THE GUEST
By: John ’Doc’ Strange
Directed by: Adam Wingard
Cast: Dan Stevens, Maika Monroe, Brendan Meyer, Sheila Kelley, Leland Orser, Lance Reddick, Tabatha Shaun and Chase Williamson
MPAA Rating: R (for strong violence, language, some drug use and a scene of sexuality)
Selig Rating: FULL PRICE
Runtime: 99 Min.
Out of the blue, the Peterson family gets a surprise visit from a young man, David (Dan Stevens), who claims to have been in their son’s unit in the Army. He tells them he was there when their son died. David says that he was asked to give the family, mother Laura (Sheila Kelley), father Spencer (Leland Orser), daughter Anna (Maika Monroe) and son Luke (Brendan Meyer), a message that he decided to deliver it in person.
Laura invites David to stay in her son’s room for a few days He needs a chance to rest before he moves on with his life. All seems normal. Soon, however, we begin to see that there is something different about David. Anna begins to worry about him as people who upset the family in any manner begin to turn up dead. Her investigations bring out a side of the young man they never wanted to see.
David is the type of character who’s not necessarily aligned with good or evil. In that he is more like Bugs Bunny than Michael Myers. He is an amoral being who is good or bad depending upon his mood of the moment, the type of outcome he desires, or maybe just a reflection of how individuals treat him.
This is a well written tale about a man who may or may not be who he says he is, may or may not be modified by a mysterious company, and may or may not be the new anti-hero of a series of films that will make megabucks. Only time will tell. As for me, I think we’ll see David again sometime. He is too interesting for the filmmakers to leave alone.
Movie Site: www.theguestmovie.com
The Selig Rating Scale:
FULL PRICE – Excellent movie, well worth the price
MATINEE – Good movie
DOLLAR – OK movie
CABLE – No need to rush. Save it for a rainy day.
FREEBIE – Good that I saw it on the big screen but wish I hadn't paid for it.
COMMERCIAL TV – Commercials and cutting to the allotted time will not hurt this one.
FORGET IT! – Bad. If you see this one, do yourself a favor and keep it to yourself.
GET YOUR TORCHES – BAD! – Burn the script, the writer, the director and maybe even the actors!
