Adam Wingard’s The Guest (2014) subverts the traditional masculine outlaw hero despite the hegemonic masculinity (dominant ways of being a man in society) of the main character. David, transgresses this stereotype in order to gain access into the Peterson family home and makes his presence welcome by assisting each family member in different but distinct ways.
This mysterious stranger enters into a family’s life as a fulfillment wish for Caleb − his brother in arms that served with David during his tour in Afghanistan. His relationship with Mrs. Peterson is one based on the emotional relief of her deceased son. Mrs. Peterson has so much respect for this mysterious stranger that she defends him when everyone else in the household questions …show more content…
However, some may argue that they perceive David as a serial killing/homicidal maniac. My response to their argument is that that they are not wrong as their perceptions are just as valid as anyone else’s. However, to give a simple characterization of his character doesn’t do the character justice because apart from having serial characteristics, he has his own intentions of keeping anonymity which is something that will usually be seen in an anti-hero, and lastly he is an outlaw hero in the perspective of the family as he is helping them in different but distinct ways. Eventually when his identity becomes compromised by the KPG, David is no longer is himself but rather the experiment is taking control of him to eliminate all loose ends meaning anyone he made contact with in the film. Applying Stephen Garrett’s Article Why We Love TV’s Anti-heroes, David is similar to Mad Men’s Don Draper character in the sense that his character is “fast and loose with the truth in his professional life and then goes home and lies to his loved ones…men want to be him and women…well, they just want him.” (Garrett, 319) David has a particular charm about him that makes him so likeable that to hate him is a challenge to the audience because his mission is to help this struggling family cope with their hardships of not only dealing with their deceased son but as well as help …show more content…
According to Steffen Hantke’s The Kingdom of The Unimaginable, “The act of killing signifies in itself masculine power so that the victim, though biologically male, is always functionally and symbolically feminine…Killing is invested with a high degree of sexual significance. The killer 's aggression is either steadily increasing or caught in a loop of ritual repetition. He is motivated by a hunger or desire that can only be temporarily satisfied. Unless the killer is stopped, the series of killings is potentially open-ended.” In the film, The KPG or as they call themselves in the film the ‘military police’ arrive to the Peterson household to attempt to terminate their experiment/kill David but when they spot David behind the house outside carrying a laundry basket. The film goes into slow motion as David spots the military police and a few seconds later he pulls out his handgun and shoots one of the officers in the face with marksman precision. This use of slow motion within the film symbolizes a form of killing mode/serial killing mode has been turned on as if he is superhuman/robotic which is supported by the superhuman reflexes and agility when killing military police officers. He eventually rushes to make his way into the home for cover from the military police’s gunfire. David coincidentally finds Mrs. Peterson in the
This mysterious stranger enters into a family’s life as a fulfillment wish for Caleb − his brother in arms that served with David during his tour in Afghanistan. His relationship with Mrs. Peterson is one based on the emotional relief of her deceased son. Mrs. Peterson has so much respect for this mysterious stranger that she defends him when everyone else in the household questions …show more content…
However, some may argue that they perceive David as a serial killing/homicidal maniac. My response to their argument is that that they are not wrong as their perceptions are just as valid as anyone else’s. However, to give a simple characterization of his character doesn’t do the character justice because apart from having serial characteristics, he has his own intentions of keeping anonymity which is something that will usually be seen in an anti-hero, and lastly he is an outlaw hero in the perspective of the family as he is helping them in different but distinct ways. Eventually when his identity becomes compromised by the KPG, David is no longer is himself but rather the experiment is taking control of him to eliminate all loose ends meaning anyone he made contact with in the film. Applying Stephen Garrett’s Article Why We Love TV’s Anti-heroes, David is similar to Mad Men’s Don Draper character in the sense that his character is “fast and loose with the truth in his professional life and then goes home and lies to his loved ones…men want to be him and women…well, they just want him.” (Garrett, 319) David has a particular charm about him that makes him so likeable that to hate him is a challenge to the audience because his mission is to help this struggling family cope with their hardships of not only dealing with their deceased son but as well as help …show more content…
According to Steffen Hantke’s The Kingdom of The Unimaginable, “The act of killing signifies in itself masculine power so that the victim, though biologically male, is always functionally and symbolically feminine…Killing is invested with a high degree of sexual significance. The killer 's aggression is either steadily increasing or caught in a loop of ritual repetition. He is motivated by a hunger or desire that can only be temporarily satisfied. Unless the killer is stopped, the series of killings is potentially open-ended.” In the film, The KPG or as they call themselves in the film the ‘military police’ arrive to the Peterson household to attempt to terminate their experiment/kill David but when they spot David behind the house outside carrying a laundry basket. The film goes into slow motion as David spots the military police and a few seconds later he pulls out his handgun and shoots one of the officers in the face with marksman precision. This use of slow motion within the film symbolizes a form of killing mode/serial killing mode has been turned on as if he is superhuman/robotic which is supported by the superhuman reflexes and agility when killing military police officers. He eventually rushes to make his way into the home for cover from the military police’s gunfire. David coincidentally finds Mrs. Peterson in the