• Latest
  • Trending
Parasyte: The Grey Review

Parasyte: The Grey Review – When Alien Parasites Attack with Visceral Terror

Hearts Around the Table: Josh’s Third Serving Review

Hearts Around the Table: Josh’s Third Serving Review: A Gentle Tale of Teachers and Teens

Amityville: Where the Echo Lives Review

Amityville: Where the Echo Lives Review – Charting Inner Turmoil in a Familiar Frame

Game of Thrones: Kingsroad Review

Game of Thrones: Kingsroad Review: A Song of Systems and Sorrows

Gannibal Season 2 Review

Gannibal Season 2 Review: Blood Legacy and Brutal Truths Unveiled

Stick Season 1 Review

Stick Season 1 Review: Owen Wilson Drives a Heartfelt, Flawed Dramedy

Henry Fonda For President Review

Henry Fonda For President Review: More Than a Man, A Mirror to America

825 Forest Road Review

825 Forest Road Review: Cognetti’s Ambitious, Uneven Haunting

Eric Larue Review

Eric Larue Review: No Easy Answers in This Unsparing Drama

The Heart Knows Review

The Heart Knows Review: Searching for Sincerity in a Tale of Two Worlds

To a T Review

To a T Review: Finding Perfection in an Imperfect Shape

Mad Unicorn Review

Mad Unicorn Review: Ambition and Its Echoes in the Global Stream

Along Came Love Review

Along Came Love Review: Charting a Course Through Decades of Deceit

  • Home
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Gazettely Review Guidelines
Sunday, June 1, 2025
GAZETTELY
  • Home
  • Movie and TV News
    Michael Cera Jackie Chan

    Michael Cera Says Jackie Chan Mistook Him for a Contest Winner

    Finn Bennett

    Finn Bennett Joins Targaryen Court in HBO’s Knight of the Seven Kingdoms

    Elio

    Pixar’s “Elio” Sets June 20 Liftoff With New Directors at the Controls

    The Return

    Malta Lines Up “The Return” and “Compulsion” for Mediterrane Film Festival

    Alan Alda Loretta Swit

    Alda Hails Swit’s Legacy After Emmy-Winning Star’s Death

    Doctor Odyssey

    Disney Faces Harassment Suit From Doctor Odyssey Crew

    paramount

    California Senate Probes Paramount’s $15 M Offer to Trump

    Valerie Mahaffey

    Emmy Winner Valerie Mahaffey Dies at 71, Publicist Confirms

    Terrifier-4

    Damien Leone Pledges Epic Backstory Reveal in Terrifier 4

  • Movie and TV Reviews
    Hearts Around the Table: Josh’s Third Serving Review

    Hearts Around the Table: Josh’s Third Serving Review: A Gentle Tale of Teachers and Teens

    Amityville: Where the Echo Lives Review

    Amityville: Where the Echo Lives Review – Charting Inner Turmoil in a Familiar Frame

    Gannibal Season 2 Review

    Gannibal Season 2 Review: Blood Legacy and Brutal Truths Unveiled

    Stick Season 1 Review

    Stick Season 1 Review: Owen Wilson Drives a Heartfelt, Flawed Dramedy

    Henry Fonda For President Review

    Henry Fonda For President Review: More Than a Man, A Mirror to America

    825 Forest Road Review

    825 Forest Road Review: Cognetti’s Ambitious, Uneven Haunting

    Eric Larue Review

    Eric Larue Review: No Easy Answers in This Unsparing Drama

    The Heart Knows Review

    The Heart Knows Review: Searching for Sincerity in a Tale of Two Worlds

    Mad Unicorn Review

    Mad Unicorn Review: Ambition and Its Echoes in the Global Stream

  • Game Reviews
    Game of Thrones: Kingsroad Review

    Game of Thrones: Kingsroad Review: A Song of Systems and Sorrows

    To a T Review

    To a T Review: Finding Perfection in an Imperfect Shape

    Spray Paint Simulator Review

    Spray Paint Simulator Review: Coating the Town, One Careful Layer at a Time

    F1 25 Review

    F1 25 Review: A Stunning Drive, If You Have the Right Rig

    Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo Review

    Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo Review: Whip-Smart Mechanics and Pixel Charm

