I can’t believe it’s been five years since I discovered “Host,” filmmaker Rob Savage’s breakout movie. “Host” is a simple story, shot amidst the restrictions of the Covid lockdown. But it has become one of my favorite horror movies and serves as a yearly watch every October.
In 2021, Rob Savage produced and directed “Dashcam,” which he co-wrote with Gemma Hurley and Jed Shepherd. Like “Host,” “Dashcam” works the Covid-19 Pandemic into the story, but not as effectively.
There’s a lot to criticize, though other reviews have been unfairly negative in my opinion. “Dashcam” is fine, but flaws can be spotted in the plot, characters, length, and reliance on scenes that are overly and unnecessarily gross.
Watching in 2026, the memories of the pandemic are still fresh. That offers some uncomfortable anxiety as we are transported back to a time of masks, food deliveries, and uncertainty.
The Plot
Annie Hardy stars as Annie, a fictionalized version of herself (see below). Annie is a Covid conspiracy theorist who makes videos of herself driving in her car. She improvs raps based on comments in the live stream chat. The entire film is shot from various cameras in found footage style. It’s the peak of the lockdown, and as Annie comments in the opening scene, people are going crazy.
The character is deliberately over-the-top, playing a part that is designed to capitalize on views and controversy rather than delivering true feelings or thoughts. She brandishes a MAGA hat, dons a mask with the word slave written on it, and has a shirt with Liberal crossed out.
Looking to flee the “oppression” of Los Angeles, Annie flies to London for an impromptu visit with her friend, Stretch (Amar Chadha-Patel). Annie is offered a large sum of cash to shuttle a mysterious woman (Angela Enahoro) from Point A to Point B. The movie then launches into horror overdrive.
The Characters
Or in this case, character.
I discovered that Annie Hardy is a musician, and quirky artistic sort that makes offbeat songs in a method somewhat like the character. While critics have blasted the performance, I found her inexplicably charismatic, and the only reason I kept watching.
She can be and is annoying. The caricature she is portraying is deliberately obnoxious, and it fits the role. The Covid lockdown launched the birth of the YouTube star, from reactors to content creators to (I hate the word but) Influencers. I found humor in the very same folks trashing the character, oblivious to the nuance.
Amar Chadha-Patel is solid as a co-star. The chemistry between Annie and Stretch is believable. These are old friends reuniting. Stretch’s new girlfriend (Jemma Moore) has changed Stretch since Annie last saw him and in a good way. The scenes where they spew raps in the car are fun.
“Host” alumni Seylan Baxter and Caroline Ward make cameos. Likewise, Emma Louise Webb, Haley Bishop, and Radina Drandova lend voice support.
The Style
“Dashcam” is told from a variety of recording devices. Ironically, dashcams are only a small fraction. Annie is the host of a streaming channel. Whether or not she’s successful is subjective. It’s a modern person who is alone, thriving off the attention of online strangers.
The best gimmick is the live stream chat running on the side of the screen. The comments feel organic. Those who follow YouTubers and the like will doubtless appreciate the realistic feel. There are fans, those looking to help, and trolls. The chat aspect makes the movie rewatchable. You could get something different out of it by only focusing on the chat.
My Dislikes
“Host” is flawless, and unfair to make comparisons. One of the best features was its length, limited to the 50 minutes of a Zoom call. “Dashcam” runs 80 minutes and is too long.
Once the horror starts, it follows a format exhausted in the ought’s Found Footage movement. Theres a revolving door of repetitive moments that quickly wears thin. A fast shaky camera. Characters being dragged out of view. Loud noises. It’s been done before, and there’s nothing new here.
And it includes unnecessary gross moments. I don’t want to see vomiting or defecation. These add nothing to the scares.
The Verdict
The mayhem is disjointed, the plot is confusing, and there are a few times where the found footage angle of filming is forced.
I like Rob Savage’s creativity. “Host” is excellent. Despite some cool effects and creepy moments, “Dashcam” is average at best.
