Adam Wingard’s 2014 film The Guest is an underrated modern thriller with horror aspects. The film is about a solider, David (Dan Stevens), who visits the family of one of his friends who died during the Afghanistan war, well this is what he says.
With his arrival, deaths start to happen around the town and the family’s daughter Anna (Maika Monroe) starts to question who he really is.
On release the film was met with mixed reviews but has already gathered a cult following.
The film mixes horror and humour, and stylistically is reminiscent of films from the 80s. Wingard got the idea for the film when he watched a double feature of Halloween and Terminator, and it is easy to see how these films influenced ‘The Guest’.
It feels like it was also influenced by Drive due to the 80s inspired synth music, neon-soaked shots and Dan Stevens’ character being mysterious just like Ryan Gosling in Drive.
David is a physical representation of the slasher trope, he seems indestructible like the main characters in classic slasher films such as Michael Myers, Jason, Freddy Krueger etc. The closing shot of David still alive after being attacked and being in the fire again is a nod to this trope of early horror films.
The synth heavy music throughout the film helps create the mood and as a whole the is very good.
This film deserves a lot more attention than it gets, for taking these influences and creating something new.
Film By Euan 