    Elden Ring Nightreign Review

    Elden Ring Nightreign Review: Condensed Chaos for Tarnished Veterans

    Scar-Lead Salvation Review

    Scar-Lead Salvation Review: An Anime Perspective on a Rogue-like Path

    Fuga: Melodies of Steel 3 Review

    Fuga: Melodies of Steel 3 Review: The Taranis’s Final, Heartfelt Song

    Death end re;Quest Code Z Review

    Death end re;Quest Code Z Review: A Perilous Loop of Progress

  • The Bests
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Movie and TV News
    Michael Cera Jackie Chan

    Michael Cera Says Jackie Chan Mistook Him for a Contest Winner

    Finn Bennett

    Finn Bennett Joins Targaryen Court in HBO’s Knight of the Seven Kingdoms

    Elio

    Pixar’s “Elio” Sets June 20 Liftoff With New Directors at the Controls

    The Return

    Malta Lines Up “The Return” and “Compulsion” for Mediterrane Film Festival

    Alan Alda Loretta Swit

    Alda Hails Swit’s Legacy After Emmy-Winning Star’s Death

    Doctor Odyssey

    Disney Faces Harassment Suit From Doctor Odyssey Crew

    paramount

    California Senate Probes Paramount’s $15 M Offer to Trump

    Valerie Mahaffey

    Emmy Winner Valerie Mahaffey Dies at 71, Publicist Confirms

    Terrifier-4

    Damien Leone Pledges Epic Backstory Reveal in Terrifier 4

  • Movie and TV Reviews
    Hearts Around the Table: Josh’s Third Serving Review

    Hearts Around the Table: Josh’s Third Serving Review: A Gentle Tale of Teachers and Teens

    Amityville: Where the Echo Lives Review

    Amityville: Where the Echo Lives Review – Charting Inner Turmoil in a Familiar Frame

    Gannibal Season 2 Review

    Gannibal Season 2 Review: Blood Legacy and Brutal Truths Unveiled

    Stick Season 1 Review

    Stick Season 1 Review: Owen Wilson Drives a Heartfelt, Flawed Dramedy

    Henry Fonda For President Review

    Henry Fonda For President Review: More Than a Man, A Mirror to America

    825 Forest Road Review

    825 Forest Road Review: Cognetti’s Ambitious, Uneven Haunting

    Eric Larue Review

    Eric Larue Review: No Easy Answers in This Unsparing Drama

    The Heart Knows Review

    The Heart Knows Review: Searching for Sincerity in a Tale of Two Worlds

    Mad Unicorn Review

    Mad Unicorn Review: Ambition and Its Echoes in the Global Stream

  • Game Reviews
    Game of Thrones: Kingsroad Review

    Game of Thrones: Kingsroad Review: A Song of Systems and Sorrows

    To a T Review

    To a T Review: Finding Perfection in an Imperfect Shape

    Spray Paint Simulator Review

    Spray Paint Simulator Review: Coating the Town, One Careful Layer at a Time

    F1 25 Review

    F1 25 Review: A Stunning Drive, If You Have the Right Rig

    Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo Review

    Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo Review: Whip-Smart Mechanics and Pixel Charm

    Elden Ring Nightreign Review

    Elden Ring Nightreign Review: Condensed Chaos for Tarnished Veterans

    Scar-Lead Salvation Review

    Scar-Lead Salvation Review: An Anime Perspective on a Rogue-like Path

    Fuga: Melodies of Steel 3 Review

    Fuga: Melodies of Steel 3 Review: The Taranis’s Final, Heartfelt Song

    Death end re;Quest Code Z Review

    Death end re;Quest Code Z Review: A Perilous Loop of Progress

  • The Bests
No Result
View All Result
GAZETTELY
No Result
View All Result
Parasyte: The Grey Review

Buckshot Roulette Review: Surviving the Grimmest Game in Town

Housekeeping for Beginners Review: Stolevski's Defiant Exploration of Chosen Family

