In the world of influence bores and social media whores, the place cation / vacation world is massive. I don’t envy vloggers or content creators (as they like to be known). They have to ‘experience’ a place without actually enjoying a place (their work is akin to film criticism in that you often have to watch without enjoyment.) This has lead to a bundle of strange issues that have come from this. From those creating, fixated by numbers and revenue streams with (as we see in media as well) plugs for harder and more noxious content. This in turn has caused disgruntled people, from angry property owners to unhappy advertisers and of course, other content creators.
Teddy (Osric Chau) and Claire (Sara Canning) are vacation home, travel vloggers. Their channel is called “Superhost”, and they visit homes and give their reviews of them, without a care in the world. Well until recently. Now their channel has a dwindling subscriber count, bored advertisers and diminishing revenue. The only option id to go big or get off, so they get creative with their content. Visiting dream homes and playing for more extreme content. One of the new homes they have chosen is that of Rebecca (Grace Phipps). She might be well rated but it also seems, she is a little odd. From those strange rants to the even more odd night time strolls. But what also of those mounds in the garden?
SUPERHOST has it flaws, dont get me wrong. However it is a brilliantly, timely film about the space and state of online content creators. Director Brandon Christensen previous films, both Z and to a lesser extent STILL/BORN, examine how a state of mind is at a given time. In SUPERHOST the state of mind is that of a blossoming societal ill. That being the internet. The serotonin inducing beast that has expanded its detached ability to harm. Pivoting on the actions and reactions of a couple, caught in the spiral of creating and meeting an ethereal hunger for more. This in turn leads many, including our leads, to cross boundaries. From provocation to alienation, extremes to extremes. SUPERHOST really drives home this message of the toxicity that has crept in. Due mostly to the need for eyes on. Money in. Serotonin secreted. Grace Phipps character is an exceptional capture of the evil that can be unleashed due to these and the vengeance that is potentially metered out. Her performance is certainly unbalanced. Fizzing with subdued menace and a little too much crazy. But in truth it is the reason that the film succeeds in its points.
EXTRAS
I would have to say this is all about the Director Commentary. Christensen talks to us with an eye on the making and on the reasoning behind his film. He is funny and sometimes irreverent. I would also point you to “Scaredycats” Episodes 1 & 2. Great stuff and a very good extra.
Special Features
Director Commentary
Behind-the-Scenes of Superhost
Shooting in a Pandemic Bloopers
Superhost Visual FX
Behind-the-Scenes Photo Gallery
“Scaredycats” Episodes 1 & 2
