Review of Guest in the House (1944) by Eric R — 05 Mar 2012

Dan Proctor, a doctor, arrives at the home of his brother with an emotionally vulnerable and unstable woman, Evelyn, who he seems to be smitten for. At the house, Evelyn becomes obsessed with Dan's brother Douglas, who is happily married.

This sets off a chain of events that will push towards tragedy. Guest in the House is a noirish, brooding melodrama which is really centered around Evelyn Heath. Much of the film follows Evelyn's ability to manipulate the home situation between Douglas and his wife, as well as the housekeepers as she connives to have Douglas all to herself.

Anne Baxter really is fantastic as the emotionally unstable Evelyn Heath. Everything about her performance feels volatile, yet conniving as I just found myself waiting for her to completely snap. She plays the part perfectly capturing the child-like emotional puppy love, as well as the subtle rage which exists in Evelyn.

It's really a complicated character that showcases fragility, rage, naivety and cunning which Ann Baxter really captures perfectly. Brahm does use some internal dialogue to better show the personality disorder and internal affliction which Anne suffers, but its only used a few times as a way to show her pure thoughts to the viewer.

Almost every scene in the film takes place in the house, creating this claustrophobic feeling which aids the film. Brahm pulls out all the stops from the lightning and thunder, lamps piercing the dark rooms and looming shadows to create an atmospheric setting for which the film to unfold in.