Home Entertainment TV Shows

Parasyte: The Grey Review – When Alien Parasites Attack with Visceral Terror

Jeon So-nee's Riveting Metamorphosis from Victim to Virulent Force

Shahrbanoo Golmohamadi by Shahrbanoo Golmohamadi
1 year ago
in Entertainment, Reviews, TV Shows
Reading Time: 6 mins read
A A
0
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on PinterestShare on WhatsAppShare on Telegram

The concept of alien parasitic creatures invading and hijacking human hosts has been explored in various forms across science fiction. Yet Netflix’s “Parasyte: The Grey” manages to instill a fresh sense of unease with its masterful depiction of this unsettling premise. From the chilling opening minutes, we are thrust into a nightmarish world where innocuous worm-like organisms slither into unwitting victims’ ears and violently burst forth as grotesquely tentacled monstrosities.

Director Yeon Sang-ho, acclaimed for his zombie thriller “Train to Busan,” orchestrates a harrowing symphony of biological horror. The sheer visceral impact of seeing human faces contort and split open, unleashing Lovecraftian appendages upon the populace, is proficiently unnerving. This gripping psychological terror forms the spine of a series poised to psychologically intoxicate viewers from its bone-chilling inception.

The Reluctant Host

At the center of “Parasyte: The Grey” is Jeong Su-in, an unassuming supermarket cashier whose life is forever altered after a brutal attack. As she lay bleeding from multiple stab wounds, one of the parasitic organisms inadvertently bonds with Su-in instead of overtaking her completely. This bizarre circumstance results in an uneasy co-existence, with the alien presence dubbed “Heidi” periodically seizing control of Su-in’s body to violently defend them both.

Forced into this tenuous partnership, the meek Su-in must reckon with her new reality while grappling with past traumas. Her unusual condition draws the attention of various factions – the grizzled Detective Cheol-min, who had previously aided the abused Su-in; the shady Seol Kang-woo, a gangster seeking his missing sister; and the coldly determined Choi Jun-kyung, leader of the elite anti-parasite unit “Team Grey.”

As a fragile symbiosis develops between Su-in and Heidi, they find themselves entangled in an escalating war to determine the fates of both species on Earth. With shocking body horror and weighty themes of identity, “Parasyte: The Grey” charts Su-in’s evolution from victim to decisive force in humanity’s fight for survival.

Bold Reimagining of a Revered Classic

While “Parasyte: The Grey” takes its core inspiration from Hitoshi Iwaaki’s celebrated manga and anime series “Parasyte”, Yeon Sang-ho’s live-action adaptation boldly carves its own distinct path. Gone are the original high school trappings, replaced by a grittier, more mature milieu befitting the director’s penchant for socio-political commentary.

Parasyte: The Grey Review

The gender-swapped lead, with the resolute Jeong Su-in stepping into the reluctant host role, is an inspired change that allows for deeper exploration of trauma, identity, and personal growth. Rather than the typical coming-of-age narrative, we bear witness to a psychologically scarred woman’s defiant reclamation of self in the face of overwhelming Body Snatchers-esque horror.

Thematically, while the existential musings and eco-conscious undertones of the source manga take a backseat, Yeon deftly examines questions of humanity’s self-destructive tendencies and society’s susceptibility to malicious, cult-like forces from within. The parasitic beings’ ability to systematically infiltrate and corrupt serves as an allegory for the insidious spread of pernicious ideologies.

Crucially, by stripping away much of the original’s wry humor, “The Grey” embraces a far bleaker, grimmer tone that accentuates the senses of dread and alienation pervading its universe. This sobering approach enhances the emotional weight of Su-in’s tribulations while amplifying the sheer revulsion of the body horror on display.

Nightmarishly Visceral Visuals

Director Yeon Sang-ho’s deft technical craft is on full display in bringing the parasitic monstrosities of “The Grey” to viscerally vivid life. The series’ gloomy, desaturated cinematography shrouds the proceedings in an oppressive air of dread, punctuated by electrifying bursts of frenetic camerawork during the creatures’ violent outbursts.

Parasyte: The Grey Review

It’s in these chilling action set pieces that the true nightmarish nature of the parasites is unleashed. Through an unsettling blend of practical effects and computer-generated imagery, we are subjected to the sheer revulsion of human hosts’ faces contorting unnaturally as grotesque tentacles and appendages violently burst forth. Each parasite’s unique grotesqueries, from elongating eyestalks to bat-like wingspans of flayed skin, are rendered with meticulous, hair-raising detail.

