Superhost (2021)

Superhost takes a very modern anxiety—living for the algorithm and begging strangers for five-star validation—and turns it into a lean, nasty little thrill ride that knows exactly how to keep you watching. Brandon Christensen keeps the vibe brisk and claustrophobic, letting the “vacation content” sheen curdle into dread, while Sara Canning and Osric Chau sell the frazzled, on-camera/off-camera tension with convincing commitment. But the real reason to hit play is Gracie Gillam, who delivers a performance that’s equal parts charming and impressively unhinged, making every smile feel like a threat you can’t quite name yet. It’s not a subtle film and it doesn’t reinvent the genre, but if you want an energetic, chaotic horror-thriller with severe violence and a wicked sense of fun, this one earns its good review.

Superhost is aiming for a slick, modern thriller that pokes at influencer desperation and the creepy intimacy of staying in a stranger’s home, and it does deliver a tense setup with a memorably unhinged host performance. The problem is it often feels like a feature-length sketch stretched past its natural limit, revealing its hand early and then leaning on familiar beats instead of digging deeper into its internet-culture angle. If you want a smarter, more ambitious slow-burn with fresh ideas, this may feel thin and a bit been-there-done-that. But if you’re simply after a brisk, nasty little ride with severe violence and a single strong villain driving the discomfort, it can still scratch that itch.