Watch Host

In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, a group of friends in their twenties are determined to have a good time and stay connected. Unable to meet in person, they organize a virtual séance through Zoom, with Haley (played by Haley Bishop) leading the group. Despite some initial reluctance, everyone comes around to the idea and soon they're ready to begin the ceremony.

The group sets up their respective laptops and begins chanting. At first, the event seems cheesy and contrived. However, as the group delves deeper into the ritual, strange occurrences and unexplained phenomena begin to occur, causing the attendees to become increasingly anxious and fearful. Haley tries to reassure everyone that it's all in good fun, but tensions run high as the true potential of the séance comes to light.

As the night wears on, things begin to spiral out of control. The group starts receiving eerie messages from an unknown source and witnesses some truly terrifying and unexplainable events. Emma (played by Emma Louise Webb), Jemma (played by Jemma Moore), Caroline (Caroline Ward), Teddy (Edward Linard), and Radina (Radina Drandova) become increasingly scared, and they quickly realize that there may be much more to this virtual séance than meets the eye.

The group soon comes to realize that they may have made a grave mistake by conducting such a ceremony. They had inadvertently invited a malevolent spirit into their homes, and each member wears a tag of some kind that marks them for possession.

As the night wears on, the true nature of what is happening begins to reveal itself, and one by one the group begins to fall victim to an unseen presence. Against a backdrop of flickering lights and distorted computer feeds, Host creates a chillingly tense atmosphere that's sure to keep viewers on the edge of their seats.

Director Rob Savage does an excellent job of building up the suspense, and the actors all give great performances. The characters feel real, and their fear is palpable. The found-footage style of filming adds to the realism of the movie, and the use of Zoom as the primary plot device feels authentic.

The story is straightforward, but effective. The pacing is fantastic, and the runtime is only around an hour. As the tension ramps up and things begin to get genuinely scary, the short length of the movie works in its favor. The events are confined to a small space, with the characters never leaving their respective homes, which makes the horror all the more intimate and personal.

Overall, Host is an excellent example of how horror movies can be made in times of social distancing. It's a fresh take on the found-footage sub-genre, with inspired use of video conferencing software to create a sense of connection and familiarity. Host is sure to be a hit with fans of horror, and it proves that your worst fears can come true, even in the digital age.

Host is a 2020 horror movie with a runtime of 56 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.5 and a MetaScore of 73.