boksilxlouie
A Haunting Horror Tale
This year was the year I dipped my fingers into the Horror genre. I tried a little bit of everything: indie, arthouse, 80's classics... While I liked most of what I saw, nothing the West could offer surpassed the kind of excellence "The Guest" was.
"The Guest" opens up with the most chilling, intense and horrifying 30 minutes and continues to build suspense and terror during the entire drama. The premise of this series is relatively simple: three people who share the trauma of the same harrowing night as children come together after 20 years to catch the spirit responsible for the tragedy. Still, this description falls short; nothing prepared for the grip "The Guest" would have on me. The series is masterfully crafted, it seamlessly blends mystery, thriller and horror into a dreadful game of cat-and-mouse.
The central characters are deeply flawed - they fight, they're stubborn and impulsive, but also compassionate and very human. The kind of bond that forms between these tragic heroes is one of mutual understanding and loyalty.
"The Guest" isn't just scary (it might not frighten you at all)- but it's petrifying. Not because of jumpscares and ghosts, but because you cannot help but feel for the possessed people and their awful lives. It's like watching a ticking time bomb finally explode and leave a trail of carnage and blood behind. The exorcism scenes were cathartic and mesmerizing to watch - each was tense and grisly, and the performances were truly immersive.
While the strength of "The Guest" definitively lies in the twists, turns and reveals of the storyline, none of it could be achieved without lighting and music. The red, orange, blue and purple hues contrasted nicely with the dark scenes. They were atmospheric and eye-pleasing, perfectly complimenting the cinematography. The lights worked in tandem with the music, too: the title track "Somewhere" was beautifully sorrowful, and the rest of the OST was as much haunting, nostalgic and melancholic.
One day I'll return to watch it again, to spot all the clues and gain a new perspective, but for now, I'll leave "The Guest" how it is - a masterful piece about humans and family tragedies.
"The Guest" opens up with the most chilling, intense and horrifying 30 minutes and continues to build suspense and terror during the entire drama. The premise of this series is relatively simple: three people who share the trauma of the same harrowing night as children come together after 20 years to catch the spirit responsible for the tragedy. Still, this description falls short; nothing prepared for the grip "The Guest" would have on me. The series is masterfully crafted, it seamlessly blends mystery, thriller and horror into a dreadful game of cat-and-mouse.
The central characters are deeply flawed - they fight, they're stubborn and impulsive, but also compassionate and very human. The kind of bond that forms between these tragic heroes is one of mutual understanding and loyalty.
"The Guest" isn't just scary (it might not frighten you at all)- but it's petrifying. Not because of jumpscares and ghosts, but because you cannot help but feel for the possessed people and their awful lives. It's like watching a ticking time bomb finally explode and leave a trail of carnage and blood behind. The exorcism scenes were cathartic and mesmerizing to watch - each was tense and grisly, and the performances were truly immersive.
While the strength of "The Guest" definitively lies in the twists, turns and reveals of the storyline, none of it could be achieved without lighting and music. The red, orange, blue and purple hues contrasted nicely with the dark scenes. They were atmospheric and eye-pleasing, perfectly complimenting the cinematography. The lights worked in tandem with the music, too: the title track "Somewhere" was beautifully sorrowful, and the rest of the OST was as much haunting, nostalgic and melancholic.
One day I'll return to watch it again, to spot all the clues and gain a new perspective, but for now, I'll leave "The Guest" how it is - a masterful piece about humans and family tragedies.
Was this review helpful to you?
