The GuestEven the most inviting of strangers can harbor a deep secret beneath the surface. The Guest is an action thriller about a young military veteran calling himself David (Dan Stevens), who comes to the family of his late brother-in-arms ostensibly to protect them and make their lives better, a mission he executes with extreme prejudice. But when events begin to tip off the daughter, Anna Peterson (Maika Monroe), that something is not right with David's visit, his presence is made known to the clandestine KPG Corporation extension of the military, who pursues him with lethal force, turning the small town into a war zone.
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At first glance--well, second glance, ignoring the ominous opening sequence of David running to the Peterson homestead--The Guest shares some elements in common with a returning war hero melodrama. David emerges magically on the doorstep, no doubt resembling matriarch Laura Peterson's (Sheila Kelley) late son, Caleb, and David connects with her by expressing sympathy for the loss, shouldering her grief in part. When her husband, Spencer (Leland Orser), discovers she has invited him to stay the night in Caleb's room, he is initially apprehensive; but an evening sharing beers and watching the game warms him to David as well. Shortly thereafter, David further ingratiates himself with Anna and her younger brother, Luke (Brendan Meyer), by defending them and their friends, and essentially presenting himself as a hero to them. What David does is capitalize on the absence of Caleb in their lives, not only fulfilling the role of the eldest son and inheritor of the family's legacy, but doing so with such efficiency and superiority that it is unreasonable for any of them to not become engendered to him. David's presence in the world of the Petersons recalls the kind of thrillers of the early Nineties--such as Single White Female or Pacific Heights--where the introduction of a seemingly benign guest suddenly deteriorates and leads to a crisis for the family who takes him or her in. What becomes apparent is that David is a soldier--a specialist--whose extreme level of discipline and training allows him to complete a mission without fail or opening of weakness. So what is David's mission? It would seem that David genuinely has the welfare of the Peterson family at heart, but performs actions--either overtly or secretly--which suggest that David is devoid of conscience, willing to manipulate and kill to ensure the completion of his mission. For much of The Guest, the audience will likely second guess themselves as to whether David is actually the sociopath hinted at in scene after scene, often implied by the direction, yet shocking us when it comes out. David is the image of the well-behaved soldier; even as a veteran who people suspect has seen some terrible things in battle, he is well-mannered, always addressing elders as "sir" or "ma'am", standing upright, and gaining respect by giving it. An incident involving a group of high school boys who have been cruelly bullying Luke turns into a savage barroom brawl, giving us the first glimpse at the fierce warrior hiding underneath the cool exterior, an event that promises to not be the last.
David's story shifts dramatically Anna begins to investigate just who he is, alerting the secretive KPG Corporation, administered by military police Major Richard Carver (Lance Reddick). Carver's attitude and execution of the mission to eliminate David hints at the gravity of the situation, essentially turning David from (mostly) benevolent guardian angel into a boogeyman. It is at this point when The Guest begins to resemble more of a horror movie, with David as a relentless killer and unstoppable force, with notable similarities to John Carpenter's Halloween. Carver is essentially like the seemingly paranoid psychiatrist in that film, tracking the lethal escapee from a high security facility who has run amok in an otherwise quiet town. The parallels become more pronounced as The Guest continues, right until the end which feels eerily similar to Halloween. Similarly, the musical score of The Guest is filled with synthesizers and many musical selections from bands such as SURVIVE and Perturbator, giving the pulsing soundtrack an adrenaline-soaked feel, ramping up the tension. Bold lighting and surprisingly complex set pieces--like the climactic showdown in the school's Halloween haunted house--gives The Guest a slightly surreal feel, a welcome change of pace from thrillers which sometimes gravitate toward realism at the expense of expressiveness. What little we know about David is always suspect, considering that he is more than capable of lying or concealing any evidence of his true self, and does so quite efficiently and often. Luke unwisely confesses to David what Anna wanted him to look into, and offers theories which sound surprisingly astute, especially considering the faint look of acknowledgement on David's face, suggesting that Luke's assessment is too close for comfort. And what Carver discloses to Anna only includes the most vague details, and leaves us to fill in the gaps as to who (or what) David really is. So, similar to Michael Myers, David is essentially a cipher, an unfeeling and amorphous entity, whose singular mission is known only to him, appearing alien to those in a society he can no longer operate the same way within, if he even could before the war.
Recommended for: Fans of a cunning and intense action thriller, which is stylish and engaging, turning your expectations from rooting for the charismatic avenger and then fearing his deadly wrath as a force of abject terror when the tables turn.
David's story shifts dramatically Anna begins to investigate just who he is, alerting the secretive KPG Corporation, administered by military police Major Richard Carver (Lance Reddick). Carver's attitude and execution of the mission to eliminate David hints at the gravity of the situation, essentially turning David from (mostly) benevolent guardian angel into a boogeyman. It is at this point when The Guest begins to resemble more of a horror movie, with David as a relentless killer and unstoppable force, with notable similarities to John Carpenter's Halloween. Carver is essentially like the seemingly paranoid psychiatrist in that film, tracking the lethal escapee from a high security facility who has run amok in an otherwise quiet town. The parallels become more pronounced as The Guest continues, right until the end which feels eerily similar to Halloween. Similarly, the musical score of The Guest is filled with synthesizers and many musical selections from bands such as SURVIVE and Perturbator, giving the pulsing soundtrack an adrenaline-soaked feel, ramping up the tension. Bold lighting and surprisingly complex set pieces--like the climactic showdown in the school's Halloween haunted house--gives The Guest a slightly surreal feel, a welcome change of pace from thrillers which sometimes gravitate toward realism at the expense of expressiveness. What little we know about David is always suspect, considering that he is more than capable of lying or concealing any evidence of his true self, and does so quite efficiently and often. Luke unwisely confesses to David what Anna wanted him to look into, and offers theories which sound surprisingly astute, especially considering the faint look of acknowledgement on David's face, suggesting that Luke's assessment is too close for comfort. And what Carver discloses to Anna only includes the most vague details, and leaves us to fill in the gaps as to who (or what) David really is. So, similar to Michael Myers, David is essentially a cipher, an unfeeling and amorphous entity, whose singular mission is known only to him, appearing alien to those in a society he can no longer operate the same way within, if he even could before the war.
Recommended for: Fans of a cunning and intense action thriller, which is stylish and engaging, turning your expectations from rooting for the charismatic avenger and then fearing his deadly wrath as a force of abject terror when the tables turn.