While a few of the VFX sequences betray modest budgetary constraints, the vast majority are of remarkably polished and unsparingly visceral quality. The bodily violations enacted are simultaneously nauseating and spellbinding to behold – a true testament to the crew’s committed embrace of uncompromising body horror.

Beyond the creatures’ explosive transformations, subtler details like the parasites’ muted communions and eerie silent stratagems heighten the pervasive sense of alien malice lurking beneath the mundane facades of the human hosts. This painstaking world-building cements “The Grey” as a hauntingly plausible worst-case scenario.

Grounded Humanity Amid the Madness

At the turbulent core of “The Grey” is Jeon So-nee’s remarkably layered turn as the tormented Jeong Su-in and her invasive alter-ego, the coldly pragmatic parasite Heidi. Jeon deftly navigates the tonal whiplash, imbuing Su-in with an achingly relatable vulnerability while ratcheting up the intensity as the singularly focused Heidi.

Parasyte: The Grey Review

The seamless duality sells both the character’s fractured psyche and the jarring bodily violations she endures. Whether succumbing to Heidi’s domineering control or summoning streaks of boldness in defiance, Jeon’s nuanced performance grounds the dehumanizing chaos with flashes of raw, captivating humanity.

She is ably supported by the gruff pathos of Kwon Hae-hyo as the avuncular Detective Cheol-min and Koo Kyo-hwan’s morally murky turn as the enigmatic Seol Kang-woo. Lee Jung-hyun, however, steals scenes as the ruthlessly determined leader of the anti-parasite task force, her laser-focused intensity skillfully toeing the line between heroism and menacing fanaticism.

Across the board, the ensemble imbues each character’s plight and perspective with remarkable emotional resonance. From gut-wrenching loss to simmering self-loathing to fragile, burgeoning bonds, the cast’s committed performances persist as beacons of recognizable humanity amid the nightmarish insanity.

Uneven Storytelling Muddies Thematic Potential

While “Parasyte: The Grey” kickstarts its alien invasion narrative with a bang, the pacing proves erratic as it progresses. Early episodes build unbearable tension through Su-in’s precarious situation and the systematic reveal of the parasites’ unsettling agendas. However, the middle installments lose that propulsive momentum, becoming mired in lethargic character meandering that doesn’t service the high-stakes premise.

Parasyte: The Grey Review

Thankfully, the core characters of Su-in, Heidi, Cheol-min, and Kang-woo remain consistently compelling in their divergent emotional journeys and moral quandaries. Su-in’s arc, in particular, navigating newfound agency in the face of past victimization, is a resonant highlight. But many of the peripheral figures in Team Grey feel tokenistic, present more as lore repositories than fully fleshed personalities.

Most egregiously, “The Grey” only superficially engages with its richer themes around the perils of isolationism, the malleability of subjective morality, and the fine lines between selfishness and self-preservation. While glimpses of such fascinating philosophical queries tantalize, the narrative ultimately opts for more pedestrian genre territory in its climactic battling between humans and parasites. A more daring thematic exploration may have elevated this captivating series to classic status.

Grotesquely Compelling Biological Horror

Despite its narrative unevenness, “Parasyte: The Grey” ultimately succeeds as a grotesquely compelling exercise in biological horror. Director Yeon Sang-ho’s bleak, uncompromising vision translates the source material’s visceral body violations to the screen with squirm-inducing effectiveness. The series’ true strengths reside in its unflinching visual artistry and traversal of primal anxieties around violation of self.

Parasyte: The Grey Review

At its core, the fractured relationship between hapless host Su-in and her invasive parasite companion Heidi emerges as a rich allegory for grappling with trauma’s indelible marks on one’s psyche. Jeon So-nee’s multi-layered performance vividly catalyzes these heady themes, ensuring the narrative’s human element remains its pulsating heart amid the nightmarish chaos.

