Review of The Guest (2014) by Maitiú Ó — 12 Dec 2014

Entertaining for sure but not as good as the critics say it is. Its originality comes in mixing the signature styles and concepts of other films (Drive/History of Violence/Borne Identity).

Dan Stevens, the lead role in The Guest, is certainly doing his best impersonation of Ryan Gosling in Drive. The Guest also leans heavily on Drive's soundtrack to help set the tone of the film. (One of my faviorite Love & Rockets songs, Haunted, is used expertly).

I couldnt help but to be reminded of David Kronenbergs film, A History of Violence. The small town of The Guest, with its flatlands and big sky, also remind me of Fargo and Blood Simple.

Next The Guest takes from Borne Identity in making Dan Stevens an ex-soldier on the run from the military. Hes been trained to be an elite killer under a secret government program.

The final scene goes one last step into the past in utilizing a mirror scene that should recall Bruce Lee's Enter the Dragon. Lance Reddick's severity and maniacal look lend to this aim. The final scene even has a seventies technicolor aspect to it and uses a lot of those haunting Dario Argento reds.

So there you have it. This film is well acted and executed but really is just more of the post-modern cut and paste stuff that the critics go crazy for and call "genius and innovative." While I found it entertaining and worth watching it certainly isnt as amazing as the critics make it out out to be. It does have some fun turns. I recommend seeing it.