The Director Behind The 21st Century’s Best Movie Made A Must-See Netflix Original Nobody Talks About

Bong Joon-ho has cemented himself as one of the most acclaimed filmmakers working right now, but his Netflix Original movie remains overlooked. Joon-ho rose to prominence following his stunning true-crime thriller Memories of Murder, followed by The Host, Snowpiercer, and most recently, Mickey 17. Joon-ho’s Best Picture winner Parasite was recently named the best movie of the 21st century.

Such recognition will surely lead to more people looking back at Joon-ho’s incredible career in movies thus far. However, while they are sure to find a lot of great movies, even a director as acclaimed as Joon-ho has some projects that get ignored. Even with a star-studded cast, one of Joon-ho’s most impressive movies needs more attention.

Okja Is One Of Bong Joon Ho’s Best Movies

The Movie Is An Exciting Mix Of Genres Like Only Joon-ho Can Deliver

Okja was Bong Joon-ho’s first collaboration with Netflix, combining his South Korean filmmaking origins with a more Hollywood approach. The emotional and unique sci-fi movie takes a look at a young girl named Mija (Ahn Seo-Hyeon), who has grown up on a farm in South Korea with her genetically modified superpig Okja as her closest companion.

However, when the greedy corporation that bred Okja takes the animal back in order to prepare it to be slaughtered for food, Mija sets out on a daring adventure to save her friend. Joon-ho mixes elements of adventure and comedy with a genuinely moving story, making for one of his most impressive movies.

Okja was well-received by critics at the time of its release, earning 87% on Rotten Tomatoes. However, its success was somewhat overshadowed by controversy over it being a Netflix release. Netflix Original movies were still rather new at this point, and there was some backlash about their damage to the theatrical experience.

However, that should not take away from the beautiful movie Joon-ho created. It shows his ambition as a filmmaker, exploring new stories and tones. It was also another step in Joon-ho becoming an international filmmaking name, working alongside some big Hollywood directors.

Okja Deserves To Be Talked About More

Okja Is A Completely Unique Adventure Movie

With Parasite earning such acclaim, many people have looked back on Bong Joon-ho’s earlier work. While this has led to love for the likes of The Host and Memories of Murder, Okja continues to be ignored. However, any negative perception that followed Okja around its release is unnecessary now, and it’s time for more people to see it.

Joon-ho has always been one of the most talented filmmakers when it comes to balancing different tones, but Okja might be the most impressive example of this. There is a charming and magical quality to the film that feels reminiscent of Steven Spielberg movies like E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. Okja can then veer into silly comedy and outrageous action.

However, it is also clearly a story that Joon-hi feels deeply about, as he does not hold back on the horror. There are some unsettling moments as well as heartbreaking ones. It all comes together in a brilliant movie that is unlike anything else and feels like something only Joon-ho could make.

There has been some love for the movie over the years, including a hilarious reference to Okja in Poker Face season 1. However, with audiences desperate for original movies, this is one that will always feel fresh and exciting.

The Cast Of Okja Is Fantastic

Oscar Winners And A-Listers Joined The Ensemble

As Bong Joon-ho’s reputation has continued to grow, he has begun working with bigger names, including Chris Evans and Robert Pattinson. However, the cast of Okja is his most star-studded project to date, which only adds to the excitement of the movie. While young Korean actor Ahn Seo-Hyeon leads the ensemble, she is surrounded by some big stars.

Tilda Swinton plays dual roles as the pathetic yet remorseless corporate villain, as well as her even crueler twin sister. Giancarlo Esposito plays her manipulative and calculating executive, while Jake Gyllenhaal gives a wild performance as a TV “animal lover” who is much more sadistic behind the scenes.

The cast is topped off with Paul Dano, Lilly Collins, and Steven Yeun as animal rights activists who join Mija in her mission to stop the cruelty. Each actor finds their way to stand out and add to the adventure with colorful characters.

Bong Joon Ho’s Versatility Is Evident In Okja

Joon-ho Is A Master Of Balancing Tones

As a writer-director, it can be difficult to be truly versatile in the projects you make. That does not seem to be an issue at all with Bong Joon-ho. Looking at all of his movies, at a glance, it would not seem like they all came from one person. They are incredibly varied in genre and story as well as tone.

Memories of Murder is a true-crime thriller, Mother is a neo-noir story, and Snowpiercer is a sci-fi action movie. Okja adds to that incredible versatility in a major way, making it one of the lighter and more emotional stories that the filmmaker has ever made. However, it is also a display of how versatile he is within his own movie.

Many of those who were only introduced to Joon-ho with Parasite were struck by the wild tonal shift, going from a caper comedy to a dark thriller with profound themes. However, Joon-ho’s trademark as a storyteller is being able to shift between tones without ever losing the audience.

Indeed, as light and playful as Okja can feel at times, it then goes to dark and upsetting places. Likewise, while it is emotional and heartbreaking, it is also silly and outrageous. The confidence with which Joon-ho is able to hold these seemingly differing tones in one movie is stunning and cements him as one of the most versatile filmmakers around.