Harry loves Park Chan Wook's THIRST!

I have been dying to see Park Chan Wook's latest film, THIRST. Mainly because I had no idea what a Vampire story from his amazing vantage point would look like. Would there be new Vampire rules? Would it be a recognizable vampire story? Or would it be something entirely new? Coming from South Korea - I was anticipating the latter. THIRST did not disappoint. It is a vampire story. But it is so much more than that. This is primarily a psycho-sexual tale of mutual addiction. In many ways it resembles a great film that I've seen recently called IN THE REALM OF THE SENSES by Nagisa Oshima back in 1976. In Oshima's film you have two people that become so entwined, so sexually high on one another and to topping each high with something crazier, wilder, more irresponsible. That spirals wildly out of control. Now Park's THIRST is no where near as graphic, sexually speaking, as IN THE REALM OF THE SENSES, but it is very much a kindred spirit. Kang-Ho Song plays a virginal priest named Sang-Hyeon. He's dedicated his life to the Priesthood - and is so selfless, that he volunteers to be infected with a truly awful virus that ravages the body into a messy death - all to try a cure that thus far, had not worked. Through the process, through the ravaging of his body he intends to grow closer to his savior, Jesus Christ, his dream to hear God. But in the end, his savior was not God, but an anonymous Vampire blood donor that infected him, turned him and cured him. He becomes legendary as the "Bandaged Saint". People want his blessings, pray for his blessings. Through a rather innocent occurrence at the hospital he is stationed at, he meets the mother of a childhood friend, whose wife was another childhood friend. Had Sang-hyeon never met Tae-Joo. He probably would have just remained a sad sack vampire, sucking upon the comatose and his blind father. But no. He found Tae-Joo and she him. Two miserable spirits that find solace, a measured degree of happiness with one another. But this is a mistake. This is wrong. It begins sexually. An abused woman forced into a relationship with her adopted brother/husband. Treated like Harry Potter in his muggle home. The kindness of this Priest and his curiosity with her, her body, her sensuality. It calls to him. It screams at him to betray his vows of celibacy, but his faith has begun to falter in the wake of his undead nature. So their sexual relationship begins. Passion is found where it was missing in both. In each other they find someone that can never have enough. Add to this - Vampirism... and you've got a formula for something truly perverse. Murder is done. It gets worse, the problems grow, the psychological toll is taken and it grows and grows. Where it is headed is something that only you should discover as the film progresses, but let me tell you... the film is intensely erotic, horrifying and oddly romantic. The visual effects of the film are kind of amazing. It isn't just that they can fly, but it is the way the camera moves with them, the way we follow the characters - it feels... somehow... personal. Like we're the bird on their shoulder for the ride. It is intoxicating, because I'm not entirely sure how it was done, but I love watching it. The sex is sexy. The violence is brutal and disgusting. And the magic of vampirism is magic. This is a truly great Vampire story, adult and intense. If you want something with teeth, this will quench your THIRST! I'm sorry. That line just made me laugh so hard, but I really do mean it. This is one of the absolute best films I've seen this year.