In a world in which Hollywood has oversaturated itself with blockbuster crime thrillers, director Andy Newbery attempts to offer novelty using the indie approach. In The Host, Robert Atkinson (Mike Beckingham), a banker with little motivation but big dreams, finds himself in a sticky situation brought on by poor decision making. As his world begins to unravel around him, Robert’s pursuit of money and power is brutally interrupted as his bad choices lead to dire consequences.
“Robert wants to enter the big leagues: greater paychecks without having to work for it.”
Robert is first introduced while meeting up with his boss’s wife, Sarah (Margot Stilley), for a secret rendezvous. But it’s the conversation he has with his mistress that tells us everything we need to know. Robert wants to enter the big leagues: greater paychecks without having to work for it. And as his lady friend calls Robert out on his laziness, it’s clear that there’s a class difference between them. Unable to handle the feeling of not being good enough, Robert sets out to make one bad decision after the next, leading him down a path of risk, danger, and regret.
That’s probably the most fascinating aspect of Newbery’s feature. Robert is so adamant about chasing a world he doesn’t even know or understand. Yet, the idea of financial advancement or scoring his next win is good enough for him. It’s quite an interesting story to tell, considering most crime thrillers involve the typical bad guy or even the occasional psychopath. But Robert is neither of these. He’s simply a man who is willing to do the most outrageous things to taste the life of the rich except work for it.
"…he’s simply a man who is willing to do the most outrageous things..."
