The Guest, a new thriller from writer Matthew Barry and director Ashley Way, is a fast, preposterous ride that demands uncritical acceptance from its viewers. The pair, who previously delivered the acclaimed drama Men Up, now offer a more straightforward but entertaining tale of a young cleaner drawn into a wealthy woman's mysterious mansion.
Ria (Gabrielle Creevy) is struggling to make ends meet, supporting her deadbeat boyfriend Lee (Sion Daniel Young) while working as a cleaner for horrible employers. Her life changes when Fran (Eve Myles), a rich businesswoman, offers her a well-paid job at her luxurious home. But the mansion hides secrets: a permanently locked room, a creepy gardener (Clive Russell) who warns Ria to leave, and a shadowy figure in the guesthouse.
As Fran becomes increasingly controlling, offering Ria more money, pills, and a place in the guesthouse, the plot thickens with broken banisters, bodies, Instagram clues, and police suspicions. The previous cleaner, Anna, who received similar treatment, has vanished without explanation.
The four-episode series is ridiculous but well-played and well-paced, delivering a propulsive plot that slips down a treat. While not earth-shattering, it offers plenty of fun for those willing to embrace its twists.
