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A priest becomes a vampire...another man's wife is coveted...a deadly seduction triggers murder. Thirst is the new film from director Park Chan-wook (Old Boy, Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance, Sympathy for Lady Vengeance). Already a box-office smash in Korea, Thirst was honored with the Prix du Jury [Jury Prize] at the 2009 Cannes International Film Festival.
Continuing his explorations of human existence in extreme circumstances, the director spins a tale that he conceived and then developed over several years with co-screenwriter Chung Seo-kyung, inspired by Émile Zola's Therese Raquin. Sang-hyun (played by top Korean star Song Kang-ho, of The Good The Bad The Weird, The Host and Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance) is a priest who cherishes life; so much so, that he selflessly volunteers for a secret vaccine development project meant to eradicate a deadly virus. But the virus takes the priest, and a blood transfusion is urgently ordered up for him. The blood he receives is infected, so Sang-hyun lives but now exists as a vampire. Struggling with his newfound carnal desire for blood, Sang-hyun s faith is further strained when a childhood friend's wife, Tae-ju (Kim Ok-vin) comes to him asking for his help in escaping her life. Sang-hyun soon plunges into a world of sensual pleasures, finding himself on intimate terms with the Seven Deadly Sins.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I watch few Korean films and my comments should be taken in that light. Thirst is a vampire film, but it is also about religion, depravity, conscience and morality. Opening with that popular device - a virus - it travels through a family that have escaped from a Zola novel, much murder, to the final very satisfying denouement. I felt it took far too long to do so, but that may simply be my western "clock". Although it was transparently not True Blood In Seoul it stuck to most of the vampire genre strengths (though Korean vampires can be seen in mirrors) while adding a very Catholic element. It is as if Graham Greene had been asked to rewrite Interview With A Vampire.
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
This is a very good movie from an excellent director. The storyline reminded me strongly of Emile Zola's Therese Raquin - except there were no vampires in Zola's story as I recall! However the story of illicit love between a priest and a woman who is unhappily married to a rather simple and crass man and also shackled to a harridan of a mother-in-law goes down the same path - lust, love, conspiracy, murder and guilt. In Therese Raquin, the lovers drown the unfortunate husband and here too a similar path is followed. Unhappiness, hatred and despair follow. This tale of domestic misery is wrapped in an occult story of accidental vampirism (the priest takes part in a clinical trial which infects him with the need to feed on human blood. without giving away too much the vampirism escalates and his wife becomes infected too - she however feels no sense of guilt regarding this and positively embraces her new found freedom. For both of them however, the "ghost" of the murdered husband and the beady eye of his stroke ridden mother remain a very disturbing presence. Conscience and guilt destroy the relationship and the priest resolves the situation in a way that is both shocking and moving - redemption of a kind. Korea produces brilliant and thought provoking movies - even when wrapped up in what is becoming a rather hackneyed vehicle for expressing ideas of alienation and illicit love.
15 of 20 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Ah, Chan Park-Wook, the *primus inter pares* of South Korean film, the man behind the "Vengeance" trilogy and the legendary "Oldboy" is not a man to rest on his laurels (two Roman references - I'll stop now) after such an illustrious slew of films. Oh no. After the slightly disappointing "I'm a Cyborg - And That's OK" he's gone straight for the jugular (sorry) with this take on Vampire mythology. And it's not a film to do things by halves either.
Sang-hyun (Song Kang-ho) is a christian priest who wishes to uphold his strict morality and respect for human life by volunteering for research project that's attempting to destroy a lethal virus that's threatening civilisation as we know it - However, the virus contained in the vaccine starts to have untold consequences for his health.... Hence, he receives a blood transfusion. By some strange quirk of fate (very strange), he receives vampire blood by mistake. soon Sang-hyun is showing the usual bloodsucker symptoms which, let's face it, isn't something a pious priest should have to face. And as luck will have it a friend's spouse (Kim Ok-vin) approaches him for help in escaping her sorry facade of a life. Sensual experiences follow, experiences that may just launch him headlong into sin and shatter his faith. Yes, I'm not one to use the old "it's such-and-such meets such-and-such" chestnut when trying to sum up a film, but it's "Nosferatu" meets "Nine-And-A-Half Weeks" and by golly does it whip up a Kaleidoscope of tension. And, why do women find vampires so sexy? (answers please on a postcard).
