House of horrors is worth a short stay

Gracie Gillam a demented delight

Shudder exclusive Superhost is the third horror flick directed by Brandon Christensen (Z, Still/ Born) – and it’s his best yet.

Sara Canning (Claire) and Osric Chau (Teddy) star as a travel vlogging couple who have more than just dodgy wiring and unmade beds to complain about when they stay at a home owned by Gracie Gillam’s Rebecca.

With it’s very small cast, singular showhome and surrounding woods locale and frequent use of handheld shots, Superhost gives off a similar vibe to 2014’s Creep.

Everything pretty much hinges on Gillam’s unhinged performance – and the Dark Summer star is a demented delight.

From the second she appears on screen with her wild eyes and nearpermanent smile, Gillam is a manic force of nature.

There are a few great moments where Rebecca is almost frozen in time and her straight-to-camera interviews are as heart-wrenching as they are creepy.

Canning and Chau are good foil as the put-upon couple who aren’t quite the picture of innocence they try to portray.

The former only seems to care about online hits, and their financial rewards, while the latter just wants to spend some time with his sweetheart.

Horror icon Barbara Crampton (Vera) puts in an appearance but while she always enhances the quality acting quota, truthfully her character could easily have ended up on the cutting room floor.

Christensen effectively increases the tension levels slowly but surely, starting with a toilet that won’t flush and the presence of multiple security cameras inside the property, before branching out into much darker territory.

The large, lavish house presents plenty of places for unwanted guests to go about their brutal business, but most of the film’s worst, bloodiest events take place outdoors in the broad daylight which is a nice change from many other genre entries.

Slight and sinister, Superhost is too similar to other horror outings to really stand out from the crowd, however, it’s never dull and will make you think twice about booking your next idyllic getaway.

●Pop me an email at ian.bunting@ reachplc.com and I will pass on any movie or TV show recommendations you have to your fellow readers.

Steven Greer said: “I love Floor Is Lava on Netflix; it’s silly fun and like a mix of Total Wipeout and The Crystal Maze.”

Force of nature Gillam impresses as troubled Rebecca