Host (1998)

If you were a brilliant young scientist diagnosed with only months to live, what choices would you make? To have faith that you were taken early for a reason and go quietly, or to use ... See full summary »

Director:

Mick Garris

Writers:

Peter James (novel), P.G. Sturges (teleplay) (as Preston Sturges)

Stars:

Peter Gallagher, Mimi Rogers, Jake Lloyd

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Peter Gallagher	...	Dr. Joe Messenger
Mimi Rogers	...	Karen Messenger
Jake Lloyd	...	Jack
Andy Comeau	...	Tom Inman
Lee Garlington
Michael O'Neill
Dan Martin
Robert Vaughn	...	Adam Spring
Bridgette Wilson-Sampras	...	Juliet Spring (as Bridgette Wilson)
Tom Nibley	...	Albert
Charles Grueber	...	Governor
David Jensen	...	Mayor
Cynthia Garris	...	Judge Dairymple
Frank Gerrish	...	Coroner
Mary Bishop	...	Mary Alice

Storyline

If you were a brilliant young scientist diagnosed with only months to live, what choices would you make? To have faith that you were taken early for a reason and go quietly, or to use cryogenics to hope you could be cured someday in the future, or to download your consciousness into computer memory where you could still continue to interact with tho ones you love?

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Plot Keywords:

computer | scientist | cryogenics | virtual reality | little boy | 

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Genres:

Sci-Fi | Thriller

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Did You Know?

Goofs

When Karen is on top of the elevator, the elevator cables are moving around loosely, revealing that the elevator car is not suspended from them.

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Quotes

Karen Messenger: What's the matter Joe, huh? You couldn't stand life without a little help from your little Juliette? How many of our neighbors keep their girlfriend's heads in their freezers, Joe? How many... do you think?

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Connections

References 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)

User Reviews

Boring and uninspiring.

This film is totally pointless and boring. Not even Peter Gallagher can save this movie. It's a shame that such a good actor can only get leading roles in TV movies like this one.

The film is far too long, being 130 minutes, the acting is merely adequate from most, the little kid is annoyingly awful, the production design is boring and dull (summing up the whole film) and the story is totally uninspiring. The woman who is supposed to be seducing Peter Gallagher's character doesn't pull off her role very convincingly and wouldn't make anyone want to leave their loving wife for her and why exactly Peter Gallagher pays her so much interest is beyond me. Further more, why his wife is still with him after his fling and even after he puts the dead woman's chopped up body in their freezer is even more of a conundrum. I haven't read the book `HOST' on which this film is based so I don't know how faithful an adaptation this is but the film doesn't inspire me in any way to track down a copy and give it a read, infact quite the opposite.

I can't think of one good thing to commend this film. Give it a wide birth, unless you suffer from insomnia.

1/10

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

February 1998 (USA)

Also Known As:

Virtual Obsession

Filming Locations:

Provo, Utah, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Hallmark Entertainment, Stephanie Germain Productions, Von Zerneck-Sertner Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

180 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1