Review of The Perfect Host (2010) by Spencer S — 12 Oct 2011

The Perfect Host has all the preconceptions to make it into a seriously depraved indie dark comedy/thriller, but because it tries so hard to be original and flippant, it comes off as an over plotted mesh that doesn't deliver any new shocks and shakes.

There is quite a bit of suspense leading in, the shooting of principle photography very well done, the music is perfectly set for the scenes, and the starting action begs many questions we all want answered right off the bat.

Starting strong, Host resolves to become very violent, with fugitive John conning his way into the home of Warwick Wilson, who announces he is throwing a dinner party for his four close friends. As the truth unfolds between the two men thrust together by mere chance, terror and disbelief culminate in a series of strange events.

This film is all about the psychological, playing up the sensibilities of the criminally insane, and we all watch wondering whether someone is going to die, or if their fate is already decided. I don't want to spoil the entire movie by listing my qualms with the last half hour's plot, but let's just say it veers from what I expected.

That in itself is very hard to do, but the way in which it's done puzzles me. Yes, everything is thoroughly explained, the resounding action ties into the rest of the film, and it's quite clever writing, but at the same time there is a lot I truly find distasteful and irresponsibly stupid about the ending.

Contrary to this psycho's way of thinking, the plot makes no sense, unless it does tie in with one very loose plot hole involving a chess game that determines one character's fate. I'll leave it at that.

I did appreciate Crawford and Hyde Pierce's performances. I never would have guessed that Pierce could be so fiercely menacing, and though I've never seen Crawford before, I will surely be on the watch for him in the future.