The Host

This movie had a lot of potential. The trailer was great and the movie had a decent storyline. It's too bad that the acting ruined it. Especially the actress who played Verra, she was just bad. Whoever casted her ruined the movie. Should of picked a stronger actress, possibly could of saved the film.

Average: Steal cash, gamble it, then take offer, go wrong home and be cut ! Story plot is initially interested, but later it turns into typical slaughter house. Thus a good story goes vanished. A bank clerk stolen customers' cash and gambles it but loose all suddenly. One mysterious man offer him to pay his debt on condition that he go to Amsterdam and exchange the briefcase. But after reaching Amsterdam things to go wrong there and situation turns into slaughter movie. A woman is a man slaughterer. She is so clever that no one could stop her or resist her. Wow! We need super hero here.

This film starts with an interesting premise but quickly spirals toward the absurd when two unrelated story lines intersect, at a place where the viewer should just stop watching.

If the intent of the film was to have a plotless outcome - it's succeeded, and as improbable as the story-line is, it is somewhat plausible. The characters are underdeveloped and lack history or purpose, almost like being stuck in an airport and people watching.

A good idea badly executed.

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 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 go so smoothly 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.

The Host - Verdict 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!

Rating 6.5 out of 10

This movie feels very long-winded and drawn out. There are so many different threads that don't really tie up together very well. I think it was trying to be unpredictable, but that didn't work. It is very 'Hitchcock-esq', with references to Psycho and other Hitchcock movies. It also feels film noir.

The cast are very strong and do their very best with the story/plot. It just doesn't gel together well.

We begin with a man in debt, working for a bank, he likes to gamble, a lady deposits 50,000 pounds, he gambles, he loses.....it goes on and he eventually ends up at this fancy guest house with an attractive host, who isn't as she appears. He disappears. His brother then hits the trail to search for her. The cops are in there too, and a burger bar man. Shall I continue? No, let's not.