The Perfect Host

THE PERFECT HOST

Written by Nick Tomnay & Krisha Jones
Directed by Nick Tomnay
Starring David Hyde Pierce, Clayne Crawford

A stunning trailer made the question of watching this or not a no-brainer - David Hyde Pierce dripping with hilarious insanity, no moral compass of which to speak, and the promise of black-as-night comic horror? While it may sound like the perfect evening in, the night peters out unfortunately early, choosing to follow a rambling and superfluous series of plot threads away from the bloodstained tablecloth that is the film's centrepiece.

John Taylor (Clayne Crawford) is on the run from a bank job, and injured. Seeking shelter, he cons his way into the house of loner Warwick Wilson (Pierce), who is preparing for a dinner party. As the night grows long and John's secret is revealed, he finds he may have messed with the wrong man.

Pierce is absolutely perfect in this role - the dry wit he brought to Frasier is in mint condition, and well-suited to this kind of genre blender. He is without doubt the heart and soul of the film, with Crawford's protagonist playing straight man. It is a two man show with little in the way - which is exactly why the film's final third falls so flat.

There is a very clever twist to Warwick's party, a trick that will catch you by surprise. It's hilarious and fitting, and would make for a perfect finale. However, the screenwriters feel the need to wrap up every little plot facet, a noble gesture which is entirely unnecessary in a film of this nature, and so it continues. John Taylor's backstory is displayed through flashbacks in a bizarre attempt to make him empathetic, which doesn't work, and Warwick's true identity doesn't surprise as it should. The appeal of the film is in seeing these two baddies go toe-to-toe, and there are so many distractions from this in the end that the point is lost. The actual ending of the film is rather forgettable and detracts from the experience as a whole.

That isn't to say the film is without merit. The party sequences alternate between laughs and genuine chills, with the depths of Warwick's depravity becoming clearer. There is great promise in this debut feature from Nick Tomnay, who is leaning heavily on David Hyde Pierce's quirk, but will hopefully find confidence in his own voice as he progresses. Crawford is not a show-stealer, but he is amiable enough to keep the whole thing going. Tonal discrepancies and the occasional quiet moment are forgivable considering the clash of genres, and while everything is a touch underexposed, it is otherwise well shot.

Those expecting the perfect event will be sorely disappointed, but there is still much to enjoy in this dark and clever romp.