← Back to homeHOLLYWOOD

‘The Guest’ Review: A Superb Trine Dyrholm Adds Unsentimental Value to a Piercing Family Drama

A droll dramedy of bourgeois social awkwardness morphs into a deep-cut tragedy about the effects of a mother’s psychological frailty on her grown-up children, in Danish director Mads Mengel’s impressively uncozy debut feature “The Guest.”

7/7/2026, 6:42:16 PM

Share:
BUZZ
‘The Guest’ Review: A Superb Trine Dyrholm Adds Unsentimental Value to a Piercing Family Drama

Mads Mengel’s new film “The Guest” is blowing up! This Danish director just dropped an uncozy debut feature that has everyone talking. It is a family drama with some serious bite, and Variety is here for it. The film starts off as a bourgeois dramedy, full of social awkwardness. But don’t get it twisted, things take a hard left into deep-cut tragedy. This isn’t your grandma’s feel-good flick. This movie digs deep into the psychological fragility of a mother and the ripple effect it has on her grown-up kids. Mengel isn’t playing around with warm and fuzzy feelings. He’s going for raw emotion and he’s hitting the mark. The film is clean-lined and sharp-edged, according to Variety. They are praising the cinematography by David Bauer, which is all cool-toned summer light and pale Scandinavian skies. It sounds like a visual masterpiece that backs up the intense narrative. Word on the street is, this is a must-see for anyone who wants a drama that pulls no punches. Forget the usual Hollywood fluff, this Danish import is bringing the realness. This flick is set to make waves and redefine what a family drama can be. Get ready to have your heart strings pulled and your mind blown.

Advertisement

Share:
Read original at Variety

DAILY DROP

Get the gossip in your inbox

Hottest celebrity stories, hand-picked daily. No spam, just chaos.

Advertisement