The Host
(2013)
In the future, the human race has been
assimilated by benevolent extraterrestrial psychic parasites called
"Souls". Melanie Stryder, a human, is captured by the Seeker and
infused with a soul called "Wanderer", in order to discover the
location of one of the last pockets of non-assimilated humans. However, Melanie
survives the procedure and begins to struggle for control of her body. Wanderer
discovers that Melanie was captured while scavenging for food with her brother
Jamie Stryder and her boyfriend Jared Howe and that they were looking for
Melanie's uncle Jeb Stryder, who lives in a cabin in the desert. Wanderer loses
control of Melanie and the Seeker decides to put Wanderer in a different body
and be inserted into Melanie to get the information herself. With the help of
Melanie, Wanderer escapes and makes her way to the desert, eventually found by
a group of humans, including Jeb. She is taken to a series of underground
caves, discovering that Jared and Jamie are living there too. Wanderer is kept
isolated from the others, who are hostile towards her because she is seen as
another alien, and a potential threat. Eventually, she begins interacting with
the humans, who start to slowly trust her, and develops feelings for one of
them, Ian O'Shea, all the while beginning to believe the Souls shouldn't steal
other people's free will. Although Melanie had instructed Wanderer not to tell
anyone she is still alive, the survivors learn the truth from Jamie (the only
person she was allowed to tell). Meanwhile, The Seeker learns that the
community is located somewhere in the desert and follows Wanderer there, but
fails to locate them. After nearly being captured by the Seeker, Ian's brother
Kyle O'Shea attempts to kill Wanderer, but is stopped by Ian and another human,
Wes, after which Jared also learns that Melanie is still alive.
Wanderer is horrified to learn that Doc the
community's medic, has been experimenting on people infused with Souls,
removing the Souls from their bodies and killing them, and isolates herself
from the group, but agrees to help Jared infiltrate a Soul medical facility to
steal technology to cure the ill Jamie. In the process, they are attacked by
the Seeker, who is then shot and captured by Jeb. The Seeker is taken to the
caves, where she is removed from her host and contained in a pod stolen by
Wanderer, who then sends the Seeker to a distant planet. Wanderer teaches Doc
how to remove the Souls from people's bodies without harming them, and asks to
be removed from Melanie's so Melanie can have her life back. Melanie protests,
having bonded with Wanderer, but Doc goes through with the procedure. However,
rather than letting Wanderer die, Doc inserts her into Pet, a human who was
left brain-dead after the Soul inside her was removed, thereby ensuring that
Wanderer can live without harming another soul. Wanderer, now in Pet's body,
begins a relationship with Ian, while Melanie reunites with Jared. A few months
later, Wanderer and the others meet another group of humans who have been joined
by Souls who have decided to live peacefully among them.