The Guest by director Adam Wingard is a fun, tense 80’s inspired slow-burn thriller that is sure to delight the vast majority. What it does good, it does really good. What it does “bad”, it does decent. In it, we follow the story of David and the Peterson family. David – played by Dan Stevens – shows up to the Peterson household unexpected, and claims to have known their brother/son Caleb. Both David and Caleb were in the war together. It all seems innocent enough until we learn that David is not exactly who he says he is.
There’s not much of a plot here. And what is here, it’s a bit messy. With a couple aggravating plot holes, we’re left to wonder how Caleb died and what David’s purpose is. However, with the inclusion of Maika Monroe as Anna Peterson, we are given a small insight into David’s past, but it is not enough to fully satiate the curious viewer. Despite this, the film remains fun to watch and comes as an easy recommendation from me for anyone looking to have a good time.
Another negative I noticed this time around was its pacing… It was much slower than I remember it being. Also, tenser too. I was honestly surprised by how unsettled the film made me feel, as I remembered it being a bit more action-oriented than it actually is. That’s not to say that it lacks action, because it doesn’t, but it had a spookier vibe than I remember.
The synth soundtrack is a beauty to listen to. It’s nice and smooth, goes down like a nice glass of whiskey. Giving you a decent buzz afterward. And the technicolor nightmare that the film becomes in the third act is pleasing to the eyes. Really adds to the overall enjoyment tremendously, allowing you to forget some of the film’s weaker points. All of this culminates into an unforgettably enjoyable experience that’s easily digestible and highly rewatchable. To say that I am a fan of The Guest would be accurate. Because, despite its plot holes, its execution is mostly solid.
All in all, I do recommend The Guest to anyone looking for a solid thriller to watch. It’s smooth, it’s sexy, and, most of all, it’s fun. It may not be a masterpiece, but it is a solid work of cinema. Dan Stevens kills it as David and the action within is a blast to witness.
I give The Guest a 8 out of 10
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The Guest is currently available to watch on Netflix, Amazon Prime, Vudu, and YouTube
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