Review: The Guest
PLOT: Dealing with the death of their son, a distraught family finds solace in a stranger who claims to be a friend to the deceased. Once they offer him a place to stay at their home, terrible things begin to happen to those surrounding them.
REVIEW:
In YOUâRE NEXT director Adam Wingard and screenwriter Simon Barrett created a knowing nod to the horror genre, and managed to even elicit some seriously scary moments. In their latest feature, THE GUEST, they offer audiences an entertaining blend of action, thriller and satire with a phenomenal leading man in the guise of Dan Stevens. The less you know about THE GUEST, the better and more startling the viewing experience will be. It is a strange yet appealing look at a very normal family placed in a, letâs just say, challenging situation. What happens when a stranger comes to your door saying they knew your deceased son? Apparently all hell breaks loose.
For the Peterson family, the loss of their son who died in action has taken its toll. When a stranger comes to their door saying he was a good friend to the deceased, they welcome him in. For Laura Peterson (Sheila Kelley), she sees her son in this stranger and is quick to accept him. Yet for their daughter Anna (Maika Monroe), there is a serious mistrust in this polite gentleman who calls himself David. Meanwhile, younger son Luke (Brendan Meyer) finds this new house guest to be very helpful when it comes to a group of bullies terrorizing him at school. And for Spencer (Leland Orser), the overworked and frustrated dad, he has found a new drinking buddy who he at first is wary of. As for David (Stevens) we know very little about his intentions and just how dangerous he may be.
The strange and compelling story spends most of its time connecting âDavidâ to the family. The dynamic is unique with each of the Peterson clan - most interesting is his relationship with Luke, who he teaches to defend himself. As far as the older daughter Anna, who happens to be secretly dating someone the parent donât approve of (the amiable Chase Williamson), she begins to find her own interest in their guest. The scene where David conveniently appears half-naked in front of her offers a little humor in her reaction to her own libido. Aside from this moment, there is no shortage of wit that cleverly gives the audience a little break in-between the well-earned suspense.
One of the most pleasant surprises here is the casting of the delightful Sheila Kelley. As Laura, she is absolutely genuine and convincing. She exudes warmth as a woman trying to find a little piece of her son in this stranger she allows in her home. The rest of the family is equally good, especially both Monroe and Meyer as the siblings dealing with the loss of their brother. The later has one scene where he takes a swing at his classmate, proving that he is finding himself within what David is teaching him. In the end, the Petersonâs are sympathetic enough that youâd like to see them make it out alive.
Source: | JoBlo.com |
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