O Habitante Incerto

As a Horror fan, I was fairly disappointed that (yet again) another film was tagged/labeled as Horror when it simply isn't. I don't know how long it will take before it finally sinks in - a Thriller is not Horror. The difference might be less obvious and more subtle and nuance depended than the difference between Comedy and Drama, but it's there!

However, as a films fan and a literature fan, I was very pleasantly surprised. The Uninvited Guest has one of the best script/ideas I've ever seen. The way the protagonist Felix is haunted by the intruder in his house (or maybe just his paranoid thoughts of one?) and then ends up as such in a similar situation himself is artistic and almost genius.

The acting of the main characters is excellent, Andoni Gracia and Monica Lopez have really given lives to the script. The other characters I believe weren't important enough to director/writer Morales vision, they could have been given a little more depth. No harm done though, and the sensations of confusion, discomfort and bizarre anxiety in the audience weren't negatively affected.

The ending had a very nice (if somewhat predictable) twist, and could be understood in more than one way. All in all, while not exactly frightening or horrific, The Uninvited Guest is a clever, original and innovative film. Recommended!

Oh what a film - great story, great actors, great direction! Totally original, unpredictable and captivating, this movie proved to be the film experience of the month. Free of all kinds of clichés, it's a good example of a deep and disturbing old world thriller, which can be horrifying and funny at the same time. Perfectly written and grasping, it draws the viewer into a twisted world which could be surrounding each one us. Without stressing the paranoid aspect or attempting to brainwash the spectator, it manages to create a believably claustrophobic atmosphere and yet offer a very humane look upon loneliness and fear without introducing any evil characters or violent situations. I can't help but applaud the authors of this film and give it the full 10 points.

THE UNINVITED GUEST is not your typical thriller. It's an example of taking a well-worn premise and turning it inside out and upside down. You may find yourself "figuring it all out", only to be twisted and flipped right along with the plot.

The story's "hero", Felix (Andoni Gracia) is an emotional wreck. This actually adds to the suspense, since he's more vulnerable and apt to mess things up. This also makes him a more believable character.

If you like bizarre, novel thrillers that don't spoon-feed you every answer in prefabricated fashion, then be sure to invite this GUEST in for the evening...

A young, thorough architect separates from his girlfriend and finds himself alone in a huge house. What could happen if an unknown man, after asking for using your phone at night, vanished from your living room while you were politely waiting in the kitchen? This is a rather unclassifiable movie. Between drama and thriller (and even a bit of disturbing comedy), it does look lushly filmed -Variety words-, well paced and definitely different from most first movies shot in Spain. Although the film suffers from a few hesitating moves, and it is not for lazy, easy-going audiences, it's well worth watching and contains some really bright, new ideas. One more turn of the screw around loneliness, voyeurism and affections - but a really interesting one.

No Curb Your Enthusiasm fans??

The Uninvited Guest turned out to be a welcome thriller, but not an entirely perfect encounter.

The film revolves around a dude who's having trouble coping with the departure of his wife/girlfriend.

While having these issues one day a man comes to the door and asks to use the phone. Our lead obliges and lets the man come in. When he goes back into the room to check on the invited guest, the room is empty and he can't understand how the man left without making a noise. It then registers that the man may still be in the house. This is when our lead begins hearing noises and his paranoid factor raises to great levels. Is he going mad? Is someone in the house? Should he prepare two plates at dinner time?

The Uninvited Guest, what a great name for a vampire flick. But in this case it's nothing related to the creatures of the night, but more on weirdos who enjoy secretly living in another person's house, which we see during the second half.

At one point, the movie kinda leaves the tension at the back door and goes in a different, more comedic type direction, but by the end of the movie, (darker vibe has returned) the viewer is left with a number of questions. Yet it seems like almost all the questions can be answered. Besides a couple.

I, for one, enjoy films that can bundle up the story and questions and explain it all in a eye-opening manner instead of the "think for yourself" and "no answer is wrong" type of ending. Though I do enjoy films like this, I do appreciate films wrapping up completely a tad more.

The Uninvited Guest is a pretty good flick that should appeal to movie-goers who enjoy these type of films where you're left thinking after the movie ends. If it wasn't for the drastic change of tone and the decision making during the middle, I would have really liked it.

Never mind about it's downfalls though, it's a well-made flick that should definitely have a wider audience.