The best monster movies are the one that have some sort of larger, real-life point to make. Cloverfield probably had something to do with underwater drilling if you bothered to engage in the viral marketing, Godzilla was a pretty obvious symbol of the fear of nuclear destruction in post-World War II Japan, and 2006s The Host follows in a much similar fashion. Bong Joon-hos sci-fi action movie became one of the most successful in South Korean history. It did that whilst also being inspired by a real event where a Korean mortician working for the US military in Seoul was ordered to dump a large amount of formaldehyde into the local sewers, which... wasnt very nice. At least it didnt result in a huge lolloping beastie that starts eating people and destroying the city, though, which is what happens in The Host. Its a special-effects-lead thrill ride that still finds the time to centre on the human element: mainly, a deadbeat dad who tries to earn back the respect of his family by helping them not get eaten by a big sewer monster.
Tom Baker is the Comics Editor at WhatCulture! He's heard all the Doctor Who jokes, but not many about Randall and Hopkirk. He also blogs at http://communibearsilostate.wordpress.com/
