Just when you think a proper homage to Psycho cannot be done a movie like The Host (2020) comes along to reaffirm why that Hitchcock classic became so important to film history. Its mystery, its suspense, and its risk in killing off characters at the height of their arch in the story were a lightning bolt to the horror genre, leaving an indelible mark on audiences and future filmmakers. Director Andy Newberry’s film The Host seems to be a modern-day retelling of Psycho that takes the best elements of the story, complete with an opening title sequence à la the nightmarish imagery from Hitchcock’s Vertigo. However, Newbery simultaneously revamps the premise by setting this noir within the seedy happenings of the European drug trade.

Working as a banker in London, Robert (Mike Beckingham) has no girlfriend, no money, and lives his life making mistake after mistake according to his brother Steve (Dougie Poynter). When Robert’s boss entrusts him to take care of a 50 thousand pounds deposit, Robert decides to take the money to a local gambling parlor and hedge his bets. When he finds he has lost all of the money and then some, a mob boss approaches him promising to pay off his debts if Robert agrees to broker a suitcase to his partners in Amsterdam. Robert soon finds himself also under the thumb of a United States DEA who has been following this drug ring and offers him no choice but to be a spy in his investigation. When Robert arrives in Amsterdam to complete the transaction, he checks into a room at the home of Vera (Maryam Hassouni), who is a seemingly personable and coy hostess. As the night goes on, Vera shows Robert around the deepest recesses of her family home…and of her mind.

Where a title like The Host may invoke images and assumptions of science fiction and aliens, this movie is decidedly modern-noir with a melancholy atmosphere, a protagonist swept into the undertow of increasing danger, espionage, and femme Fatales. Its story closely follows that of Hitchcock’s Psycho, reversing the gender of nearly all the original characters and moving the setting to Europe. In setting itself up with a winning format it is not hard to enjoy the storyline of this movie, however, by not having any standout moments in its direction or cinematography, it also sets itself up to be forgettable.

The heavy-lifting is done by its actors — boasting a diverse cast, the film stars Mike Beckingham and Dougie Poynter as Robert and Steve, who filled the “Marion and Lila Crane” roles of the film; their familiar dynamic spoke to their relationship as brothers and they were both endearing in their roles of being unwillingly swept up in the mystery and suspense of the storyline. Maryam Hassouni as Vera in the “Norman Bates” role of this film was vulnerable as a woman seemingly oppressed.

“Even those who look innocent can be dangerous,” the outward disguise of sanity masking deep psychological demons. Perhaps no film teaches this lesson better than Psycho, whose Norman Bates is an icon for character study, however, The Host makes an honest attempt. If I did not have Psycho to compare this film to I might very well love The Host, but since it follows the premise of Psycho closely and since Psycho is such a giant in film history The Host is remanded to its shadows — it is a good film, but it is missing the innovation and auteur’s touch of Psycho. The Host is set to be distributed in U.S. and worldwide theaters as well as VOD on January 17th, 2020.

MOVIE RATING – 6 out of 10 ☠️