The Host

The Host is a science fiction film set in a world where an alien species known as Souls has taken over most of humanity by implanting themselves into human bodies and suppressing the original consciousness. Melanie Stryder, a young woman who has been resisting capture, is finally caught, and a Soul called Wanderer is placed inside her. Unlike other hosts, Melanie's mind does not fade away, and the two are forced to share one body. Through Melanie's memories and emotions, Wanderer develops an attachment to the people Melanie loves, including a man named Jared, and the pair eventually make their way to a hidden community of surviving humans in the desert. Their arrival draws the attention of a Seeker determined to track down the remaining resistance.

Andrew Niccol directed and wrote the screenplay, working from Stephenie Meyer's novel. It was Niccol's fifth feature as director, following In Time, and Meyer served as one of the producers. Saoirse Ronan plays both Melanie and Wanderer, with Diane Kruger as the Seeker, Max Irons as Jared, Jake Abel as Ian, and William Hurt and Frances Fisher among the supporting cast.

Released in March 2013, the film had a budget of 44 million dollars and earned about 63 million dollars worldwide. On IMDb it holds a rating of 5.8 from roughly 122,000 votes, while on TMDB it has a 6.3 from around 4,100 votes. A film critics' score of 3.6 from 131 reviews places it below both audience ratings.