The Host Film Review

The Host - "I haven't shot anyone in a while, I kind of miss the thrill..."

At first glance I was intrigued by the trailer so I read the novel in preparation in which Stephanie Myer stretches a love triangle and the total occupation of Earth from beginning to end over the course of 850 very long monotonous pages. Whilst feeling luke-warm at the end of the novel, hope remained for the film as it's written & directed by a very capable man named Andrew Niccol who wrote "Gattaca", "The Truman Show" & "Lord of War". A very tried and true cast was assembled and they managed to bring some life and depth into very boringly written characters. Saoirse Ronan stars as Melanie Stryder, one of the last remaining unoccupied humans along with her little brother Jamie, together they run from "Seekers", occupied people who are designated as the police force to chase down & occupy the "resistance" or the last remaining humans. One day as she scavenges food from an abandoned house that seemingly still has electricity and fresh food in the fridge she is discovered by Jared Howe, also human played by Max Irons (Jeremy Irons son). A perfectly quaffed hunk who sweeps her off her feet. The three of them then proceed to continue running from the occupation. This wouldn't be a Stephanie Myer movie without the inevitable pro-abstinence scene which is a huge face-palm. "I don't want you to feel obligated just because we might be the last humans on earth" "I always wanted to wait until I fell in love". Sigh can we get this ball rolling please at 40 minutes in.

One day as Melanie goes for food she is captured by a Seeker played by Diane Kruger who is well cast, her slight German accent seemingly fit well as the antagonist. Melanie is taken to a hospital for the procedure in which "The Host" would be implanted. However there seems to be a glitch in the Matrix Neo, as Melanie wakes up her Host named Wanderer hears the resistant voice of Melanie in her head begging her not to tell the Seekers where her brother and Jared are. Wanderer obliges and our adventure finally begins as Wanda/Melanie makes there way back to Jared in the middle of the desert where she is reunited with the resistance run by her Uncle "Jeb" played by the always superb William Hurt. Resistance fast becomes a stupid word to describe these people as they are just humans trying to survive in the desert and pose no credible threat to the occupation as they number around 60.
However they are hunted nonetheless and dwell in the caves of an extinct volcano in New Mexico. Wanda is treated with hostility and guarded around the clock but not killed because Jeb forbids it, eventually another hunky survivor named "Ian" (Jake Abel) falls in love with Wanda and our love triangle begins. There are many interior conversations between Melanie/Wanda which do nothing to drive the dull plot along. The bulk of the film revolves around the survivors living in these caves where tension rises two whole times! as two attempts are made on Wanda's life. However this introduces us to the character of Doc played by Scott Lawrence. Thankfully a 3-dimensional character who besides treating people also tries to extract Hosts out of occupied humans but fails miserably and kills the host along with the human which then leads to alcoholism IN THE BOOK but it's never touched on here which would have given the film some depth. I have no idea why it was written out. I can't deny it's a well made film with a capable cast, it just lacks in script and plot devices.

The film stays in one note the whole two hours, there are many long dialogue sequences that could result in action or tension but don't. This films ground rules limit the depth and variety of possible relationships, and "The Host" is top-heavy with profound, boring conversations, all tending to sound like farewells but never actually are. The movie is so consistently pitched at the same note, indeed, that the structure robs it of possibilities for dramatic tension. If you are a die-hard fan of the novel then you will undoubtedly be pleased and satisfied as I noticed many women in the audience were visibly wet................................with tears, for reasons that remain unknown to me. The dramatic moments that would warrant such tears are very few and far between. Perhaps for a younger female demographic this film would serve as entertainment but not for me. Credit for the production values but nothing else. 2/5