Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		2.5
Overall		4.0

The Guest Blu-ray Movie Review

Bait and switch? Sign me up!

Reviewed by Kenneth Brown January 7, 2015

If you're not laughing within a few minutes of starting The Guest, pause, rewind and try, try again. Still not laughing? Either you don't get the joke or this one isn't for you. Director Adam Wingard and writer Simon Barrett's latest genre stew is a horror satire of the subtlest order, with Downton Abbey alum Dan Stevens deftly -- and maniacally -- answering the question Halloween and Terminator junkies should have been asking for decades: what if Michael Myers or Arnie's T-800 looked like the wholesome, All-American marine next door? What if this unstoppable killing machine took up residence with an unsuspecting small-town family and proceeded to wreak havoc? Granted, The Guest doesn't declare its intentions from the outset. It took me a good twenty minutes to realize the film wasn't a haphazardly constructed thriller but rather a slick, all too clever love letter to the slasher and stalker films of the 1980s. Once that little realization was made, though, and a hop back to the beginning taken, Wingard and Barrett's You're Next follow-up suddenly became a whole new treat. Funny, subversive, deceptively refined and legitimately creepy in all the right places, The Guest warrants serious genre honors.

On the prowl...

Recently discharged from the Army, kindly, soft-spoken David Collins (Dan Stevens) unexpectedly shows up on the Petersons' doorstep with a message from their deceased son, a fellow soldier who asked Collins to deliver a parting message to each of his family members. Invited to stay for several days in the Petersons' home, the well-mannered stranger becomes part of the family -- welcomed in by grieving mother Laura (Sheila Kelley), soon befriended by alcoholic father Spencer (Leland Orser), idolized by young son Luke (Brendan Meyer) and slowly accepted by skeptical sister Anna (Maika Monroe) -- until a shocking wave of violence raises Anna's suspicions. Is the mysterious ex-soldier who he claims to be? Or is he something else entirely?

Stevens is a dead ringer for Captain America's Chris Evans, and the uncanny resemblance, paired with Stevens' aw-shucks apple-pie demeanor, works wonders. There are moments that you'll love David. Root for him. Cheer as he takes down bullies harassing Luke. Grin when he helps Spencer score a promotion (however twisted his methods). Feel a little tug on the ol' heartstrings as he eases Laura's pain. Overlook his flaws when he dispatches low-lifes and criminals around town. If he was toting a shield and wearing stars-n-stripes, you couldn't be blamed for wondering if Marvel had recast Nick Fury with The Wire's Lance Reddick. But any affection for David will never amount to a perfect love. In the recesses of your brain, you'll know something isn't quite right. You won't want to believe it at first, but you'll be haunted by the feeling that beneath all those good intentions and noble acts, there's a monster masquerading as everyone's favorite boy scout. And when that mask finally falls -- when The Shape, The Terminator, Jason Bourne Gone Mad, The Real David Collins comes out to play -- you won't really be all that surprised by the hell that breaks loose.

Driving the film is Stevens, who swaps humanlike faces with Tri-Klopsian effortlessness, playing different roles as comfortably and eerily as the genre's most unforgettable icons. If Stevens is Michael Myers and the T-800, Monroe -- smart, savvy, and just the right blend of snarky and vulnerable -- is The Guest's Laurie Strode and Sarah Connor, the not-so-helpless heroine who eventually sees through her personal monster's façade; piecing together what the authority figures around her refuse to believe. And if Monroe is Laurie and Sarah, Reddick -- tough as nails, hilariously clad in black leather, and happy to chew on as much fatty exposition as will earn a laugh -- is the film's Dr. Sam Loomis and Kyle Reese, the gun-toting would-be hero who equips a young woman with the necessary information to survive otherwise impossible odds.

The rest of the cast is up to the task as well, and it's abundantly clear everyone is not only in on the joke, but eager to see each punchline pay off, whether they're a part of it or not. Meyer adds depth to what could have been a paper-thin archetype (the empowered weak geek). Kelley is the straightest of the bunch, bringing dramatic heft that only electrifies each successive climactic beat. Orser is the first to reveal The Guest is to be taken as a comedy, and follows his first scene with drink after drink after drink, collecting a chuckle for every empty beer bottle. And the character actors, the teen bullies, the drug dealers, the military thugs, the high school teachers and principals, are spot on, reveling in the increasing absurdity of Barrett's shrewdly conceived, tongue-in-cheek script.

