I’ve been trying to think what other movie Parasite reminded me of. It reminded me of some Claude Chabrol films, perhaps some Hitchcock but it really is an original. It is a comedy, a drama, a thriller all wrapped up in a social satire about economic status and class warfare. It is an extremely smartly written film and beautifully directed by Bong Joon Ho (Snow Piercer). It is obviously this year’s Roma but will it get nominated in both Best Picture and Best Foreign Film as Roma did?

A down on their luck family find ways to scheme and scrape together a living while dreaming of a big payoff that will set them up for the rest of their life. They’re a family of con men and they zero in on a young couple and their family. They manage to get jobs with this family without them finding out that they are related. Everything goes as planned until something happens and their plan gets derailed. The film takes a huge turn from being an amusing lark into a harrowing ordeal.

The performances are perfect. You really get drawn into the story and taken places you didn’t expect. The direction is creative and the set design is terrific from the little basement hovel the family live in to the gorgeous, sprawling home of the wealthy family. I found out that the house was built just for the film! That is amazing! I expect an Oscar nod for Production Design.

I urge you to see this film. Don’t be scared off because there are subtitles. You will quickly be captivated by the well written story and find yourself absorbed by the plight of both families. Parasite is one of the best films of the year.