Welcome to Knockout Horror. After reviewing the excellent Aussie horror comedy Sissy a few days ago. We checked out another brilliant comedy horror in the form of Deadstream. These two films had something in common, that being a shared influencer and Social Media theme. Now, I like to put together themed reviews every once in awhile but I didn’t intend to be doing that for influencer stuff but, here we are. We have yet another influencer themed horror movie.. Yay? We are checking out Superhost from 2021.
This movie follows a social media travel influencer couple called Teddy (Osric Chau) and Claire (Sara Canning). Making their name by vlogging their stays at various holiday home rentals. The pair are losing viewers rapidly and need something more interesting to grab their audience. With this in mind, they spend a few nights at a highly sort after location that just so happens to be owned by a crazily enthusiastic host. Eager to please, the pair seek to take advantage of their host’s quirky nature.
Superhost has a small twist towards the end of the movie. It also has a few details that could use some clearing up. We explain all of this and more in our Superhost Ending Explained article. Remember, Ending Explains articles are not spoiler free. This review is so if you haven’t watched the movie, check out the review first.
Influencer Themed Horror
As mentioned above. I really didn’t aim to specifically review a group of influencer themed horror movies. It sort of just happened as, if I am being honest, it is a bit of a flavour of the month topic at the moment. Social Media is deeply entrenched in the every day, 2020’s, zeitgeist. Twitter, Facebook and YouTube are an enormous part of many people’s lives as are the influencers that call those places home. It only makes sense that horror directors and writers would make movies about it, right?
The cool thing about the whole Social Media thing is just how many possibilities it creates for horror scenarios. After all, these influencer are strange people who are desperate for the adoration of their fans. But what happens when the love stops? Influencers are attention vampires; they feed off of people’s desire to worship them. So when people stop caring, the money stops and the influencer feels insignificant. Their ego needs feeding, pushing them to step out of their comfort zone and into potential danger. Sissy and Deadstream both exploited this need for attention, as does Superhost.
Teddy and Claire are suffering a decline in viewership. When they arrive at their latest holiday hot spot, Claire’s sees an opportunity to take advantage of the quirky host Rebecca. Not learning from a previous controversy, she digs herself deeper and deeper into a pit that the pair of them will struggle to get out of. Unfortunately, the aforementioned characters are the first of Superhost’s many problems. Claire and Teddy are unlikable and dish water dull. In fact, they are two of the more boring protagonists I have seen in horror. Throw in Teddy’s overly saccharin sweetness and they are very hard to invest in.
A Lack of Scares and Tension
This is a film that is really lacking in suspense or tension. For the most part, we are following the mundane lives of two boring people. They notice unusual things here and there, they make the occasional vlog, they go for walks, they laugh at the quirky host Rebecca. It’s all pretty dull stuff and ultra repetitive. Very little happens and you are left to question whether Superhost even wants to be a horror movie?
Many of the events takes place in the daytime. A secluded house in the middle of the woods seems like a fantastic setting. Despite this, Brandon Christensen never manages to do anything with it. Why did he not place our characters in the woods at night? Why was the massive house not utilised better to create tension? Could we not have done more with the constant surveillance the pair were under? The characters never feel particularly at risk and they aren’t vulnerable for the most part.
The lack of tension and scares is a major disappointment. Superhost has a fairly compelling premise. For at least some of its length, it really has you guessing. Despite this, the potential for some seriously taught scene setting is never realised. Things only get worse as the movie hits its climax. Claire and Teddy are forced to make some ridiculous decisions just to offer some kind of threat. They run around like headless chickens, all before doing the one thing anyone in that situation wouldn’t do. It is very frustrating.
A Fantastic Antagonist and Fun Ending
If Superhost does nothing else right. It absolutely nails antagonist Rebecca. Played by Gracie Gillam, Rebecca is fantastic. She is an Annie Wilkes for the modern generation. It actually pains me that Superhost is such an average movie because Rebecca deserves to be in a much better film. Coming across, initially, as a somewhat quirky lady that is eager to please. As the film goes on we learn more about our super host. Having, apparently, inherited her house from her late father. There seems to be more than meets the eye and Rebecca only reinforces that with her strange behaviour. Rebecca switches between eccentric, bubbly, woman to a seemingly troubled and sad person in an instant. All while taking tremendous liberties with her guests.
Rebecca’s mix of positivity and slight oddness comes across in a hilarious manner. She is awkward but, seemingly, harmless and a lot of fun. Her intentions are a little misguided but she would hate to get a bad review for he holiday home. As the film goes on she just gets better and better. The final 15 minutes are an absolute riot. Despite being dragged down by a lack of suspense and our protagonists being idiots. It’s hard not to be thoroughly entertained.
A Brilliant Performance
Acting is okay. Sara Canning is fine as the bitchy, unlikable, Claire. Osric Chau, as Teddy, is okay. He has a tendency to reuse the same facial expression repeatedly. His lost puppy dog expression, with the somewhat dominant Claire, gets quite annoying. He also uses the same “sad-boy” exhale a number of times. He does manage to emote well in a few scenes, though. Barbara Crampton is tons of fun as a disgruntled former host for the pair.
This really is the Gracie Gillam show, though. She is absolutely fantastic as Rebecca. I loved every minute of her performance. Channeling her inner Kathy Bates (Annie Wilkes, Misery). Gillam is a brilliant mix of ditsy, overly friendly, woman and absolute psychopath. Scenes where she is being bubbly and jovial are, obviously, great. When tasked with showing emotion and acting legitimately strange, however, she is superb. The final 15 minutes or so are a great example of how to perform a crazy horror villain. It’s a wonderful performance. I would instantly sign up to future movies featuring Rebecca.
Should You Watch Superhost?
Believe it or not, I do think you should watch Superhost but for one solitary reason and that is the performance of Gracie Gillam. Rebecca ranks right up there, for me, in great horror antagonists and I hope to see more of her in the future. I would be well up for a sequel. Outside of that, this is a formulaic, boring, repetitive and, often, silly horror movie with little to recommend.