Unfortunately, if The Guest never strikes you as a satire, or doesn't earn the laughs it's aiming for, there's not much else to the film to enjoy (other than Stevens' performance). Taken as a thriller, the school gymnasium endgame will seem ludicrous, tonally disjointed, and horribly out of place. Taken as a straight slasher film, the characters' various eccentricities will come off as the product of overacting or, worse, mediocre writing. Taken as a more traditional genre parody, a la Hot Fuzz or Shaun of the Dead, the gags will simultaneously be too narrow and too broad to succeed. Like You're Next, The Guest may be too clever for its own good. If you get what Wingard and Barrett are going for, you'll have a blast. If it doesn't click with your sensibilities, you'll come away wondering what all the fuss was about.

The Guest Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The Blu-ray release of The Guest features a killer 1080p/AVC-encoded video presentation. The film's palette is dark but relatively lifelike, with striking, vividly colored hues, visceral primaries, warmly saturated skintones, and deep, ominous blacks. Contrast is strong and consistent too, and detail is exacting. Edges are clean and naturally defined, without anything in the way of ringing or aliasing; fine textures are carefully (but not too carefully) resolved, and unhindered by errant noise or other anomalies; shadow delineation is excellent, revealing as much or as little as cinematographer Robby Baumgartner wishes; and a modest veneer of grain is present, adding a suitably classic-film element to the slasher send-up. Minor instances of crush pop up throughout, sure, but a lack of artifacting, banding and other compression issues bolster the near-perfect presentation and stave off any complaints. Fans of the film will be most pleased.

The Guest Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Universal's DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track is almost as crafty, efficient and explosive as The Guest's David Collins. LFE output is restrained but rewarding, unleashing its true power in the film's third act when guns are finally drawn, bodies begin to pile up, and Stevens goes on his kill-or-be-killed rampage. The rear speakers rarely disappoint either, offering subdued but involving directional support during quieter scenes and creating an even more immersive and engaging soundfield when chaos erupts. It's never as absorbing as a full-blown, big-budget action blockbuster, mind you -- the film's modest means lead to a few hit-or-miss sequences in terms of sonic power and prowess -- but such moments hardly amount to a distraction. Dialogue remains clear and intelligible at all times as well, with perfect prioritization and nothing in the way of muffled, drowned or indistinct voices. All told, the film's lossless track delivers.

The Guest Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Audio Commentary: This not-to-be-missed audio commentary with director Adam Wingard and writer Simon Barrett actually enriches the viewing experience, revealing the many, many genre references, in-jokes, and easter eggs scattered throughout the film. The filmmakers try to avoid the usual back-patting, although they have a hard time offering anything but praise for the actors. Still, the pair are quite blunt, discussing missed opportunities, unrealized potential, production difficulties, budgetary limitations, the hiring of several less than ideal crew members, and other issues most would have swept under the rug. Make a point to listen to this one from start to finish. You won't regret it.
• Deleted Scenes (HD, 14 minutes): Seven deleted and extended scenes are available with optional filmmaker commentary, including an "Original Opening," an extended "Intro to the Peterson Family," "Anna Finds David's Gun," "Anna Meets David" (with a comparison to the scene as it appears in the film), "David Confronts Anna" (extended), "Clown Gag" and "Zeke's Bedroom."
• Q&A with Dan Stevens (HD, 2 minutes): Even at a much too short two-minutes, this brief interview snippet is worth watching. Now imagine how much better a twenty-minute chat might have been.

The Guest Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The Guest isn't for everyone. Some will find it hilariously subversive. Others won't get the joke. Still others will understand exactly what Wingard and Barrett are going for, or simply not buy into the concept, humor or execution. The same could be said of You're Next, the filmmakers' previous genre-subverting shake-up. For those who warm to Wingard and Barrett's dark comedy, though... you're in for a real treat. Fortunately, Universal's Blu-ray release isn't nearly as divisive. With an excellent video presentation, strong DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track, and a small but decent supplemental package (built on a terrific audio commentary), The Guest comes recommended.