The Guest

At the core of Mads Mengel’s impressive feature debut is a family that is about to fall apart. There are themes and characters to which we can all relate. Tautly constructed like an emotional thriller Mengel peels back the layers to reveal the tension underneath.

On the surface all is sweetness and light as a family gather at a seaside hotel. The young parents Karl (Simon Bennebjerg) and Emilie (Mette Klakstein) are looking forward to a celebratory christening of their recently born son.

When Karl’s estranged mother Vibeke (played with deft agility by Trine Dyrholm) arrives unannounced and uninvited she seems as if she could be the life and soul of the party. She is free-spirited and uninhibited but also has her toxic side.

So the seeds of doubt are sown early on. Why on earth wasn’t she included in the festivities? Her children look distinctly unsettled. It emerges she has been suffering from mental health issues but still longs to be a member of the family and to play her part in her grandchild’s future.

Karl’s sister Rikke (Josephine Park) believes she deserves a second chance but who knows what might emerge from the family dynamics as the guests look on with a mixture of curiosity and apprehension – reflecting in no small measure how, we, the audience feels as our sympathies shift around.

Clearly not all the old scores can be settled over a weekend but Mengel ensures that his characters make small moves towards each other.

It’s a fascinating and mature ensemble piece about the complicated world of family relationships, which cannot help but engage with audiences as the emotions and under-currents on display have universal resonances.

Reviewed on: 06 Jul 2026