"The Guest" Isn't Quite Ready For Visitors

DETROIT (WWJ) – At first glance you might not recognize him, but actor Dan Stevens of "Downton Abbey" fame stars in "The Guest," which in the Metro Detroit area, is showing exclusively at the AMC John R 15 and AMC Livonia 20.

Stevens stars as David, a friendly, helpful and handsome young man who is welcomed into the Peterson family's home claiming to be a good friend of their beloved son, Caleb, a young soldier who died in action. Under normal circumstances, David would be just the kind of guy you'd want to show up on your doorstep, but after seeing this movie, I'm willing to bet that he's a guy you wouldn't want showing up anywhere near your door. But, the Petersons don't know that until it's too late.

When David shows up, the Petersons trust him completely. He draws all of them in with his story about Caleb – and that includes the two kids – with whom he gets extremely close to after attending a wild party with teenager Anna, and by helping Anna's younger brother Luke ward off a group of bullies.

But, eventually, Anna starts to have her doubts about David. Then, federal agents get wind of him, and show up in the Peterson's normally quiet small town.

Up until that point, I really liked this movie.

I say "up until" because, at that point, a movie with so much potential suddenly turned hokey. All of a sudden, the movie switched from an exciting, edge-of-your-seat thriller, where I was wondering what was going to happen next , into one that left me shaking my head and thinking "What???"

The filmmakers describe "The Guest" as "a fun action thriller with a sense of humor." And I suppose that's ok, but if they were going to do that, why would they wait until halfway through the movie? At that point, it's too late! The audience is thinking the movie is a tense thriller – which it is, well, was - but then everything changes and the filmmakers decide to go for laughs. I'm sorry; but after watching David slashing his way through town with the deadpan look of a serial killer and the attitude to go along with it, laughter just doesn't figure in.

Wait and rent it from Red Box or Netflix ... or perhaps wait for it to be shown on cable.

See you at the movies!

Be sure to tune in to WWJ Newsradio 950 every Friday at 2:40pm for my weekly look at the movies with Midday Anchor Jackie Paige.

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