The Invisible Guest- Movie review

‘The Invisible Guest’ or ‘Contratiempo’ is a wonderful Spanish movie written and directed by Oriol Paulo. 

Released in 2017, the film is about the struggle of a couple, Mr. and Mrs. Garrido to know about their dead son and give him the justice he deserves. One of the two main suspects, Laura(Barbara Lennie) is dead and the other, Andrian(Mario Casas) has been charged with her murder.

Andrian hires Virginia Goodman to fight the case. The two begin retracing Andrain’s steps to figure out what happened and hopefully convince the jury that he is innocent. 

The narration in the film reveals the story in layers by taking us through the story from the end. Each part of the flashback unveils a story that could have possibly happened or the truth that can be believed. This tale manipulates the truth to a degree where the audience are in a dilemma on who to trust.

The story here wonderfully exposes how the people in power react when they can no longer take control of their lives and the way that one can hold on to a lie for so long that is almost becomes the truth. This causes a shift and hence disables justice.

Andrian persuades Goodman that he was manipulated by Laura and consequently ditched Daniel’s body and his car in the lake. 

The entire flashback is also magnificently signified by not just revealing his perspective but also Laura’s. This permits the viewers to choose their version of truth.Both Laura and Andrian are portrayed as an object of sympathy and are yet every bit as guilty.

Eventually the events show that Mr. Garrido might be the secret intruder or the ‘Invisible Guest’ in the hotel room and Andrian is innocent.

Once the audience starts believing this, another twist is being presented. Virginia gets the location of where he dumped the car in the lake, finds out that the boy was alive when he was dumped, thereby making the crime now a murder and she leaves when the real Virginia arrives moments later.

Then, who was the Virginia present in the room after all?

It was Mrs. Garrido in the room with Adrián the whole movie long. Thus, the title ‘Invisible Guest’.

‘The Invisible guest’ tells us about human instincts. About fears. Betrayal. Wrong decisions and their consequences. Justice. It is a puzzle where the viewer is constantly getting new parts: some pieces match, and some do not.

The actors did a wonderful job. The performances were of some of Spain’s strongest talent.

The colour palette of the movie is completely dark hence representing the dark themes of the story through out.

The music is extraordinary. The ominous background maintains the suspense and tense situation created from the very beginning.

The editing,  the back and forth representation of the past and the present enhances the suspense and intensifies the drama.

The movie is overall a thrilling watch. The build up of suspense is commendable and the twists unexpected!