Host (2020) Movie Review - Micro Budget Found Footage Hit

Welcome to Knockout Horror. Today we are reviewing Shudder Original Screenlife horror movie Host from 2020. Directed by Rob Savage, this British made computer screen horror was filmed in 2020 with no budget and minimal crew. I’m not sure if you remember, but something crazy happened back in 2020. The world went a bit nuts and we all decided it would be better to stay inside for a few months.

A Fascinating Story

While other people were sat at home drinking wine or *shudder* gathering fellow celebs together to sing covers of Imagine. Rob Savage was filming a short movie designed to scare his friends, a video that ending up going viral. Naturally, like all smart directors do, this inspired Savage to turn this short movie into a feature length film and the result is Host.

Inspired by movies like The Blair Witch Project and the fantastic Lake Mungo. Rob pulled a team of actors together, directed them remotely through zoom, and made one of that year’s most loved horror movies. How cool is that? I played through, and got the platinum on each one I might add, the entire from software series of games during that period. You know, Dark Souls etc? I was quite proud of that but Savage has put me truly to shame.

Coming during a time when the majority of people were stuck indoors, unable to work, see friends or even take a leisurely trip to the shops. Host offered a momentary 57 minutes of respite from the problems outside the front door. Well received back then, it would be fair to wonder whether some of that reception was due to the situation at the time. Were people feeling generous? Was Host the beneficiary of hyperbole and exaggeration from critics desperate for content? Absolutely not, this movie rocks.

The Best Screenlife Horror?

Host follows the story of a group of friends chatting on Zoom. A group of friends have decided to take part in an online séance. They chat for a little among themselves before being joined by a medium called Seylan. Seylan instructs them to follow her instructions. She wants them to visualise someone they wish to talk to. When one of the girls, Jemma, suddenly claims to receive a message from a dead friend. Things start to take a drastic turn for the worse.

So you know what the deal is, here. Retro scripting, improvisation, many character interactions and actors doing their own stunts. Sounds a bit cheap? Sounds a bit naff? You would be completely wrong. This is an excellent horror movie that is both effective and compelling. Clocking in at only 57 minutes, this might be one of the most tightly paced horror movies of the modern era.

Authentic Character Interactions

Character interactions are key to this movie and they all feel authentic and genuine. Host actually manages to make you feel as though you are watching friends interact. Perfectly capturing the awkwardness and slightly cheesy nature of video chats. The group of friends sit around lighting candles and thoroughly engaging with the online silliness. Some think it’s stupid, others take it a bit more seriously. Host manages that all too rare task of feeling both traditional and rather modern. When things start to go wrong, the varying reactions of the group help to push the story along.

A “boy who cried wolf” situation takes place early in the movie, leading members of the group to be somewhat un-trusting when things go wrong. This pays massive dividends later on as the friends simply can’t believe the horrifying things they are seeing. The majority of the horror moments here are of the jump scare variety. Using tried and tested tropes seen in movies like Paranormal Activity and the like. It’s nothing you haven’t seen before but it is done extremely well.

The nature of the Zoom call actually ends up being a big plus for the horror element. Savage rarely places the focus on to a single character. Instead opting to indulge the viewer in several screens at once which forces you to keep track of several points of focus. Knocking sounds hail from ambiguous sources. You are never quite sure of which character is experiencing which events. Something which keeps you continuously off base and nervously checking each screen. Awesome stuff and super innovative given the format.

Fantastic Performances

Performances in Host absolutely bear mention because everyone is utterly fantastic. Tasked with setting up their own scenes, including camera work and lighting. The cast here deserves plenty of praise for the work they put in. Each character manages to establish a setting that feels unique to them. Keeping the picture fresh and offering different opportunities for scares. Each character basically plays themself in as much as they use their own names. Hayley Bishop has some decent moments of drama. Having something of a quick temper and an intolerance for the other girl’s mockery. She is quick to share her frustrations with the group leading to some tense moments.

Jemma Moore is a laugh riot acting as the class clown of the group. She has some genuinely funny moments that add some levity to the movie. She cracked me up at a number of points. Emma Webb has some strong moments of dramatic acting, playing a dramatic role rather reminiscent of Heather in The Blair Witch Project. She does a great job of reflecting the gravity of the situation towards the end.

The performance that stood out the most, for me, was that of Caroline Ward. It’s an understated performance as her character is rather quiet compared to the other girls but she feels like the most genuine of the entire group. Her utter fear and panic at the events taking place stands out for just how real it is. She does an amazing job. The subtleties of her performance are what makes it. She bites her fingers and sobs neurotically, almost pleading for relief from what is happening. I loved it. All of these women are fantastic, though. It’s a great job all around.

Hard To Criticise

I don’t have many nitpicks of this movie and anything I could say would feel rather petty. What was achieved here was nothing short of incredible. I will say that the formula isn’t new, it has been done before, but rarely this well. It’s not going to appeal to everyone and some of the hyperbole surrounding the movie might raise people’s expectations to an unrealistic level.

Some may find the group’s interactions to be annoying. Much like Unfriended, I can’t imagine too many people’s idea of fun is spending time with a bunch of annoying students but you can, honestly, shove that because these girls are great. I’d crack a bottle of wine with them any day. The addition of Teddy feels like a misstep as he doesn’t bring much to the film. I don’t think the movie was crying out for a “wide boy” personality. Still, these are nitpicks, I can’t find anything significant to fault.

A Remarkable Achievement

The great thing about Host is that this is a story that could work in any setting. If it wasn’t a group of friends conducting a séance on Zoom, it would be a group of friends sitting around a Ouija board. What Host managed to achieve at a time when most of us were sat watching TV and gaining weight is rather remarkable. To have taken a moment where the entire world stopped and used it as an opportunity to innovate and bring people together in horror is something that shouldn’t be dismissed easily.

Host is a remarkable achievement given the context. How did you spend 2020? Did you pick up a new hobby? Did you manage to knock out some DIY? Or did you simply write it off as a lost period in your life? Something that you will think about for the next 20 year, look back on and lament the things you sacrificed.

I spent 2020 appreciating having a wonderful partner, playing video games, managing my bipolar disorder and working on my cars. I thought I did pretty good. Rob Savage and the crew here spent it making one of the most noteworthy horror movies in years. When you consider everything that was going on at the time and just how much this movie resonated with people. Host is a wicked achievement and deserves tons of praise.

Should You Watch Host?

You should definitely watch Host. Scratch away the surface bullshit and the typical demands that we make of horror movies. Accept it for the incredible accomplishment it is in a time where the world stood still and give the cast and crew their due. This is one of the more effective horror movies in years and the fact that it exists, against the odds, is a testament to some people’s will to create when times are at their toughest. Everyone involved should be extremely proud of themselves. Awesome, awesome, stuff!