an unexpected way (I didn’t see it coming at all). I won’t say anything more about the twist because I think you need to go into it blind for the most impact. I will say that the twist brings in an additional terrific layer of compassion and parallels to the plight of others in the world that makes you think. I think the ending is brilliant as well, giving an elegant answer while also leaving it open ended.

Every actor in this movie is fantastic and the production is often gorgeous. Bong Joon Ho is a phenomenal director. He frames things so well, knows exactly when and how to move a camera to focus attention, raise drama, and unconsciously push the viewer through the story the way he wants you to with seemingly no effort. Few directors can match his finesse.

Highly recommended, easily one of the best movies of 2019 and it deserves every Oscar it won.