The Guest (2014)
Film · Mystery, Thriller, Action
Stream itif you enjoy sleek, synth-heavy thrillers that blend 80s nostalgia with sharp, violent action.
A sleek and synth-drenched thriller that pivots from unsettling mystery into explosive, stylish action. It is a cool and calculated ride that prioritizes momentum and retro-aesthetic thrills over realism.
What it is about
A soldier introduces himself to the Peterson family, claiming to be a friend of their son who died in action. After the young man is welcomed into their home, a series of accidental deaths seem to be connected to his presence.
Trailer
What The Guest is like, and who it is for
What it is like to watch
Watching this film feels like a high-octane descent into stylish paranoia. It begins as a quiet, slightly off-kilter domestic drama, maintaining a slow-burn tension that gradually builds through a series of calculated, unsettling encounters. The pace soon shifts gears, accelerating into a neon-lit action spectacle defined by its propulsive energy, sharp editing, and a heavy, atmospheric electronic soundtrack that dictates the intensity of every scene.
Who it is for, and who should skip it
This is a must-watch for fans of cult cinema and retro aesthetics who appreciate a film that prioritises mood and momentum. It will appeal to those who like their protagonists charismatic yet dangerous. However, you should skip it if you require a grounded, realistic plot or find stylised violence gratuitous. One honest caveat is that the final act leans heavily into genre tropes, sacrificing the earlier psychological mystery for a more traditional slasher-style confrontation.
The right evening for it
It suits a weekend night when you want something cool, fast-paced, and punchy. It is perfect for a solo watch or with friends who enjoy a film that feels both modern and like a lost VHS classic.
Written by our AI from the facts on this page. It has opinions; it has not watched it.
Another trailer
Trailer · Official Trailer
How The Guest leaves you
One line on the mood it ends on, with no plot. Some people count that as a spoiler, so it stays hidden until you ask.
It leaves you feeling energised and slightly wired, like the buzz following a loud concert. Expect to come away impressed by the slickness of the execution and the magnetic, chilling central performance.
How The Guest ends
Spoilers. The whole ending, in a few lines. Nothing shows until you ask and then confirm.
After David kills Laura, Spencer, and Major Carver, he pursues Anna and Luke through a school haunted house. He kills a teacher and Carver, but Luke and Anna manage to wound him using a gun and David’s own butterfly knife. As a fire spreads through the building, David tells Luke he did the right thing and gives a thumbs-up before collapsing, seemingly defeated.
The film closes on Anna and Luke sitting in an ambulance outside the school. They overhear firefighters mention that only two bodies were recovered from the building. Anna watches several firefighters emerge and notices that one is limping; the man turns to look at her, revealing that David has survived and is using a stolen uniform to escape the scene.
Summarised by our AI from the plot section of the Wikipedia article, available under CC BY-SA 4.0. This summary is shared under the same licence.
Stills
Images from TMDB.
If you like this, try
Drive (2011)
the same blend of stoic violence, synth-wave atmosphere, and high-fashion grit
It Follows (2014)
a shared retro-modern aesthetic and a similarly heavy sense of impending dread
Blue Ruin (2013)
a lean, efficient approach to the thriller genre with sudden bursts of visceral impact
Suggested by our AI for what they share with this one. Linked titles have a page here; the rest are worth a search on the browse page.
More clips
Teaser · TV Spot #3
Teaser · TV Spot #2
Teaser · Own it on Blu-ray 1/6
The Guest soundtrack
Music by Steve Moore
Questions people ask
- Is The Guest a tense film?
- Yes. On Watchlist Boosted it is tagged Tense, with an epic streak. A sleek and synth-drenched thriller that pivots from unsettling mystery into explosive, stylish action. It is a cool and calculated ride that prioritizes momentum and retro-aesthetic thrills over realism.
- How long is The Guest?
- The Guest runs 101 min and was released in 2014.
- Where can I watch The Guest in Australia?
- In Australia, The Guest is included with Prime Video (all plans).
- Who composed the music for The Guest?
- The music for The Guest is by Steve Moore.
- Is The Guest worth watching?
- Stream it: if you enjoy sleek, synth-heavy thrillers that blend 80s nostalgia with sharp, violent action. IMDb users rate it 6.7 out of 10 from 113,257 votes, Rotten Tomatoes gives it 92%, Metacritic 76 and TMDB users 6.6.
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