The adaptation of anime into live-action films has been hit or miss in the past, leaving many fans doubtful about the success of the genre. However, Parasyte: The Grey stands out from the bunch with its incredibly impressive effects. The director of the film, Yeon Sang-ho (Train to Busan, Hellbound), paints a picture of a world where aliens invade humans by assuming control over them. The film is incredibly brutal, with squelching sounds and parasite mewling setting a tense and scary atmosphere for viewers.
The world-building in the film is impeccably done, with meticulous attention to detail and realism, thus bringing the universe to life in a significant way. However, while Yeon goes all-out on aesthetics, the same cannot be said for the plot and the execution of the story, which pales in comparison to the visual elements. Yeon distances Parasyte: The Grey from the source material, but doing so might have taken away from the film’s compelling and captivating elements.
The film revolves around Jeong Su-in, a young white-collar worker who accidentally becomes the host to a parasite called Heidi, after a fatal accident. However, something goes wrong with the transfer, and both Su-in and Heidi retain their full consciousness, coexisting in a unique situation. Jeon So-nee, who plays the part of Jeong, shows excellent versatility, flawlessly transitioning from the softness of Su-in to Heidi’s ruthless nature.
The dynamic between Jeong and Seol Kang-woo, played by Koo Kyo-hwan, is one of the highlights of the film. However, the leader of Team Grey, Choi Jun-kyung, played by Lee Jung-hyun, can be over-the-top, but after the initial build-up, the character balance improves significantly. Yeon has done away with some of the significant parts of the source material, such as the real-time conversation between Shinichi and Migi, which played an essential role in the manga and anime, leaving viewers less connected to the bond between Heidi and Su-in.
Despite the departures from the original source material, Yeon’s portrayal of humanity remains grounded and authentic. He has done an excellent job in showing how disaster can bring out the best and worst of people, and the way he delicately weaves moments of faith and deception with the parasites preying on humans is incredibly well done. Parasyte: The Grey is available exclusively on Netflix for streaming.
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