Parasyte: The Grey Story:-
A new Netflix Kdrama, “Parasyte: The Grey,” based on the renowned Japanese manga by Hitoshi Iwaaki, has arrived, and I’m excited to share my review. Let’s dive in and see how this live-action adaptation stacks up.
Movie Ratings
| Release Date | 13 January 2023 |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Action, Thriller |
| Duration | 1h 47min |
| Cast | Gerard Butler, Mike Colter, Yoson An, Tony Goldwyn, Daniella Pineda, Kelly Gale, Remi Adeleke, Haleigh Hekking, Lilly Krug, Joey Slotnick, Oliver Trevena, Paul Ben-Victor, Quinn McPherson |
| Director | Jean-François Richet |
| Writer | Charles Cumming, J. P. Davis |
| Cinematography | Brendan Galvin |
| Music | Marco Beltrami, Marcus Trumpp |
| Producer | Lorenzo di Bonaventura, Mark Vahradian, Marc Butan, Gerard Butler, Alan Siegel, Eda Kowan, Luillo Ruiz |
| Production | MadRiver Pictures, Olive Hill Media, Di Bonaventura Pictures, G-BASE Film Productions |
| Certificate | 16+ |
South Korea brings forth a chilling sci-fi horror series titled Parasyte: The Grey, directed by Yeon Sang-ho. Drawing inspiration from the manga series, it immerses viewers in a terrifying encounter with mysterious parasitic beings that inhabit human hosts, leading to gruesome murders. Leading the cast are Jeon So-nee, Koo Kyo-hwan, and Lee Jung-hyun. The series made its global debut on Netflix on April 5, 2024.
Originally known as The Grey during development (더 그레이; Deo geure-i), this project arose from a collaboration between Netflix and Yeon Sang-ho. Yeon and Ryu Yong-jae shared direction and writing duties, with Climax Studio and Wow Point overseeing production.
Koo Kyo-hwan and Jeon So-nee were chosen for the lead roles, with their participation officially confirmed alongside Lee Jung-hyun on August 24, 2022.
I’ve endeavored to keep this review as spoiler-free as possible, although I’ve included certain elements necessary to provide comprehensive feedback.
Who could have anticipated an alternate narrative inspired by the renowned manga and anime Parasyte? Initially, like many, I assumed this would be a Korean remake of the Japanese manga, but that’s not the case. This is a reimagining set in South Korea, focusing on different individuals affected by parasitic creatures that descended from the sky.
The series opens with a quote pondering the significant impact of humanity on the world. It questions whether halving the human population would improve the world. This notion serves as the foundation for the existence of the worm-like creatures known as parasites. Regarded as an evolutionary countermeasure to humans, their ultimate goal is the eradication of humanity by any means necessary.
However, these parasites aren’t mindless monsters solely driven by hunger. Despite their strong desire to prey on humans, they possess intelligence and free will. When a parasite fails to take over Su-in, the protagonist, it understands the need to protect the host to ensure survival.
This dynamic mirrors the manga, where both parasite and host collaborated to survive. Additionally, the series delves deeper into the nature of these parasitic creatures and methods to identify them.
While the core themes align with the manga, the storyline diverges significantly. Thus, newcomers to the series can easily enjoy it without prior knowledge of the original storyline. However, for fans familiar with the manga and anime, this adaptation may fall short of expectations. Shinichi’s story, in particular, was more compelling, with a well-developed protagonist and a genuine bond with Migi. In comparison, the portrayal of bonds in this series feels lacking.
One more critique I have is regarding the portrayal of the police officers in this series. Their incompetence towards the end is frustrating, as their decisions and lack of judgment seem inexplicable. It almost appears as if the officers, who were initially depicted as competent, have suddenly become inept solely to create obstacles for the protagonist.
The CGI and cinematography were passable, but nothing exceptional. While the actors effectively embody their respective roles, the team leader of Team Grey comes across as somewhat exaggerated.
Verdict
As someone familiar with both the anime and manga, my perspective on this series will likely differ from those unfamiliar with it. Therefore, I recommend everyone to watch the show first and form their own opinion.
For me, the overall storyline was decent, but the climax was the standout moment of the season. The final two minutes truly grabbed my attention, and now, because of that particular scene, I eagerly anticipate the next season.