The film has received praise across the board from critics, and it damn-well deserves it too. And hats off to Pallisades Tartan for picking it up for distribution, as before this film it's been old Tartan re-releases (which believe me I would never, ever criticise). Watch now, and shun that successful franchise set in Oregon or wherever with trees and stuff. Glittery types be damned.
Sang-hyun (Song Kang-ho) is a christian priest who wishes to uphold his strict morality and respect for human life by volunteering for research project that's attempting to destroy a lethal virus that's threatening civilisation as we know it - However, the virus contained in the vaccine starts to have untold consequences for his health.... Hence, he receives a blood transfusion. By some strange quirk of fate (very strange), he receives vampire blood by mistake. soon Sang-hyun is showing the usual bloodsucker symptoms which, let's face it, isn't something a pious priest should have to face. And as luck will have it a friend's spouse (Kim Ok-vin) approaches him for help in escaping her sorry facade of a life. Sensual experiences follow, experiences that may just launch him headlong into sin and shatter his faith. Yes, I'm not one to use the old "it's such-and-such meets such-and-such" chestnut when trying to sum up a film, but it's "Nosferatu" meets "Nine-And-A-Half Weeks" and by golly does it whip up a Kaleidoscope of tension. And, why do women find vampires so sexy? (answers please on a postcard).
The film has received praise across the board from critics, and it damn-well deserves it too. And hats off to Pallisades Tartan for picking it up for distribution, as before this film it's been old Tartan re-releases (which believe me I would never, ever criticise). Watch now, and shun that successful franchise set in Oregon or wherever with trees and stuff. Glittery types be damned.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
This is an odd Korean vampire movie.
Other than a strong main lead actor/character (and interesting subject matter) you would not necessarily know this is the work of genius Park Chan-wook (Old Boy, Sympathy..). Read more
Published 3 months ago by T. BROOKES
A great story revamped
One of Park Chan-Wook's best films, in this reviewer's opinion. He masterfully reworks the themes of Zola's Therese Raquin in two ways: firstly, moving the action from 19th century... Read more
Published 5 months ago by Shiro
totally drained
I am sorry but I absolutely hated this film as did the other two friends who watched it with me - totally bizzare (and not in a good way). Read more
Published 5 months ago by guitar hero
Great movie for fans of this guy, but movie is region B
Well I got "I am a Cyborg and I am OK" from the same company and it played great, but now it seems the region "B" has appeared to break the promises of Sony. Read more
Published 22 months ago by Cannington De Ness
Beautiful, tragic, twisted, absurd and darkly comic.
If you love Chan-wook Park, you know what to expect. His films are brutal, poetic, tragic, and artistic, with splashes of very grim humor. Read more
Published 23 months ago by Puzzle box
"ANOTHER" Clichéd Vampire Movie...Full Stop!!!
The only possible explanation that I can think of for why people praise the unbelievably drawn out ending of this movie is that, like the conclusion of a nightmare or a prison... Read more
Published 24 months ago by James Uscroft
Chan-Wook Park's Vampire Opus
Firstly, if you have seen the vengence trilogy and liked it, or just love foriegn cinema in general, then this is a must buy for your collection. Read more
Published on 24 May 2010 by NeoN
Massively disappointing
Boring, unoriginal, totally lacking the director's previous humour, style, wit & creativity, this film was a masive disappointment after his Reveinge Trilogy (Sympathys & Oldboy). Read more
Published on 31 Mar 2010 by Severin
No Director's commentary
This is an excellent film. Eery, original and blackly comic with two excellent lead performances. But do not pay attention to the special features listed at the back of the... Read more
Published on 17 Mar 2010 by S. Wallace
park chan wook back to his best
i've been a fan of this director for a while now, and although some of his films are a bit hit and miss, he is consistantly very good, and this film is definately one of his... Read more
Published on 27 Feb 2010 by Mr. I. Clark
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