Near-Perfect Horror Movie That Can Be Streamed In Less Than An Hour Passes Incredible Milestone

The average runtime of a horror movie is about 90 minutes, which is the most common and optimal length for pacing, though some are as short as 80 minutes. However, there is one near-perfect horror movie that can be streamed in less than an hour, which has now passed an incredible milestone six years after its original release.

That horror movie is Host, a 2020 screenlife film that takes place entirely within a Zoom call, following a group of friends who accidentally unleash a demon while attempting an online séance. Now, six years after its release, Host is No. 8 on Shudder’s Top 10 overall movies and TV shows in the United Kingdom as of today, September 9, where it has been for the past 102 days.

Why Host Is Still One Of Shudder’s Biggest Movies 6 Years Later

Shot over Zoom during the COVID-19 pandemic and released in 2020, Host remains one of Shudder’s biggest movies six years later. It received rave reviews, resulting in a 98% Rotten Tomatoes score, with critics calling it tense, streamlined, and genuinely frightening – turning its timely concept into a highly effective horror experience that delivers plenty of thrills for fans of the genre.

Years later, Host remains one of Shudder’s defining cinematic achievements. It continues to dominate its streaming charts, demonstrating how the movie has transcended its pandemic novelty status to become a masterclass in modern tension and efficient storytelling. Unlike typical feature films that stretch past the two-hour mark, Host clocks in at a remarkably lean 56 minutes.

By mirroring the actual length of a Zoom meeting, the film evokes feelings of anxiety in real-time and features zero filler. It establishes its characters quickly, kicks off the online séance, and sprints into absolute chaos. While earlier screenlife horror movies like Unfriended (2014) paved the way, Host perfected the format by weaponizing the exact software that millions of people use every day.

It Launched A Rising Horror Director With A New Release Around The Corner

Host was directed by Robert Savage, an English filmmaker who originally attracted attention at the age of 19 with his drama film Strings (2012) – which he wrote, directed, produced, and edited. However, he later became more widely known for his horror films, including Host (2020), Dashcam (2021), and The Boogeyman (2023).

Now a rising horror director, Rob Savage has a new release right around the corner, Other Mommy, which releases in theaters in the United States on October 9 and stars Oscar winner Jessica Chastain as a mother who must protect her 8-year-old daughter from a sinister entity that looks and sounds exactly like her. With a month to wait for Rob Savage’s new film, fans can stream Host in the meantime.