Watch The Perfect Host
- R
- 2011
- 1 hr 34 min
-
6.7 (29,228)
The Perfect Host is a 2010 thriller movie directed by Nick Tomnay and starring David Hyde Pierce, Clayne Crawford, and Nathaniel Parker. The movie is set in Los Angeles and follows the story of a notorious criminal, John Taylor, who has just robbed a bank and is on the run from the police. Desperate for a place to hide, he comes across the house of Warwick Wilson, a well-dressed and sophisticated man who agrees to host him for the night on the pretext of a dinner party.
The movie begins with the introduction of John Taylor, who is seen running through the streets of Los Angeles, with the police on his tail. He is later seen breaking into a house and taking the homeowner hostage. Upon realizing that the homeowner is not wealthy, Taylor flees the house and ends up at the doorstep of Warwick Wilson, played by David Hyde Pierce.
The movie rapidly cuts back and forth as John and Warwick engage in small talk, with Warwick clear that something's not quite right about John's story. David Hyde Pierce's portrayal of Warwick Wilson is at once charming and unsettling, with an air of benign buffoonery that everyone can see through, but which belies an undercurrent of something far more dangerous. Clayne Crawford's portrayal of John Taylor is more straightforward, showing a dangerous character who is desperate to get away from the police.
As the evening progresses, the dinner guests begin to arrive, and everything seems perfect. However, things soon take a bizarre and sinister turn as Warwick's true identity is revealed, and John realizes that he may have walked into a trap. The tension builds to a crescendo as the dinner guests unwittingly become involved in the violent game of cat and mouse that is unfolding before their eyes.
The Perfect Host is driven by its two main characters, both of whom turn in exceptional performances that keep the audience guessing and hooked throughout the film. Hyde Pierce is particularly excellent in his portrayal of Warwick, capturing the character's idiosyncrasies and mental instability perfectly. The supporting cast also does an excellent job of adding layers to the story, with Nathaniel Parker's portrayal of the police detective tracking John Taylor, and Cooper Barnes as the bartender adding to the tension.
The movie's narrative is tightly constructed, with suspense and tension building throughout the story. There are several twists throughout the movie, with the final reveal being both satisfying and surprising. The cinematography is equally impressive, with several beautiful shots of Los Angeles, which provide a stark contrast to the violence and tension that permeates the movie.
In conclusion, The Perfect Host is a well-crafted and highly entertaining movie that will keep audiences hooked from start to finish. It is a masterful thriller that is both suspenseful and unpredictable, with exceptional performances from its talented cast. This movie is highly recommended for fans of the psychological thriller genre and for those who appreciate well-made movies with strong narratives and excellent performances.
The Perfect Host is a 2011 comedy with a runtime of 1 hour and 34 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.7 and a MetaScore of 48.