Plot: What’s it about?
John (Clayne Crawford) has been a criminal his entire life, but his latest heist could be the one that puts him behind bars for good. He robbed a bank and as the police are hot on his trail, he knows he has to lay low and let things cool down. With nowhere to go, he heads for an affluent neighborhood and hatches a plot to con his way into one of the homes. As he sifts through some mail, he finds his in, he will pose as a friend of a friend, with information learned from a postcard. So he knocks on a door and finds himself greeted by Warwick Wilson (David Hyde Pierce). John tells his story about being new in town, with lost luggage and nowhere to stay, which Wilson believes and allows him inside. Wilson is about to host an elegant dinner party, but he still agrees to open his home to John. As time passes, John starts to notice unusual things about Wilson and his home, but is he just paranoid or will he soon discover he knocked on the wrong door?
I wasn’t sure what to expect from The Perfect Host, but this turned out to be one potent thriller. I was quite impressed with David Hyde Pierce, as he truly commands the screen and gives a powerful performance. This is not the kind of role I could have pictured him in before I saw The Perfect Host, but he nails it and in my opinion, this is his finest work. As this is a character study at heart, it is important that the leads are well played, so Pierce’s dynamic effort is crucial. The rest of the cast is great as well, but Pierce shines brighter than anyone else here. I don’t want to reveal much, but The Perfect Host is a psychological thriller, so expect twists and they are well delivered in this case. The characters are developed and fleshed out, which allows the plot to go down some interesting roads, to say the least. There is also a well written dark sense of humor present, which only serves to enhance this already impressive production. The Perfect Host is a tightly crafted, highly effective thriller that features one of the most captivating performances in recent years, so of course it is highly recommended.
Video: How does it look?
The Perfect Host is presented in 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen. This transfer looks good, though of course not up to the level of the high definition release. Even so, detail is solid and softness is never much of a concern. I saw no issues in terms of contrast, as black levels are accurate and colors look natural throughout. All in all, a good looking visual presentation.
Audio: How does it sound?
A Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack is included and while not memorable, it does what needs to be done. The focus is on dialogue and since the vocals sound terrific, I have no complaints there. The rest of the audio is kind of in the background, except for when the music chimes in to ratchet up the tension. So the surrounds might not break a sweat with this one, but the basics are covered and that’s all we need in this case. This disc also includes Spanish subtitles.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This disc includes a pair of promotional featurettes, as well as the film’s trailer.
