The Perfect Host 2010

Stephen Holden, New York Times: Not even Mr. Pierce's best efforts can make sense of a character who by the end of the film seems to be a completely different person with the same name. Read more

Keith Uhlich, Time Out: Tomnay needlessly convolutes what should have been a taut, focused two-hander with flashbacks, alternate realities and too-clever-by-half reversals. Read more

John Anderson, Wall Street Journal: The less one knows about this perverse thriller from debuting director Nick Tomnay the better; a full appreciation of its delights lies in its revelations. Read more

Noel Murray, AV Club: Pierce plays his wacked-out dinner-party host with such gusto that it almost doesn't matter that neither of the main characters are really fleshed out. Read more

Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly: Pierce acts with an enjoyably testy flamboyance, but by the time he starts to imagine that his guests have arrived even though dinner's been canceled, the film has given him one loose screw too many. Read more

Justin Lowe, Hollywood Reporter: Tomnay skillfully shifts the film's initial tone from suspense to dark comedy so that the transition never feels forced. Read more

Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times: What aims for Hitchcockian slyness ends up an inconsequential jumble in the comedy thriller "The Perfect Host." Read more

Ian Buckwalter, NPR: Around every corner is a new twist, a strategically placed misdirection or another switch of predator and prey. But while the gamesmanship is satisfying in moderation, it becomes a little monotonous in excess. Read more

Elizabeth Weitzman, New York Daily News: Crawford radiates charisma, and Pierce sells even the nuttiest moments. Read more

V.A. Musetto, New York Post: Ultimately breaks down under the weight of too many characters and unbelievable twists. Read more

Rex Reed, New York Observer: This is bargain-basement moviemaking, and looks it. Here's wishing Mr. Pierce a vigorous movie career, and better luck next time. Read more

Peter Travers, Rolling Stone: The dialogue is witty and spiked with delicious malice. At least it is when Pierce delivers it. It won't spoil the plot to say that he is pricelessly good at taking you places you don't see coming. Read more

Dennis Harvey, Variety: A familiar horror/suspense trope -- criminals choose the wrong hideout, discover twisted residents more dangerous than cops -- gets entertainingly respun in The Perfect Host. Read more

Michael Atkinson, Village Voice: The heart of the film is a one-joke fizzler, leaving DHP to sashay, role-play, carry on one-sided conversations, and disco-dance on the table with just the right amount of lizardy, half-lidded sangfroid. Read more