One of the freakiest horror movies of the pandemic era is now on Netflix to once again terrify viewers. The best part? It’s less than an hour long, so you don’t have to commit a lot of time to it. Even better is that it makes full use of its 56-minute runtime to deliver a film that initially “scared the sh*t” out of fans the first time around.
Titled Host, this indie horror gem was released on Shudder on July 30, 2020, just as we were deep in the heart of the COVID-19 lockdown. Directed by Rob Savage, it serves as a time capsule today to remind us of where the world was five years ago, but that doesn’t make it any less effective. The film was added to Netflix on October 9, 2025, exposing Host to a whole new crop of fans. Recent Letterboxd reviews have called it everything from a “great” movie with jump scares that are actually scary, to one that feels “realistic” because of its unique premise.
Shot entirely over Zoom during the pandemic, Host features a crop of unknown actors who all gathered to create an effective horror movie that was shot Blair Witch style. This means there was no set script to go off of, but rather beats the cast had to hit while improvising much of their performances. Its story centers around six friends who get together for an online séance and end up accidentally summoning a demonic presence. It’s a simple premise, but in the hands of Savage and company, one that works well thanks to its small budget and creative ingenuity.
‘Host’ Is So Much More Than Its Many Jump Scares
Fans weren’t the only ones who were impressed by Host when it was released back in 2020. The film holds a solid 98% rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes, with some calling it an “electrifying dose of horror.” They’re not wrong, as Savage employed the bare minimum to bring to life a truly chilling horror movie that used a number of different techniques to thrill audiences. As critic Jason Fraley said in his review:
“Savage delivers well-timed jump scares that are legitimately scary, knowing how to build tension from what lurks outside the frame and in the background. The stacked Zoom windows mine suspense like Hitchcock’s Rear Window, albeit more lowbrow.”
Of course, some say that Host relies too much on jump scares to be effective, but they’re not watching the same movie we are. Underneath all the frights is a movie fraught with anxiety thanks to the excellent performances of its cast. It’s their expressions, tears, and reactions that really sell Host as a horror movie you can immerse yourself in, and actually feel what they’re feeling without actually being there.
There’s a reason why Host is getting positive reviews even now, five years after its premiere. It’s one of those movies that stands the test of time despite being a snapshot of a bygone era. If you want to see what all the fuss is about, Host is streaming now on Netflix.
- Release Date
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July 30, 2020
- Runtime
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65minutes
