Parasite (2019)

In the first act of Parasite, Ki-woo gets handed a big decorative rock and calls it metaphorical, out loud. That’s Bong Joon Ho at his least subtle, and it’s the only real flaw I can find. The rest is a con movie, a family comedy, a thriller and a stomach drop, all wearing the same nice sweater. The Kims fold pizza boxes in a semi-basement, then talk their way into a rich family’s house one fake résumé at a time, and you root for them way harder than you should. Song Kang-ho can turn a single look into a whole speech. Park So-dam rattles off a fake background like a jingle and sells it completely. The Park house is a character too, all glass and stairs, and every step means something. It made $263.5 million worldwide on a reported $11.4M budget. A 9.7 because it’s funny until it isn’t, and then it’s unforgettable. $998 says you sniff your own jacket on the way out and pretend you were fixing the collar.

What works: A flawless ensemble, a house that tells the story through its stairs and windows, and tone shifts that hit like a trap door.

What doesn’t: A few symbols, like the scholar’s rock, get pointed at so directly they feel like the movie nudging your elbow.

Who it’s for: Anyone who likes a thriller with a sense of humor and a point, and people who think they don’t watch subtitled movies.