3 out of 5

Director: Chan-wook Park

I remain undecided on Mr. Park. Thirst is visually fascinating, with stimulating ideas, but unfocused on the whole and thus sort of empty feeling overall. Thirst is maybe a vampire story, and this is where the main interest lies, as it tries to offer an explanation for how such creatures come about and furthermore bestows the powers upon a devout priest. Interesting themes are developed as the priest must justify his bloodlust, as well as a new romantic interest… This romance forms the second branch of the film, as our protagonist makes some decisions which alter his life in unexpected ways. While I understand how Park meant for the storylines to weave together and underline a deeper study of trust and want and need, it comes across as uneven. Characters pop in and out with the bits of cluttered story and the darkly comedic violence that perpetuates the whole film also wants to be taken seriously. The movie is, again, gorgeous, but as noted in Oldboy, Park seems to have a love for flashy American cinema that doesnt quite gel with his more patient stories. Thus Thirst is neither satisfactory as a vampire movie, or a dark comedy, or a twisted romance. It has many great ideas, but strings them along unsuccessfully, more impressed with itself than with connecting with its viewers.