Hosts (2020) Review

HOSTS

Dir Adam Leader and Richard Oaks (UK, 88 min)

 

 Harrowing is how I'd best describe the debut feature of Adam Leader and Richard Oaks, Hosts. Though it takes roughly 35 minutes for the movie to become interesting, it is unrelenting tense and emotional and just downright fucking creepy for the rest of the runtime. It's hard to tiptoe around the plot of the movie, so just know that if you're looking for a seriously mean Christmas movie this October, this is a safe bet for something you're liable to hate. But I certainly didn't.

The story begins with a couple Jack (Neal Ward) and Lucy (Samantha Loxley) exchanging presents when they notice odd lights outside their house. Later they're invited to Christmas dinner at their neighbor Michael's (Frank Jakeman) house, where his small family have gathered to spend the holiday together. His children Lauren (Nadia Lamin) and Eric (Lee Hunter) and young son Ben (Buddy Skelton) all listen as their mother Cassie (Jennifer Preston) stops the dinner to make note of her inoperable cancer treatment, and after they all toast to her the movie descends into the pit of hell in what becomes a terrifying home invasion. Emotional turmoil ensues.

All things considered, this movie makes the most of the small budget with what is essentially a one location movie. The gore isn't frequent, but it is spectacularly violent when it appears and actually shocks. Leader and Oaks keep things constantly creepy once the movie gets into it, balancing drama and utter horror with a pretty solid hand. There are some compellingly skewed camera angles and effective indoor lighting to make an otherwise normal looking house appear larger and more atmospheric. Those long takes naturally requires some talent, and while Ward and Loxley are superbly odd, Lamin makes the most out of an psychologically frayed woman who has to somehow remain strong and rise up to the home invasion.

There's a subtle glow to our antagonists' eyes that is rather effective in displaying the otherwise human hosts are anything but. Are they alien? Are they spirits? Hosts presents more questions than answers, and leaves a lot to be interpreted as you see. I don't think making connective assumptions with a story like this is problematic, but someone in search of a resolution and a nice bow are going to be severely disappointed. Likewise those who reach that 35ish minute mark are either going to be all in or drop out. The climax in part left something to be desired rather than just falling into formula, but the final moment is especially great. I think the strange journey is worth the watch, but there's not a ton of fun awaiting you. Look forward to what Leader and Oaks do next.

**** out of *****

Hosts is available right now on all major VOD platforms courtesy of Dark Sky Films!