While its broader storytelling ambitions are only halfway realized, “The Grey” undoubtedly whets the appetite for a potential second season to expand upon its intriguing mythology and character foundations. With a tighter narrative focus and bolder thematic gambits, this dark bioseries could evolve into a profoundly resonant science-fiction allegory for our era.

For now, Yeon’s unnerving descent into a world overrun by monstrosities from within stands as a grotesquely arresting, if flawed, genre accomplishment. Those with an appetite for harrowing biological horror substantiated by emotional resonance would be wise to consume “Parasyte: The Grey” – just be prepared to feel a few tendrils wriggling around your brain.

The Review

Parasyte: The Grey

7 Score

"Parasyte: The Grey" is a boldly grotesque and unsettlingly visceral dive into body horror territory. While its narrative ambitions are only partially realized due to pacing issues and underdeveloped thematic exploration, director Yeon Sang-ho's bleak, nightmarish visuals and the committed lead performances from Jeon So-nee and the supporting cast make for a gripping, squirm-inducing genre accomplishment. With richer storytelling focus in a potential second season, this dark bioseries could evolve into a profoundly resonant allegory. As is, it's a flawed but arresting horror spectacle well worth consuming...if you can stomach the tendrils.

PROS

  • Visceral and grotesque body horror visuals
  • Compelling central performance by Jeon So-nee
  • Effectively bleak and nightmarish tone
  • Intriguing allegorical core concept
  • Strong world-building and creature designs

CONS

  • Uneven narrative pacing, especially in the middle
  • Many side characters underdeveloped
  • Richer philosophical themes only surface-level explored
  • Some budget constraints evident in VFX quality
  • Adaptation loses some of the original manga's satirical humor

Review Breakdown

  • Overall 0
Tags: FeaturedHitoshi IwaakiHorrorJeon So-neeKoo Kyo-hwanKwon Hae-hyoLee Jung-hyunParasyte: The GreyScience fiction
Previous Post

Buckshot Roulette Review: Surviving the Grimmest Game in Town

Next Post

Housekeeping for Beginners Review: Stolevski’s Defiant Exploration of Chosen Family

Try AI Movie Recommender

Gazettely AI Movie Recommender

This Week's Top Reads

  • The Librarians: The Next Chapter

    The Librarians: The Next Chapter Season 1 Review – Bridging Eras with Spellbinding Charm

    26 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Mountainhead Review: Deepfakes and Deep Trouble

    1 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Death Valley Review: A Witty Welsh Wander into Cosy Crime

    1 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Boglands Review: Shadows and Whispers in the Irish Mist

    1 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • The Better Sister Season 1 Review: Not Quite a Killer Thriller

    6 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Nine Puzzles Season 1 Review: Puzzle Pieces, Pain, and Police Procedurals

    1 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • I Only Rest in the Storm Review: When Documentary Meets Fiction

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0

Must Read Articles

Game of Thrones: Kingsroad Review
Reviews Games

Game of Thrones: Kingsroad Review: A Song of Systems and Sorrows

9 hours ago
Stick Season 1 Review
TV Shows

Stick Season 1 Review: Owen Wilson Drives a Heartfelt, Flawed Dramedy

10 hours ago
Destination X Review
Entertainment

Destination X Review: A Game of Veiled Realities

1 day ago
Earnhardt Review
Entertainment

Earnhardt Review: The Anatomy of a NASCAR Titan

1 day ago
The Ritual Review
Entertainment

The Ritual Review: An Unsettled Echo in a Somber Chamber

2 days ago
Loading poll ...
Coming Soon
Who is the best director in the horror thriller genre?

Gazettely is your go-to destination for all things gaming, movies, and TV. With fresh reviews, trending articles, and editor picks, we help you stay informed and entertained.

© 2021-2024 All Rights Reserved for Gazettely

What’s Inside

  • Movie & TV Reviews
  • Game Reviews
  • Featured Articles
  • Latest News
  • Editorial Picks

Quick Links

  • Home
  • About US
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise with Us
  • Review Guidelines

Follow Us

Facebook X-twitter Youtube Instagram
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Movies
  • Entertainment News
  • Movie and TV Reviews
  • TV Shows
  • Game News
  • Game Reviews
  • Contact Us

© 2024 All Rights Reserved for Gazettely

Go to mobile version