The Guest (2014)

Number Rolled: 95

Movie Name/Year: The Guest (2014)

Tagline: Be careful who you let in.

Genre: Thriller

Length: 99 minutes

Rating: R

Production Companies: HanWay Films, Snoot Entertainment

Executive Producer: Simon Barrett

Director: Adam Wingard

Writer: Simon Barrett

Actors: Dan Stevens, Maika Monroe, Brendan Meyer, Sheila Kelley, Leland Orser, Lance Reddick, Tabatha Shaun, Chase Williamson, Joel David Moore, Steve Brown, Brenden Wedner, Alex Knight, Ethan Embry

After the death of her son, Caleb, Laura Peterson is stuck in a cycle of grieving. When one of her son’s military friends randomly shows up on her doorstep, she takes the chance to learn what Caleb’s life was like overseas.

Selina’s Point of View:

I found The Guest to be a decent film. I’m not sure I understand the depth of the hype, but it wasn’t bad.

I didn’t enjoy certain aspects of the plot but the thrill was definitely there. Although the beginning was a touch slow, once the film picked up speed, it got the heart racing without relying too much on jump scares or action.

It was Alfred Hitchcock (The Birds, Psycho, Vertigo) that explained the difference between a scene with an explosion and a scene where the viewer knows the bomb is there, but the characters don’t. The quote is extremely effective in explaining why a movie can be suspenseful and thrilling before the real action starts.

“There is a distinct difference between ‘suspense’ and ‘surprise,’ and yet many pictures continually confuse the two. I'll explain what I mean.

We are now having a very innocent little chat. Let's suppose that there is a bomb underneath this table between us. Nothing happens, and then all of a sudden, "Boom!" There is an explosion. The public is surprised, but prior to this surprise, it has seen an absolutely ordinary scene, of no special consequence. Now, let us take a suspense situation. The bomb is underneath the table and the public knows it, probably because they have seen the anarchist place it there. The public is aware the bomb is going to explode at one o'clock and there is a clock in the decor. The public can see that it is a quarter to one. In these conditions, the same innocuous conversation becomes fascinating because the public is participating in the scene. The audience is longing to warn the characters on the screen: ‘You shouldn't be talking about such trivial matters. There is a bomb beneath you and it is about to explode!’ 

In the first case we have given the public fifteen seconds of surprise at the moment of the explosion. In the second we have provided them with fifteen minutes of suspense. The conclusion is that whenever possible the public must be informed. Except when the surprise is a twist, that is, when the unexpected ending is, in itself, the highlight of the story.”

Hitchcock knew a thing or two about suspense. More-so than most modern directors.

Keeping that lesson in mind, Adam Wingard (V/H/S, You’re Next, The ABCs of Death) kept the movie focused less on surprise and more on suspense. As a result, we have a more true-to-heart thriller.

The actors were great in their parts, though I couldn’t help but notice that Dan Stevens (A Walk Among the Tombstones, Downtown Abbey, Summer in February) has nearly the same smile as Milo Ventimiglia (The Whispers, Heroes, Pathology). Ventimiglia is one of my favorites, so that might have made me enjoy Stevens’ acting even more. Never-the-less, I don’t think I’m bias when I say he was the right choice for the part.

My one acting issue was Lance Reddick (Bosch, Fringe, John Wick). I’ve just always found him to be an awkward actor. Like he doesn’t quite understand the subtleties of emotion. I can name about twelve other actors that would have been a better fit for that part.

Cat’s Point of View:

I was surprised with how much I enjoyed this movie. A few places were a little strange with the plot; though it can likely be chalked up to maintaining the mystery. There’s definitely a sense of ‘what the hell is going on’ in a few places.

Dan Stevens (The Cobbler, The Fifth Estate, Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb) wasn’t really on my ‘radar’ before this film. I was amused to learn, however, that I wasn’t going crazy when his voice sounded familiar.

He had provided the voice for TIM on the underrated and cancelled-too-soon CW show The Tomorrow People (2013). It will be interesting to see what he does with the role of the Beast in the upcoming live action Beauty and the Beast (2017) adaptation.

I enjoyed the subtleties of his performance. He pulls off the ‘nice guy’ checking in on his friend’s family, alternating with moments of ‘something isn’t right with this guy’ seamlessly.

I really enjoyed the dynamic between his character, David, and Luke, played by Brendan Meyer (Girl vs. Monster, Tooth Fairy, Starving in Suburbia). Amidst the tension of events, they provided some moments that were rather entertaining.

An interesting point of note for a cameo-like role in the film – if you find yourself thinking ‘hey that scruffy guy looks like the guy from Can’t Hardly Wait (1998)’; you’d be right! Ethan Embry (Echoes of War, The Reunion, Eagle Eye) is, indeed, in this movie.

I don’t think this film would make my top movies of all-time list, but I would definitely watch it again.

Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score – 90%

Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score – 68%

Netflix’s Prediction for Selina – 4.6/5

Selina’s Trust-the-Dice Score – 4/5

Netflix’s Prediction for Cat – 4.5/5

Cat’s Trust-the-Dice Score – 4/5

P.S. It is a suggested, and widely believed, possibility that The Guest is a movie from the same universe as the V/H/S films (2012-2014) and You’re Next (2011) – due to the existence of the organization “KPG” in each film.

Movie Trailer: