BLU-RAY REVIEW

The Guest

Featured In Issue 194, February 2015

Picture4.5
Sound4
WSR Score4
Basic Information on new release titles is posted as soon as titles are announced. Once reviewed, additional data is added to the database.
(Studio/Distributor):
Universal Studios Home Entertainment
(Catalog Number):
6116696
(MPAA Rating):
R
(Rating Reason):
(Retail Price):
$
(Disc Type):
(Widescreen Edition):
Yes
(Full Screen Edition):
No
(Running Time In Minutes):
101
(Color Type):
Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access):
Yes
(Closed Captioned):
(Regional Coding):
(Theatrical Year):
(Theatrical Release):
(Direct-To-Video Release):
No
(Disc Release Date):
(THX® Digitally Mastered):
(Director):
Adam Wingard
(Screenplay/Written By):
(Story):
(Music):
(Director Of Photography):
(Production Designer):
(Visual Effects):
(Costume Designer):
(Editor):
(Supervising Sound Editors):
(Re-Recording Mixers):
(Executive Producers):
(Co-Producers):
(Producers):
(Academy Awards):
(Principal Photography):
(Theatrical Aspect Ratio):
(Measured Disc Aspect Ratio):
(Disc Soundtrack):
DTS HD Lossless 5.1
(Theatrical Sound):
(Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
(DTS Bit Rate):
(Dolby Digital Bit Rate):
(Additional Languages):
(Subtitles):

In The Guest, recently discharged David Collins (Stevens) unexpectedly shows up at the Peterson family's doorstep, claiming to be their late son's Army buddy. Welcomed into their home, the well-mannered stranger becomes part of the family until a shocking wave of violence raises daughter Anna's (Monroe) suspicions that the mysterious ex-solider is not quite what he seems.

Special features include commentary with Director Adam Wingard and Writer Simon Barrett, eight deleted scenes (HD 15:00), a Q&A with Actor Dan Stevens (HD 02:32), upfront previews, and an UltraViolet digital copy.

The 2.38:1 1080p AVC picture is naturally rendered throughout with party, bar, and Halloween maze scenes accented with stylized lighting and contrast. Overall, contrast is well balanced with deep blacks and shadow delineation. Colors are warmly hued and nicely saturated. Fleshtones are naturally hued. Resolution is excellent, with fine detail exhibited throughout in object texture, clothing, hair, and facial features. Overall, the imagery is naturally depicted, and the color rendering is rich and warm, for a pleasing picture.

The DTS-HD Master Audio™ 5.1-channel soundtrack is nicely produced with intelligible dialogue that is spatially integrated. The music score is well recorded, with electronic scoring complemented with rock pieces spanning a wide soundstage that extends to the surround channels, providing effective envelopment. Sound effects, such as gunfire and grenades, blast through the soundfield with directionalized impact. Atmospherics are effective and generally subtle, except for an energized Halloween maze scene. Fidelity is excellent, and the sonics are spatially engaging at times.