The Host

Name: The Host
Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Horror, Crime
Released: January 17, 2020
Duration: 102 min
Rating: 32
Cast: Daniël Boissevain, Derek Jacobi, Dougie Poynter, Jeroen Krabbé, Maryam Hassouni

2020

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Generally unfavorable reviews based on 5 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 43 Ratings

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7.5

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7.5	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 43 Ratings

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Movie Details & Credits

Vertical Entertainment | Release Date: January 17, 2020 | R

Starring: Daniël Boissevain, Derek Jacobi, Dougie Poynter, Jeroen Krabbé, Maryam Hassouni, Mike Beckingham, Nigel Barber, Suan-Li Ong, Togo Igawa, Tom Wu

Summary: Robert Atkinson and Vera Tribbe are two strangers with dark and disturbing secrets. When Robert flees London with a briefcase of stolen money, he seeks refuge in Amsterdam at Vera’s home. As they try to suppress their inner demons, a course of destruction emanates from their hidden secrets that can never be escaped.

Director: Andy Newbery

Genre(s): Mystery, Thriller, Horror, Crime

Rating: R

Runtime: 102 min

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Critic Reviews

Brittany Witherspoon

Jan 16, 2020

As hard as it is to grasp where the story intends to go, it’s just as easy to realize that it had no other choice but to fall into standard crime thriller tropes. Read full review

Frank Scheck

Jan 16, 2020

Director Newbery proves ill-equipped to handle the convoluted narrative shifts of the screenplay co-written by Finola Geraghty, Brendan Bishop and Laurence Lamers. But to be fair, even Hitchcock would have thrown up his hands at the illogical plotting and over-the-top contrivances that make "North by Northwest" look like a documentary by comparison. Read full review

Noel Murray

Jan 16, 2020

Director Andy Newbery — working from a script credited to four writers — makes the story look classy but can’t find its beating heart. Read full review

Movie Nation Roger Moore

Jan 12, 2020

The first half of the story is far more intriguing than the second, and “The Host” goes almost wholly wrong from that magic moment AFTER we wonder, “Just what the Hell is going on here?” Read full review

RogerEbert.com Monica Castillo

Jan 17, 2020

For a tale of mystery and intrigue, The Host provided neither. Read full review

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User Reviews

JonDevo

Apr 7, 2020

The Host is the name of a couple of different films, so when I got the chance to watch this one, I wasn’t sure if it was a remake of some kind or an entirely original flick. Turns out it’s neither. The Host, directed by Andy Newberry, borrows from some of the most iconic films in theThe Host is the name of a couple of different films, so when I got the chance to watch this one, I wasn’t sure if it was a remake of some kind or an entirely original flick. Turns out it’s neither. The Host, directed by Andy Newberry, borrows from some of the most iconic films in the mystery/thriller category and creates an intriguing modern tale of misadventure and murder.

I admit, I was sceptical when I saw Dougie from McFly in the trailer, but it turns out he’s one of the best parts of The Host. Dougie plays Steve Atkinson, the younger brother of Robert – also Atkinson. Robert is a serial f*#k up, who just can’t seem to catch a break. And following a string of consecutive missteps, Robert finds himself forced to run an errand to Amsterdam for a Chinese Mafia boss. And it quickly becomes apparent that this might not end very well for him.

On arrival to his international destination, Robert finds his hotel is double booked. Of course it is. He’s then ushered into another movie as the hotel owner suggests he can stay at another place he knows. Turns out it’s the Town House home of “creepy-hot” Vera Tribbe (Maryam Hassouni).

Despite being a member of one of the most powerful families in Amsterdam, Vera lives with her “sick” Father as a recluse. To all intents and purposes, Vera inhabits and maintains the huge place all by herself. The sequences shot of her townhouse are some of the most cinematic and attractive moments of The Host. And as the film shifts gears it’s easy to forget its opening premise. As it morphs into an eerie thriller, The Host flirts with greatness, and I found myself willing it deliver. Unfortunately it resisted my pleas. Before I get into the verdict, I want to make it clear, I enjoyed this film. But it frustrated me. It doesn’t fully commit to any of the moments that it dips into. If it did, it could have made this film a breakout success.

So how do we rate it? Given the frustrations, The Host is actually an entertaining film if you can forgive its obvious flaws. Not everything you watch needs to be Sixth Sense or The Shining. Some films are just neatly self-contained stories that don’t need a sequel and don’t need to leave a big impact. The Host is that.

I didn’t like Robert, the film’s protagonist, not at all. But I found myself invested in the other characters, even the Chinese gangsters. And I wanted to know how its oddball twists would be concluded. The Host is a perfect film for an evening in, and we have a lot of those right now. It’s meandering and mysterious and surprisingly watchable. I just wish it hit went for it in the parts that mattered. The Host doesn’t give you the most, but it’s glad you came and wants to freak you out!… Expand

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DKLN

May 6, 2020

We never know what goes on behind the closed doors. When you look at a beautiful house, all you imagine is its happy and cheerful inhabitants and yet, as this film shows us, in a very powerful and artistic way, we shouldn’t always trust the appearances. I loved the film, especially becauseWe never know what goes on behind the closed doors. When you look at a beautiful house, all you imagine is its happy and cheerful inhabitants and yet, as this film shows us, in a very powerful and artistic way, we shouldn’t always trust the appearances. I loved the film, especially because it lets us see so clearly how domestic abuse can have devastating effects on the victims, and how blind we can be to what is going on around us.… Expand

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Prottoy

Aug 17, 2020

If you watched Unfriended 1 & 2,maybe you don't need this one... I don't know if the director wanted another Unfriended movie by himself,or just was inspired... ALLAAH KNOWS BEST AND MAY HE FORGIVE ME FOR CRITICISING....

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