An Ideal Host indie movie is a film by Perth-based Robert Woods. A comedy-horror directorial debut written by Tyler Jacob Woods, this brutal Australian film decidedly gave me more than I bargained for. This review for An Ideal Host contains slight spoilers. I simply must talk about the carnage. Violent movies can be good or bad and An Ideal Host definitely has some positives, if that’s what you’re looking for. Opening scenes have a clearly talented Nadia Collins as Liz going over a completely over-the-top recital for a dinner party. Collins was my favorite part of the film. I won’t make excuses for the fact she outshines the rest of the cast.
An Ideal Host movie is fairly busy with lots of things happening all the time but Collins manages her character with the diversity required to make it work. On top of her OCD and controlling nature, the invited friends bring with them a party crasher, Daisy. Daisy (Naomi Brockwell) is known for ruining things. Brockwell brings a certain charm to the role. Her fact-of-the-matter response to most jabs thrown her way was to drink more wine. We can always appreciate that.
I liked the idea of the story, but I’ll get straight to the point and say that the 85-minute run time felt a little long. Basically, aliens have begun their takeover. Liz and her guests must fight to stave off infection and fight to stay alive. Most noteworthy, An Ideal Host was made on a micro-budget. For low-budget fare, this certainly gives its all.
The Alien Takeover in “An Ideal Host”
There’s way too much chatter in An Ideal Host movie. I had almost tuned out until I realized there were alien lifeforms springing out of people’s mouths and running across the floor. Somewhere between an anorexic Xenomorph and those guys out of Await Further Instructions. They weren’t scary. An Ideal Host isn’t particularly tense. However, the chaos that followed their arrival and the sudden onset of their ability to control the bodies of humans was enough to bring my attention back to the film. I had become sidetracked by a really bad American accent. This character’s death, however, was so sudden and viciously violent that I realized I had to pay attention.
I learned that director Robert Woods covered cinematography. In addition, he did the editing and co-production. I hope this talented filmmaker goes a long way. Although the cinematography isn’t complicated, it’s steady and utilizes the wide-open spaces just as well as the tiny living spaces. The visual effects are executed with a certain fitness I’m not accustomed to in a no-frills affair. The transitions in editing are solid. The visual and practical effects are good. Come the finale and blood-spattering grindhouse rendition of “how many things on the screen can I kill,” if you aren’t impressed, you need glasses. Props to the practical effects team (Andrew David and Matt Willemsen.)
An Extra Star Just For the Special Effects
The death scenes in An Ideal Host come on as if out of nowhere. Despite the silliness of whether or not someone could stab someone else with the broken bone sticking out of their arm is beside the point. The fact is, it’s deliciously brutal. The best of the best violent movies. As is the death of the annoying American accent guy. If you can get someone to repeatedly stab themselves with their own knife in the neck why wouldn’t you? I’m certainly not going to ruin the whole last quarter with spoilers. I will say though, get someone to wake you up for it though. It’s pretty cool.
An Ideal Host is rated
3 weaponized creme brulee torches out of 5
You can watch An Ideal Host for free on TubiTv in the USA. The title was directed by Robert Woods.
Official Teaser Trailer for An Ideal Host
- An Ideal Host full movie was acquired as a screener as part of the press for Grimmfest 2020.
