Review Summary: One of 2014's most overlooked films also has one of the year's best soundtracks.
The Guest is a movie that shocked me. From the first frame to the last my eyes were glued to the screen and anxiously awaiting for whatever happens next. This of course is a testament to the filmmaking but the soundtrack played a large part in my enjoyment of this movie. It’s a throwback to ‘80s and ‘90s style thriller soundtracks – heavy on the synths, deep euphoric grooves, and an overall retro feel that goes hand-in-hand with the film itself.
The soundtrack opens with ‘Haunted When the Minutes Drag’ by
Love and Rockets and also includes tracks from up-and-coming artists like
Annie and
Gatekeeper. Despite most tracks being written by various artists, there is an ethereal yet ominous aura that lingers from song to song so convincingly it’s hard to believe it isn’t all by the same artist. This mimics the nature of the main character David – seemingly charming but equally enigmatic, creating a visual and sonic mesh that makes the movie watching experience that much more invigorating.
Bar the opening track and the occasional piano or string passage, this soundtrack is wholly electronic. Deep bass and entrancing synth leads drive most of these songs, and about half of them feature vocals. Generally the vocals here act as their own instrument and enhance the experience ten-fold. In some tracks, like ‘Because I Love You (The Postman Song)’, the vocals are a bit too prominent and it mucks up the subdued atmosphere laid by its surrounding tracks. However the album’s refreshing old-school feel more than makes up for these minor shortcomings.
Again, this is not your typical action thriller soundtrack, as
The Guest is not your typical action thriller. Don’t go in expecting sweeping orchestral jabs because you won’t find any.
The Guest’s soundtrack is dark, dense, brooding, and occasionally beautiful, much like the film itself. This is a soundtrack that truly completes the movie experience, and as an added bonus, functions perfectly well as a standalone album.
