The Guest (OST)

Posted on August 4, 2015 by emmakwall

The Guest (2014) – soundtrack review

2014 film The Guest has one of the best soundtracks I’ve literally heard in years. Literally.

It’s the kind of soundtrack that makes me feel EXCITED and I want YOU to feel excited about it too. I find it so totally and utterly irresistible – and yes of course I’m saying that in the Marks and Spencer sex food voice. Standard.

I put off reviewing it for a while because I wanted to see if they’d bring it out on CD, but sadly they haven’t. I must have bad luck because my two favourite soundtracks of the last decade – The Guest and Sunshine (2007) – have never been released on CD and this pains me a great deal.

Usually I wouldn’t even bother getting the download. If I can’t have the case and the CD inlay, why fucking bother? It’s all on YouTube and Spotify after all. But – with The Guest, one thing here was different. I NEEDED THIS SOUNDTRACK IN MY CAR.

So I could drive around pretending I’m…… I dunno really, just pretending I’m awesome I suppose?

DSC_0259

My boyfriend downloaded it for me and because he’s pretty cool (sometimes) he got me the soundtrack and then put all these extra songs at the back of it which were songs played in the movie but not included on the sound track. 

And I’m so glad he did otherwise I would have forgotten about this little beauty that I’ve been driving around listening to in absolute PURE DELIGHT recently. Waving my hand around, grinning inanely. Shouting things I’d never usually shout like “yeah baby” or “give it to me”. Hmmmm.

Fans of the movie may remember where this song was playing, like I did. Here’s a clue – beer kegs. Wowza.

Anyway, the whole soundtrack is really very excellent. There’s not one track I dislike and there’s a real mix of songs – both modern and vintage. Though  there is a really bloody strong 80s sound which remains pretty consistent.

The Guest relies on its soundtrack quite heavily in my opinion. Many scenes were completely enhanced or even transformed by the music playing in the background. Comical moments and climatic or thrilling points of the film were massively highlighted by the music – which was loud and proud throughout.

Of course The Guest is quite a strange film, not your average ‘Liam Neeson in Taken’ type of stuff. I truly believe the soundtrack has a lot to do with this. It makes it more exciting, more memorable. Even when Anna’s daydreaming about David coming out of the shower – the music used might not be as thrilling, but instead is romantic and evocative.

anna

And THE scene itself, where David does actually walk out of the bathroom – it builds up with Anna standing outside the door, steam oozing around the door cracks. The guitar song (technical talk) playing in the background is building up sensationally. Then BOOM the music hits a crescendo as David opens the door, steam rushes out and he’s looking all hot and lovely. This, to me, is genuinely comical and obviously intentional.

One of my favourite songs plays in the car when Anna and David are coming home from the party where he picks up the beer kegs (swoon). The band playing are a Dutch 1980s ensemble called Clan of Xymox and they feature three times on the soundtrack (along with a few David Bowie impersonators).

I would NEVER usually listen to music like that, usually I’d be shouting “I’m not listening to that hippy bollocks” but it just goes to show the power of a really great soundtrack. If twinned with a film you love, it is very possible to find yourself listening to music you wouldn’t usually bother with. And I just think that’s great. Genuinely I do.

On that note, let me end by leaving you with a Sisters of Mercy song also on The Guest OST. The title is very apt – Emma. It plays at that sexy moment (I’ve mentioned once or twice before) where David comes out of the shower all steam and six pack. Sadly this is not in line with my reality of being Emma.

About emmakwall

Films, books, soundtracks, good humour
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71 Responses to The Guest (OST)

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  1. Mel @ The Creative Fox Den says:
    August 6, 2015 at 17:24

    I’m excited!! I loved it too! So much good stuff 🙂

    Reply
  2. vinnieh says:
    August 6, 2015 at 12:37

    I bought a few cycling shirts, they’re very tight.

    Reply
  3. vinnieh says:
    August 5, 2015 at 15:10

    I definitely think this could be my stripping soundtrack.

    Reply
  4. Jay says:
    August 4, 2015 at 18:07

    Oh my god, yes!

    Reply
  5. alexraphael says:
    August 4, 2015 at 14:55

    But you are awesome 🙂

    Reply
  6. Ryan says:
    August 4, 2015 at 14:51

    Hell yeah, such a great soundtrack for a great film. It really soaks up the atmosphere and adds a wonderful layer to the story. Good shit!

    Reply
    • emmakwall says:
      August 4, 2015 at 15:07

      Cheers Ryan! I wish I’d written something similar to that in my review, you worded it perfectly!!!!

      I’m glad you love this awesome soundtrack! I’m not surprised though 🙂

      Reply
  7. theipc says:
    August 4, 2015 at 14:18

    Hi Clam!!!!!

    I have that first song you posted playing right now and I love it! I also love this movie!! And you!!!!

    Love Pen!!!!

    XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

    Reply
  8. table9mutant says:
    August 4, 2015 at 13:46

    Great post, Emma! Oh man…. I feel your pain on the Sunshine soundtrack. I want that so bad!!! I really liked the music in The Guest but, like the movie, it didn’t instantly grab me the way the music in Drive did. Maybe I should give the soundtrack a listen… 🙂

    Reply
    • emmakwall says:
      August 4, 2015 at 13:58

      I know!!!!! 😦 it truly SUCKS. And whilst I think there’s a chance The Guest will be released one day I don’t hold much hope for Sunshine 😦 I think there were disputes and only TWO tracks are available on MP3. BOOOOOOO! 😦

      I like the Drive soundtrack too but The Guest soundtrack grabbed me more. Maybe because we just preferred the respective movies?

      Thanks Miss Mutant!!!! 🙂

      Reply
  9. beetleypete says:
    August 4, 2015 at 12:13

    I haven’t seen this yet, but quite fancy it. I am always delighted by how much enthusiasm you show for the soundtracks of films. I have never paid them anywhere near as much attention, except when they were either breathtaking, as in Lawrence of Arabia, or relevant to the film, as in Saturday Night Fever. I must leave myself a note to pay more heed in future!
    Good one Em.
    Best wishes as always, Pete. x

    Reply
    • emmakwall says:
      August 4, 2015 at 13:21

      I will now picture you walking Ollie to the dulcet tones of ‘Stayin Alive’!!! 🙂

      Hi Pete! Thanks so much, I do love movie soundtracks. I hope you do watch The Guest, I loved it! And it’s certainly hard not to notice some of the songs.

      Thanks again Pete, best wishes to you too! x

      Reply
  10. vinnieh says:
    August 4, 2015 at 12:12

    You make the soundtrack sound so sexy, maybe I could feature it in my act. I must sign off for a bit, but I’ll be back later sister.

    Reply
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