Forget a ‘Halloween’ Rewatch, Dan Stevens’ Best Horror Movie Is a Slasher Surprise
Adam Wingard's 2014 thriller "The Guest" offers a stylish alternative to annual Halloween rewatches and has renewed relevance following its connection to Wingard's 2026 slasher "Onslaught". Dan Stevens plays David Collins, a seemingly benevolent U.S. soldier who arrives at his deceased friend's family home offering help, but is revealed to be an unstable, government-created super soldier. The film's central brilliance lies in how it encourages the audience to sympathise with David before his violent true nature erupts.
Director Wingard and screenwriter Simon Barrett deliberately deconstructed American suburban ideals through bright, idyllic New Mexico settings that contrast sharply with the violence David unleashes. Once exposed, David systematically kills the Peterson family and an entire military squadron before pursuing survivors Luke and Anna to their school, where they fight back and defeat him, though he ultimately escapes. The film's 1990s-inspired soundtrack of goth rock and electronic music creates an atmosphere where suburbia's hidden darkness perpetually lurks beneath its picture-perfect surface.
- Dan Stevens plays a charming but deadly government super soldier in Wingard's 2014 film
- The film deliberately deconstructs American suburban ideals through contrasting bright visuals and violence
- Connected to Wingard's 2026 slasher Onslaught in a shared universe
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"The Guest" is a 2014 thriller directed by Adam Wingard and written by Simon Barrett. Dan Stevens plays David Collins, a U.S. soldier who arrives at his late friend's family home offering help. The film's central appeal is how it initially encourages audiences to sympathise with David before revealing his true nature as an unstable, government-created super soldier.
As the story progresses, David's violent tendencies emerge and he systematically kills members of the Peterson family and military personnel searching for him. The filmmakers used bright, peaceful New Mexico settings to starkly contrast with the violence that unfolds, exploring how darkness can hide beneath American suburban life. The 1990s-inspired soundtrack of goth rock and electronic music reinforces this atmosphere throughout the film.
The film has gained a dedicated following for its distinctive style and approach to the thriller genre. Viewers have regarded it as a standout entry in recent thriller cinema, particularly for its treatment of the premise of a seemingly trustworthy figure who proves to be dangerous.