“An Invisible Guest” - a must-see

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The movie “An Invisible Guest” is one of the best I’ve seen. The name may hint at its being a detective story. It is indeed a suspense movie about a murder case (actually a case within a case). But instead of describing the police’s attempts to solve the case, the movie is, for the main part, about a defense lawyer questioning the murder suspect on the details of the incident that had led him to be trapped in the scene. 

As often as not, my reflections on a movie include some of its content. But I know I must be careful this time as any details disclosed may reduce the viewing pleasure. The exchange of questions and answers between the lawyer and the suspect keeps us audience mentally engaged throughout the movie, trying to figure out the hidden truths behind the case. Questions flash through our minds: How much truth is there in the suspect’s story? Why does the lawyer sound so impatient and agitated? Is she really trying to help her client? In fact, what makes the movie entertaining is the feeling of anxiety and tension developed from the unexpected circumstances as the mystery slowly begins to unfold. I think I am somehow aware of a plot twist, a strange direction of the story, when the lawyer suddenly presents her own interpretation of the case, trying to make the suspect accept it. And, the surprise ending greatly enhances the movie’s splendor and impressiveness.

I have always enjoyed movies about smart people trying to outwit one another. This is the first movie since “the Thomas Crown Affair” (a 1999 film) that has given me the satisfaction of racking my brain trying to solve the mysteries together with the characters in the story. It being a Spanish movie, however, dependence on the subtitles somehow affects the understanding of some details. This is felt especially towards the end when the dialogue exchange, accompanied by the playbacks of related incidents with swift scene switching, becomes increasingly heated. This is perhaps an added delight to the movie viewing experience.

I enjoy the movie for one more personal reason. Unlike most of the other European movies with realistic depictions of sex and violence, “The Invisible Guest” presents the murders without terrifying bloody scenes. Even for fatal assaults, nothing more than sound effects is used. I would see this as an important feature of a highly refined cultural production.

“The Invisible Guest” is a movie too good to miss. I may consider watching it again for a better understanding of some neglected details.