Why ‘Host’ is a must‑watch for fans of smart, minimalist horror | The Haunted Column

When most of the world was stuck indoors and meeting friends only through video calls, director Rob Savage turned that shared experience into one of the smartest horror films in recent years. ‘Host’ is a lean 56 minute found footage thriller that proves you do not need a big canvas or lavish effects to deliver genuine scares.

The premise is simple. A group of friends decides to hold a séance over Zoom to break the monotony of lockdown. They bring in a medium, light candles, and start off laughing and teasing each other. Then one of them takes the ritual lightly and fakes a story, which invites an actual presence into their homes. What follows is a chilling sequence of events that unfold in real time on their screens.

‘Host’ works so well because it feels real. The actors Haley Bishop, Jemma Moore, Emma Louise Webb, Radina Drandova and Caroline Ward, play versions of themselves. Their conversations sound natural and unscripted, their panic feels genuine. The format makes you feel like you are sitting in on their call, watching something terrible creep into ordinary spaces like bedrooms and kitchens.

Instead of relying on heavy effects, Savage uses small details to build tension. A shadow in the background. A door creaking open. A sudden glitch that hides something moving. These moments keep you scanning every inch of the screen, waiting for the next shock. The scares are quick and brutal, but they never feel cheap.

The lockdown setting adds another layer. These friends are isolated in their own homes. When things go wrong, no one can rush over and help. That helplessness is something everyone can relate to after months of living apart, and it makes the horror hit harder.

What also stands out is how tightly edited the film is. At under an hour, there is no filler, no dragging scenes. It builds tension quickly, delivers its scares, and ends before you have time to catch your breath.
‘Host’ is a good watch because it is inventive, fast, and frightening. It takes a familiar tool like Zoom and turns it into a trap. If you are looking for a smart horror film that does a lot with very little, this is one you should not miss.