Guest (2020 film)

Did You Know?

• A sequel, Guest 2, was released on YouTube on November 24, 2023.
• The sequel was financed by Chilling, a horror relaxation app.
• Anna Fraser returns as The Guest in the sequel, with Simon Bigg also cast.

Plot

Mary, a frightened young woman, wakes up in a stranger's bedroom with injuries that have left her partially blind and deaf. The homeowner, The Woman, bandaged her after finding her in the bathroom that morning and partially restores her hearing with a hearing aid. In flashback, Mary recalls being chased through the countryside by a tall, slender creature with no eyelids called The Guest. She breaks into The Woman's house to escape, arms herself with a kitchen knife, and hides in the bathroom, where The Guest is waiting. Driven mad by its presence, Mary pours bleach over her eyes and stabs her ears, blinding and deafening herself. The Woman, frightened by the story, locks Mary in the room. Mary removes her bandages to see The Guest sitting on the bed beside her with a sad expression.

Production

Finn Callan drew inspiration for The Guest's design from several pre-existing works, including The Draggs from Fantastic Planet, the Fishermen from Balance, and Christiane from Eyes Without a Face, combining them like a jigsaw. Prosthetics artist Francesca Giacovelli illustrated the design. Callan decided early that all special effects for The Guest would be practical; Giacovelli created the elaborate makeup, which took six hours to apply to Anna Fraser, who played The Guest. Fraser compared the application process to being buried alive.

Release and reception

Guest first screened at FrightFest on 27 August 2020, then toured the American horror festival circuit, premiering in North America at Screamfest on 8 October. During its festival run, it received acclaim from horror publications for its direction, cinematography, special effects, and monster design. Callan uploaded the short to YouTube on 24 December 2020 with a suicide prevention disclaimer. As of November 2024, it had over 15 million views. Notable YouTubers including CoryxKenshin and Jacksepticeye have reacted to the film.