Review of The Guest (2014) by Ezzo M — 19 Jun 2015

The Guest is a delicious combination of 80's horror and modern action.

I really enjoyed this movie. Honestly, my heart was beating harder every minute and my pits sweated like a pig. This film is very suspenseful. We're taken on this thrilling journey where we witness WTF moments while our racing thoughts and questions are being answered in a cohesive format. I though the story was unique and interesting. The directing helped a story that was destined for less admiration. But I'm sure it wasn't the story that made this film good. It was the direction. The direction is beautiful. This film is heavily inspired by 80's horror and the 80's itself. But not the 80's with Miami Vice and big hair, the 80's we fetishize - The 80's with synthwave music and elevating beats playing in the background. The soundtrack in this movie was cleverly used. Every time we're given a big moment in this film, we get a suspenseful change of pace in the already mellow and linear music in the background. The music was very effective in promoting the brilliant directing. The colors in this film we're also very synth. There are 80's diced and powdered all over this film and it works marvellously.

Dan Stevens is a newcomer and I never heard of him. My God, he was fantastic in this role. He's very successful in being nice, creepy, scary and badass - but not simultaneously. There are many scenes where he has to play a person different from who he really was. He does it so well, it's very convincing that he's as sweet as he acts to be. Plus he was scary. He was able to give me the chills with his brutality and relentless insanity.

This movie was scary, suspenseful, thrilling, beautiful and sleek-looking. It was a great homage to the 80's and to John Carpenter. If you like creepy characters, eerie tones, the 80's and stylish directing, definitely go see The Guest. It's a lovely film feel that I feel deserves more recognition.