Thirst: The Park Chan-wook Film You Haven’t Seen
Thirst (2009)
Directed by Park Chan-wook
Starring Song Kang-ho, Kim Ok-vin, and Kim Hae-sook
Park Chan-wook’s Thirst is a vampire film that doesn’t suck. It doesn’t prey upon cliché. It doesn’t rely on hackneyed tropes. Thirst knows our expectations. And it flirts with them.
When Priest Sang-hyeon (played by the indelible Song Kang-ho) receives a transfusion of infected blood, this humble man-of-the-cloth is suddenly endowed with superior powers and a thirst for impious passions.
Some might see this film as a crisis of faith. But I would say Thirst is more of a morality tale like the Ring of Gyges. And by that I mean Thirst poses a question: If you had the power to kill and no one could stop you, would you stop yourself? I’m not sure if this is an original spin on the vampire genre, but through Park’s camera lens, it feels fresh. I find this angle more engaging than the more romantic films like *cough* 2008’s Twilight or 1994’s Interview with a Vampire. Interview is very romantic and it kinda poses the same question as Thirst. That’s what Lestat is trying to coax out of Louis: Deny the human you were and be the killer you’ve become. Thirst has some of that but then takes it to the next level.
Thirst is undeniably a Park film. And if you’ve seen any of his other works such as Oldboy or Decision to Leave you’ll know that Park has a style all his own. I’d describe his camera work as fluid. And that fluidity generates energy that is wonderful and often surprising. Sometimes he’ll use a dramatic zoom coupled with a parallax pan (think Michael Bay’ Armageddon). And even though the camera work feels more appropriate for a martial arts film, Park cleverly incorporates it into a moment of self-reflection. It’s a common cliche to say that every artist borrows, but Park’s borrowing blends into something sui generis. And I love it!
This film is for the adventurous–especially if you’re a fan of the vampire genre. If you’re a fan of Park, this is a must. And if you love cinema, Thirst is a film that will surprise and delight. And the reason for that is simple: Park Chan-wook is a master filmmaker.
This film is VERY CINEMA