A whole host of trouble: Launching a Dutch thriller in English during Covid

The unfortunate events of 2020 upended the plans The Hague-based producer Zachary Weckstein had in place for his film The Host. The crime-thriller, which features an international cast and is the first English language Dutch film to be distributed around the world, had a tiny fraction of Tenet’s production and marketing budget. ‘At the moment, with the Coronavirus and different countries going through various tiers of lockdowns, it’s easier to have the film available for people to watch in the comfort of their home,’ Weckstein said. ‘Let’s see how we can give a modern twist to the flavour Hitchcock brought to the screen.’ Dutch locations The Host makes skillful use of its real-world filming locations, which include a gorgeous mansion located in central Amsterdam as well as several corners of Schiphol Airport including one of the passport control halls, a remarkable feat for a film with a small budget. ‘It can be a real challenge.’ Looking ahead Weckstein’s production studio, Pearl Pictures Productions, hopes to help make the Dutch film industry more of an international powerhouse in the years ahead.