NOTE I had written a review about this movie last year and I wasn't very kind. Looking back, I realized I'd been unfair, and even tweeted out an apology, which can be seen HERE. This old review has been removed.
Social media has been the big bad in a few movies over the last few years, with movies like the unfriended franchise having their success...but there is nothing quite like the runaway hit Host. Second Sight Film has made a limited edition, so let's get spooky!
Six friends get together during lockdown for their weekly zoom call. It's Haley's turn to organize an activity and instead of a quiz, she's arranged for a Medium to conduct a séance. Bored and feeling a little bit mischievous, Jemma decides to have some fun and invents a story about a boy in her school who went and hanged himself. However, her prank backfires as it gives license for a demonic presence to cross over, taking on the guise of the boy in Jemma's made-up story. The friends begin noticing strange occurrences in their homes as the evil presence begins to make itself known, and they soon realize that they might not be surviving the night.
I have had issues with other "social media" movies where I find that they are slow and just seemed to be a problem where it was easy to get distracted (looking like you are using a computer which was a tad usual, not to say that's a bad thing) and just didn't work for me.
Host is different.
I'm not sure if it is because it is only about an hour-long, or maybe because of it being filmed during the UK COVID lockdown, but this just works, the people on the screens come over REALLY real and it's genuinely frightening when you look at the predicament they are in, being visited one by one by this demonic being. It's a great watch and I'm truly not surprised in any way at the number of awards this movie has won.
On the disc, there are audio commentaries, prank videos, behind the scenes, interviews, shorts by Rob Savage, and The Host Team Seance.
Second Sight has made yet another lovely collector's edition, the Blu-Ray, along with a perfect-bound booklet with an original outline of the movie and essays & a set of 6 art cards are housed in a rigid slipcase with new artwork by Thomas Walker. However, if you buy the set directly from Second Sight Films, you will get an extra card with the cover art.
I recommend grabbing this, it's a good film and this Limited Edition is a thing of beauty that is a must-have for the horror fan or a collector of special editions.
Host is rated 15 and the Second Sight Films Limited Edition is released 22 February 2021 and the version with the extra art card can be ordered HERE.