Host (2020)

Host is a triumph of inventive film-making in testing times and using technology (Zoom’s rolling selection of ever-changing shots is brilliantly corralled here) to create a thrilling, if more than a little unsettling, watch.

As impressive as the stunts and practical effects are, especially for a film that came together so quickly, much of it will be recognizable to seasoned horror fans. Still, for a brisk hour packed with chills, it succeeds at scaring you.

In addition to providing jump scares and don't-go-into-the-attic dread, Host taps into the very contemporary fears that the people around you aren't taking the coronavirus as seriously as they should be and will infect you.

Host is a lean, nasty little exercise that might not linger for very long but it shows what can be done during this difficult time. Once regular shooting resumes, we should look forward to whatever Savage comes up with next.

It’s nice to see that the first horror movie to specifically address our present hellish circumstances is as unpretentious and tidy as it is.

Though not as dynamic as “Unfriended,” another “desktop movie,” Host observes uncannily the supernatural, ephemeral, and material worlds colliding together, gesturing toward an uncertain future.

An adrenaline-spiking fresh take on a well-worn horror format, Host transcends its high-concept premise to deliver original ideas — and scream-worthy surprises.