Host

Host is a chilling supernatural horror film from 2020 that was released against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic. Its unique characteristic lies in the fact that it was entirely shot and produced remotely during the lockdown. Directed by Rob Savage and co-written by Savage, Gemma Hurley and Jed Shepherd, the movie efficiently incorporates the reality of the pandemic into its narrative, creating a storyline that is both relatable and eerily phenomenal.

Host stars Haley Bishop, Jemma Moore, and Emma Louise Webb leading the ensemble cast of energetic young actors who make this movie a genuinely intense and engaging experience. The setup is delightfully simple and timely, capturing the zeitgeist of the era perfectly. The film is set during a routine Zoom call amidst a group of friends who are social distancing due to the global pandemic. The cast's performances are compelling and naturalistic, adding an added layer of authenticity to this haunting tale.

In the movie, Haley (Haley Bishop) proposes an idea to her group of friends to hold an online séance during one of their regular Zoom meetings. As they cannot meet in person due to the ongoing pandemic, they believe this would be a fun and exciting way to break the monotony of quarantine life. Emma (Emma Louise Webb), Jemma (Jemma Moore), Radina (Radina Drandova), Caroline (Caroline Ward), and Teddy (Edward Linard) agree to participate, though some more skeptically than others.

The group invites a medium called Seylan (Seylan Baxter) to lead them through the process. Uncertain and unequipped, they treat the séance lightly and make a series of mistakes that lead to an unintentional invocation of dark forces that haunts them for the rest of the night. From this point onwards, the movie unleashes a realm of scares that are both thrilling and absolutely terrifying, embedding a sense of fear lying just beneath the surface of their mundane webcam conversations.

In contrast to many conventional horror movies, Host does not rely on an elaborate setup or high production values to create a sense of horror. The scares come from the atmosphere and tension expertly built throughout the movie. The director Rob Savage masterfully plays with the technology theme to portray a variety of horrifying moments, fully utilizing the virtual environment in which it's set. He employs innovative techniques such as using on-screen glitches, manipulations with the set's lighting, or employing a strange eerie background soundtrack to trigger a nerve-wracking experience for both the characters and the audience.

One of the most remarkable elements of Host is that it was filmed entirely in lockdown. The performers had to handle the filming themselves with equipment delivered to their homes, capturing scenes in their own living spaces during real-life lockdown, adding an intense realism to the circumstances. This unique production approach results in a film that reflects the fear and uncertainty of an isolated modern world.

The film is concise, lasting less than an hour, and doesn't waste time with unnecessary subplots or flashbacks, maintaining a rapid, nerve-jangling pace. Every framed webcam shot has a purpose, either developing the characters more or contributing to the film's building suspense. The script is tight, the dialogues are seamlessly interwoven into the narrative, and the characters all come across as authentic, relatable friends rather than horror movie stereotypes which further captivates the audience with the relatability.

Host is a note-perfect encapsulation of the world's collective experience in 2020. The film expertly capitalizes on our deep-seated fears about what could be lurking on the other end of our webcams or behind our locked doors. Host is an innovative and chilling horror movie that utilizes the constraints of lockdown to build a haunting atmosphere. It serves as evidence that you do not need high production values or a complicated setup to create an effective and engaging horror movie that keeps you on the edge of your seat.

In conclusion, Host is a creative, technologically driven horror film that echoes the isolated and haunted environment of the pandemic world. By capitalizing on the very realistic fear faced by many during 2020, it becomes engrossing, reminding us that our biggest fear lies in the unseen. The ordinary and mundane transformed into the extraordinary and terrifying, Host is a must-watch for horror movie enthusiasts and those who enjoy innovative filmmaking.