Stephenie Meyer, who defanged vampires and declawed werewolves with all that Twilight tedium, now turns to wasting your time and Saoirse Ronan’s talent with this lame sci-fi story. Alien parasites have taken over most human bodies, see, but this girl named Melanie has somehow retained her identity, and now shares her bod with the alien. A covert band of humans provides several hunky males to kiss in the rain. It’s as though Nicholas Sparks wrote Invasion of the Body Snatchers by way of All of Me. Awkwardly structured and atrociously written, it would be funny if it weren’t such a flaccid, dismal slog. Japanese title: The Host Utsukushiki Shinryakusha. (125 min)
Don Morton
Don Morton has viewed some 6,000 movies, frequently awake. A bachelor and avid cyclist, he currently divides his time between Tokyo and a high-tech 4WD super-camper somewhere in North America.You may also like
Why Japanese People Don’t Say “I Love You”
Unpacking the quiet ways love gets expressed in Japan
Tokyo Whisky Library: Omotesando’s Finest Curated Collection
One of Tokyo's top whiskey experiences
English‑Speaking Babysitters and Housekeeping in Tokyo
Trusted care and help around the home for families in Tokyo
Japanese LGBTQ+ Films To Watch in 2026
Love, heartbreak and the untold tales of Japan’s queer community
Inside Tokyo’s Live Sumo Show and Kaiseki Dinner at HIRAKUZA GINZA
An up-close introduction to sumo, ritual and seasonal dining in Ginza
Novotel Nara
A newly-opened destination hotel in Japan’s ancient capital
Based in Japan: Would You Renovate an Akiya in Tokyo?
How Anton Wormann is reviving abandoned houses with a nod to tradition