THE GUEST

The premise of a family grieving over the loss of a son in combat, dealing with their own dysfunctions, who are visited by man who states that he served with their son and was his friend,  is a terrific premise for any kind of film but especially a horror film.  The stranger who knows you and your family, who seemingly helps you but is hiding something dark practically writes itself.

THE GUEST uses this as the take-off point but has a colossal shift in mood and tone in the last 40 minutes.  Without giving too much away, it really creates a terrific debate on whether the anti-hero is evil or just a victim himself.

Director Adam Wingard uses standard film conventions and bends them even further than his last film YOU’RE NEXT.  In particular, the scenes of violence which often come faster than expected and occur without any tension building set-up leaving you knocked out.  The film also meshes together in seamless fashion many different genres from action (the shoot-out with the military police scenes) to slasher films (the finale at the high school Halloween dance and the 80’s type synth music soundtrack).  There’s also quite a lot of black humor.

I would have to say with apologies to any films mentioned earlier in 2014 that this likely the best film I’ve seen this year with a month and a half to go.  Exciting, dark, unpredictable, thoroughly entertaining with a great performance by Dan Stevens as the lead.