Directed By: Adam Wingard
Cast: Dan Stevens, Maika Monroe
Genre: Action, Mystery, Thriller
To begin with, this is one of those movies people have a biased opinion on.
The Guest is a slow-burner suspense flick that exposes its premise very little as you anticipate but fairly enough to keep you interested in it and the title character David played oddly by Dan Stevens. The whole first half of the movie is a slow, wary build-up of foreboding and suspense. It gradually begins to disclose the mystery surrounding ‘The Guest’ as the movie progress only into the second half. As our Guest appears out of nowhere to a family claiming to be good friends of their deceased son, little of him is said. He earns the family trust and affection as he starts helping them in their adversities. Then the movie takes a quick expected turn.
What I liked the most about the movie is its slow paced story building with minimalist aesthetics and synth-pop soundtrack to enhance its rather ominous tone. The air of mystery and suspense lingers on from the very beginning David knocks at the Peterson’s doorstep and lasts until the twisted ending. The character of David is the suspense factor of the movie. Dan Steven’s performance is solid. He draws our curiosity as he shows up being a nice guy who seems to have a sinister alter- ego however hesitates to show any intentions or motives.
Even though the movie has no complex plot, it still requires and asks for your attention frequently due to the awkwardness in attitude of the title character. This isn't a highly recommended movie but its direction is a far cry from the rest of the thrillers out there. And the development of story and characters is intriguing. Altogether, The Guest is an arguably satisfactory movie for a late night leisure time.
