The Host
A possessed young woman and the alien consciousness sharing her body form an unlikely alliance against a world that has erased most human autonomy.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Mild
- earnest
- sentimental
- tense
- young adult movie night
- science fiction double feature
What critics said
Critics broadly found the adaptation derivative and dramatically inert, citing an overblown script, familiar young adult romance, and weak tension despite Saoirse Ronan's performance.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Melanie retains a voice and agency inside her body after Wanderer takes possession, making their internal struggle the central narrative engine.
Wanderer's attachment to Melanie's memories and human relationships undermines the assumed moral separation between Souls and surviving humans.
Melanie and Wanderer inhabit the same body while both develop romantic connections to Jared and Ian.
The Souls present their possession of humanity as an improvement while erasing personal autonomy and hunting unpossessed survivors.
Films like The Host, and why
The 5th Wave
shared alien invasion, dystopian setting, identity conflict, and young adult romance
Invasion
shared body possession, science fiction romance, and resistance against an inhuman occupying force
Warm Bodies
shared post-apocalyptic science fiction, divided identity, and emotionally driven survival narrative
Movie Details
- Director
- Andrew Niccol
- Release Date
- 2013-03-22
- Runtime
- 126 min
- Rating
- 6.3 / 10 (4139)
Cast
- Saoirse Ronan
- Diane Kruger
- Max Irons
- Jake Abel
- William Hurt
- Frances Fisher
- Chandler Canterbury
- Boyd Holbrook
- Stephen Rider
- Alex Russell
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Philo, Shout! Factory Amazon Channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Host about?
- A possessed young woman and the alien consciousness sharing her body form an unlikely alliance against a world that has erased most human autonomy.
- What is The Host like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Host as measured, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as layered.
- Is The Host violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in The Host as mild.
- What did critics think of The Host?
- Critics broadly found the adaptation derivative and dramatically inert, citing an overblown script, familiar young adult romance, and weak tension despite Saoirse Ronan's performance.
- Which films are like The Host?
- Films with a similar feel include The 5th Wave, Invasion, and Warm Bodies.
- How long is The Host?
- The Host runs 126 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Host?
- In United States, The Host streams on Philo, Shout! Factory Amazon Channel.
