Film of the Day: "The Guest" — When the Perfect Stranger Turns Out to Be a Nightmare with a Military Past

Contents:
"The Guest" (2014) by director Adam Wingard is one of those cases where a film masquerades as a thriller and then suddenly fires into pure horror.

Picture this: you're grieving your dead son when suddenly his army buddy shows up at your door. Polite, charming, straight out of a military recruitment ad. Says he promised to visit the family. Everything seems fine... until it becomes too fine.

What's the movie about?

The Peterson family is struggling with the loss of their son Caleb, killed in action overseas. Out of nowhere, David (the brilliant Dan Stevens) appears, claiming he served with him.
Actor Dan Stevens holding a gun and actress Maika Monroe in a waitress costume
The Guest movie poster
Source:
They welcome him like family: he helps around the house, befriends Caleb's younger brother. But after he shows up, strange things start happening – then dangerous things. And it looks like David isn't who he claims to be.

What makes it work?

First, the atmosphere. We're talking unsettling tension, stylish synthwave soundtrack, and visual flair that drops you into an alternate '80s. This is a shape-shifting thriller that starts as family drama, becomes an action flick, then suddenly transforms into pure horror.
The Guest movie trailer
Second, Dan Stevens' charisma. His character is part charming stranger, part killing machine. He's disturbingly likable, and you'll catch yourself rooting for him... which you probably shouldn't.

What do critics say?

On Rotten Tomatoes, The Guest boasts an impressive 92% fresh rating – one of those rare cases where critics unanimously fall for a weird, genre-bending film.

That you never know what's really coming from David is one of the film's viewing pleasures, — Drew McWeeny from HitFix.

One of the many pleasures of this tough and funny thriller is watching Dan Stevens display mesmerizing psychopathic charm, — Robert Abele from Los Angeles Times.

The Guest isn't your typical horror flick – it's a genre cocktail that keeps you on edge until the final frame. If you're looking for a movie that'll stick with you and give you plenty to discuss afterward, this is it. Earlier on zoomboola.com, we covered the series "The Night Manager" – when Hugh Laurie proved he could be scarier than any villain.