Superhost appears in an aspect ratio of approximately 2.35:1 on this Blu-ray Disc. The transfer presented the film in an appealing manner.
Sharpness looked good. Some softness hit a few interior shots, but those instances remained mostly insubstantial, so the majority of the flick showed fine clarity and accuracy.
Shimmering failed to distract, and jaggies also stayed away from the image. Edge haloes remained absent, and the movie also lacked any source flaws.
In terms of colors, Superhost went with a pretty standard mix of amber and teal that emphasized the latter. Despite these predictable choices, the hues worked fine.
Blacks were pretty deep, and shadows were well-depicted. The image offered a solid “B+” presentation.
The movie’s DTS-HD MA 5.1 soundtrack packed a pretty good sense of it setting, with reasonable use of the various channels. Music filled the various channels in a satisfying manner, and effects fleshed out the spectrum in a logical way.
Not that one should expect a lot from the soundscape, as this remained a fairly low-key story most of the time. Still, the mix worked for the project.
Audio quality pleased. Speech was concise and natural, while effects remained vivid and full-bodied.
In addition, music was vibrant and dynamic. The audio suited the story and brought a good tone to the tale.
The disc comes with a mix of extras, and we open with an audio commentary from writer/director Brandon Christensen. He delivers a running, screen-specific discussion of the project's roots and influences, story/characters, the impact of the pandemic on the production and the effects of the shoestring budget, cast and performances, cinematography, editing and various effects, sets and locations, music, audio and other topics.
From start to finish, Christensen delivers a terrific commentary. He covers a broad, appropriate array of subjects and makes this a highly informative track.
Behind the Scenes of Superhost runs 10 minutes, 31 seconds and provides notes from Christensen and actors Sara Canning, Osric Chau, Gracie Gillam and Barbara Crampton.
We learn about the project’s origins/influences/development, story/characters, cast and performances, sets and locations, issues with bugs on the shoot, editing and post-production.
With only 10 minutes at its disposal, the show lacks much room for depth. Nonetheless, it gives us a pretty tight little overview.
With Shooting in a Pandemic, we get a six-minute, 39-second piece that features Christensen as he leads us around the set to demonstrate the challenges of a production in the COVID era. This winds up as a fun look at the impact on this barebones cast/crew.
A Bloopers reel spans three minutes, 36 seconds and shows the usual goofs and giggles. Don’t expect anything memorable.
Superhost Visual FX goes for two minutes, 46 seconds and offers “breakdowns” of various shots. This means we see them as filmed and then with effects added. It becomes a nice look at the subtle effects used in the movie.
A Behind the Scenes Photo Gallery provides a one-minute, 32-second running montage that includes 15 stills in all. Don’t expect much from this compilation.
We finish with two episodes of Scaredycats. “Bunk Beds” runs one minute, 21 seconds, while “Creepy Clown Doll” spans two minutes, 39 seconds.
These offer shorts Christensen created in 2020 along with family members, and both show little kids as they deal with nighttime frights. They’re an interesting addition to the set.
As a commentary on the impact of social media, Superhost falls flat. Though the movie comes with some potential, it feels too disjointed and trite to pack a punch. The Blu-ray offers positive picture and audio as well as a mix of bonus materials. While the movie occasionally shows promise, the end result fails to connect.