Parasite

This is a masterpiece. It's difficult to determine where to begin, but I suppose what stuck out most to me was the story. From the film's first moment to it's last, it feels original and continually keeps you guessing. It refuses to allow itself to be contained within any traditional narrative structure that would allow the viewer to fully digest the film until the very end. It does this is by seamlessly weaving between genres and subverting expectations as the story progresses. At first, we follow the journey of a young boy, a member of a hard-working family in poverty. As the film ramps up, there are hints that the story might be one focused around a romance. By the halfway point of the film, it feels like a pseudo-spy-thriller focusing upon a group of cunning and resourceful con-artists. The film could coast along this path to an epic conclusion but instead takes a left-turn through the world of mystery towards a terror-filled climax which feels as unsettling as any horror film. Rather than stop there, the story ultimately settles on a dramatic and gut-wrenching conclusion that serves as a commentary on the class systems of society. As you move through this captivating narrative rollercoaster, nothing ever feels out of place, not the beautiful score, nor the striking visuals.