I was given a sneak preview of this psycho sexual horror by Geoff Harmer of the upcoming VR short You Can Cancel At Any Time and Smile, ahead of its premiere in 2022.
Hosticide is a new cut of Harmer’s Addict that was released in 2013. Hosted, Edited, and Directed by himself along with Mark Brennan who helped co-write the script.
David Pettigrew, a diracinated sales executive is pursued by a feeling of unrequited love towards his married coworker. In hope to distract himself, he sets on a self-destructive journey that has a terrible end for everyone.
At first glance we are thrust into what seems to be a simple dramatic work, but do not be fooled, there is more than meets the eye, and what transpires is much more than an ordinary play and careful observations of one’s mind crumbling at the edges. Shadows of, among others, ‘Taxi Driver’ by Scorsese, Ken Loach’s ‘Kes’, and ‘I Stand Alone’ by Gasper Noé.
An inescapably unrestrained Paul Kelly as Pettigrew does exactly that, and his introduction instantly captures the viewer’s attention. His normal demeanor pales into comparison to what lies beneath the surface. This is done by seamlessly alternating between his numerous video blog posts, and incorporating various timelines into the mix.
From a technical standpoint, the most stark difference is going from black and white in ‘Addict’ to color in ‘Hosticide’. This gives life to the characters and offers a better rendition of the emotions, and feelings, especially Pettigrew’s, making it a much more enjoyable and satisfying experience.
Despite the fact that the black and white cinematography of ‘Addict’ gives off a gritty art house feel, it serves as a more distanced, and, less engaging character piece in comparison to ‘Hosticide’, which is significantly more impactful in this regard. Add to this clearly defined time frames, and a non-linear storyline where which re-framing the images in the mind strengthens Pettigrew’s increasing detachment from the ever-present reality; all further enhancing his character arc and overall story line.
While certain challenges come attached to independent productions, the strength of the project comes from Kelly’s strong lead performance here, as well as supporting actors Stacy Hart (Dead Air) and Jenny Mitchell, along with Andrew Coppin (Smile). Each one provides a captivating performance and level of realism that makes these characters relatable.
Reflecting on the eight-year journey from ‘Addict’ to ‘Hosticide’, Harmer says “Hosticide has been a very long roller coaster of a production, with many ups and downs. It’s a film that is as dark as I will take it with the limited budget I had. There is not a single penny spent that does not appear on the screen, and then some. I hope that the experience you gain while watching the film is worthy of your time.”
‘Hosticide’ is downright visceral, disturbing, gripping and unpredictable right until the very last moments of the film. An indie British genre film that is exceptionally impressive due to how it leaves a mark on the viewer’s mind long after the movie’s unexpected conclusion is unlike anything else.
‘Addict‘ is available online, and ‘Hosticide’ will have its global premiere at the Horror On Sea Film Festival on January 14th, 2022.
To watch more movies like HOSTICIDE (2022) visit hurawatch.
To watch more movies like HOSTICIDE (2022) visit hurawatch.