There have been some pretty egregious cases of stolen valor reported over the past few years, but this fictional one goes way beyond bizarre. The explanation offered by Major Carver (Lance Reddick) for David Anderson Collins as a military experiment gone wrong was too simplistic to get away with, but it seems like the screenwriters went with it anyway. But I did like the way Dan Stevens portrayed his character, especially the smooth way he ingratiated himself with the Peterson family and some of the townies. But boy, plot holes and a lack of common sense occur way too often to make this a credible story. Like when Carver's assault team opened fire on the Peterson house without knowing if anyone else was in there. Really? And then, when David makes his break after killing everyone but the Major, how is it Carver arrived so far behind the crash scene that killed Spenser Peterson (Leland Orser), when he took off with David still in sight? Another Carver goof occurred when he yelled to Anna (Maika Monroe) and Luke (Brendan Meyer) to run away in the Halloween spook house; nothing like letting your enemy know exactly where you are when it's a matter of life or death. Predictably, the ending is telegraphed way back when David offered Luke his military knife, giving the younger brother a chance to make the save right before the cops arrived. But wait a minute, or did he? We're supposed to believe that after getting shot and stabbed big time in the middle of his chest, David makes his exit disguised as a fireman? As Joe Biden would be so apt to say, "Come on, Man!"
Review of The Guest
