The Guest (2014)

	Also Known As: -
	Year of first release: 2014
	Director: Adam Wingard (You're Next, segments of VHS, VHS 2 and The ABCs of Death)
	Actors: Dan Stevens, Sheila Kelley, Maika Monroe (The Bling Ring, It Follows), Leland Orser (Alien Resurrection)
	Country: USA
	Genre: Thriller
	Conditions of visioning: 28.03.2015, CINEMA theater, MFFFN15
Synopsis: Some time after the death of the their son in the Army, a family receives the visit of David (Stevens) who served with him. He made a promise to his dead friend to take care of this family.
Review: When introducing this movie at the Munich Fantasy Filmfest Nights 2015, the organizer said that it would never be released on a big screen in Germany and that day was the only opportunity to see it like that. I don't understand this behavior from the distribution companies, because to me The Guest looks very much like Drive by Nicholas Winding Refn which was a huge hit. There is not more violence in it, we find the same pastel colors, the deep bass instrumental soundtrack sounds as good, the movie looks as good and the lead actor even looks like Ryan Gosling although he talks more and for me acts better. Maybe it is because the topic of Drive in the end is more classic: revenge, protect your family or your business... While The Guest deals with more recent cinema themes: home invasion, the fear of the other, the daily life of teenagers, and a hint of (spoiler, highlight to read) government conspiracy. I can also understand that the third act of the movie may differ from one's expectations, and I have to admit that some easy story telling choices, or shortcuts, could testify of the less mature cinema by Adam Wingard and his writing partner Simon Barrett. But for my part I enjoyed a lot the free style of the movie and was fully satisfied by it. I definitely have to watch Adam Wingward's You're Next.
Rating: 8 /10