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The Perfect Host

  • 2010
  • R
  • 1h 33m
IMDb RATING
6.7/10
30K
YOUR RATING
The Perfect Host (2010)
A criminal on the run cons his way into the wrong dinner party where the host is anything but ordinary.
Play trailer2:20
2 Videos
21 Photos
Dark ComedyPsychological ThrillerComedyCrimeThriller

An on-the-run convict looking for temporary cover finds it at the house of a very colorful character.An on-the-run convict looking for temporary cover finds it at the house of a very colorful character.An on-the-run convict looking for temporary cover finds it at the house of a very colorful character.

  • Director
    • Nicholas Tomnay
  • Writers
    • Nicholas Tomnay
    • Krishna Jones
  • Stars
    • David Hyde Pierce
    • Clayne Crawford
    • Nathaniel Parker
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.7/10
    30K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Nicholas Tomnay
    • Writers
      • Nicholas Tomnay
      • Krishna Jones
    • Stars
      • David Hyde Pierce
      • Clayne Crawford
      • Nathaniel Parker
    • 144User reviews
    • 107Critic reviews
    • 48Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 3 wins total

    Videos2

    The Perfect Host
    Trailer 2:20
    The Perfect Host
    The Perfect Host: Exclusive Clip
    Clip 3:48
    The Perfect Host: Exclusive Clip
    The Perfect Host: Exclusive Clip
    Clip 3:48
    The Perfect Host: Exclusive Clip

    Photos21

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    + 17
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    Top cast41

    Edit
    David Hyde Pierce
    David Hyde Pierce
    • Warwick Wilson
    Clayne Crawford
    Clayne Crawford
    • John Taylor
    Nathaniel Parker
    Nathaniel Parker
    • Det. Morton
    Tyrees Allen
    Tyrees Allen
    • Roman
    Cooper Barnes
    Cooper Barnes
    • Rupert
    Megahn Perry
    • Simone De Marchi
    Annie Campbell
    Annie Campbell
    • Chelsea
    Helen Reddy
    Helen Reddy
    • Cathy Knight
    Indira G. Wilson
    Indira G. Wilson
    • Monica
    • (as Indira Gibson)
    George Cheung
    George Cheung
    • Storekeeper
    • (as George Kee Cheung)
    Brooke Anderson
    Brooke Anderson
    • Thief
    • (as Brooke 'Mikey' Anderson)
    Cheryl Francis Harrington
    Cheryl Francis Harrington
    • Car Rental Worker
    Amanda Payton
    Amanda Payton
    • Girl at Party
    Joseph Will
    Joseph Will
    • Det. Valdez
    Greg Brown
    • Man in Polaroid
    Mike Foy
    Mike Foy
    • Punk on Car
    Tracy Britton
    • TV Newscaster
    Daisy Castro
    • Party Guest
    • Director
      • Nicholas Tomnay
    • Writers
      • Nicholas Tomnay
      • Krishna Jones
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews144

    6.730.2K
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    Featured reviews

    kathy-373

    Love this movie

    There were surprises the entire way through and I was so pleasantly surprised by this "sleeper" that I am recommending it to all of my friends. I thought I knew what to expect, but I kept getting surprised. It was comedy, even some romance, suspense, drama, crime, all rolled into one. I absolutely loved it. It was nothing like I expected. Some very fine acting all the way around and such an exceptional combining of actors. I didn't think it would work, but it was near perfection. It is one of the cult type movies you will watch more than once.

    David Hyde Pierce was perfect for his part and Nathaniel Parker gave some good balance in it. I was shocked at the ending, but I loved it still.
    dicky69

    more twists than a tornado

    great film, David Hyde Pierce is brilliant & quite scary. highly recommended. The characters are simple but effective. The plot is easy to follow & keeps you on the edge of your seat. If you like David Hyde Pierce in Frasier then this character is much darker but just as funny. I would love to see Hyde Pierce play more nutter's in other films because he played the character so well.

    Clayne Crawford supports well & his character is likable as a petty criminal.

    Easy to watch, very clever

    RED or WHITE wine????
    7paul_m_haakonsen

    This was a blast of a movie...

    I stumbled upon the 2010 movie "The Perfect Host" by random luck, and seeing that the movie had David Hyde Pierce on the cast list, then I decided to watch it right away.

    And I am very happy that I opted to sit down and watch "The Perfect Host" without ever having heard about it, because this movie was really, really entertaining.

    The storyline told in "The Perfect Host", as written by Nick Tomnay and Krishna Jones was just one that was interesting and entertaining right from the very start, and as the movie progressed it just kept on getting more and more interesting and fun to watch.

    And not only did the movie have a really good storyline, but it also had some very lovely characters, with lots of personalities and details. It was really good how well fleshed out these characters were on the screen. And despite of the relatively small cast, then the writers really did manage to make the two main characters very outstanding and memorable.

    David Hyde Pierce (playing Warwick) and Clayne Crawford (playing Jonh) really carried the movie phenomenally well with their performances in the movie. It was simply amazing how well they did individually and together in the movie. I was definitely having expectations to seeing David Hyde Pierce in the movie, as I loved him back in the "Frasier" days, and he really shows that he is a gifted and versatile actor with this movie.

    Oddly how I never picked up on this movie before now in 2021, 11 years after the movie was released. And as it turned out, then I had really been missing out on a great movie.

    I was thoroughly entertained by director Nick Tomnay's 2010 movie, and this is certainly a movie that I can and will warmly recommend you sit down to watch, should you find yourself with the opportunity to do so.

    My rating of "The Perfect Host" lands on a seven out of ten stars.
    Michael_Elliott

    Pierce Steals the Show in Nice Gem

    Perfect Host, The (2010)

    *** (out of 4)

    Two-bit criminal John Taylor (Clayne Crawford) pulls off a bank robbery but soon his name and picture are all over the news so he must find a place to hide for the night. He thinks he finds the perfect victim when he gets into the house of Warwick Wilson (David Hyde Pierce) but the robber soon realizes he's not the most dangerous person at this party. That's pretty much all the story anyone needs to know because there are so many twists and turns throughout the 93-minutes that knowing anything more would really take away many of the shocks. I must admit that I went into this movie not really knowing what to expect and when the end credits came up I immediately wanted to start telling people that this is a movie they should certainly check out. I think it's clear that the movie wants to be another THE USUAL SUSPECTS because there is just one twist after another and the movie does a terrific job making the viewer feel off their guard because you never quite know where the film is going and once you figure it out it just takes another turn to throw you. I thought what really made the film special is that the direction by Nick Tomnay just keeps the twists and turns coming at almost a poetic rate because there's a certain beauty to how everything plays out and it's really as if you're seeing some tango take place in front of your eyes. Everything is so well laid out in his screenplay that you really do feel as if you're watching something special take place even though there are a few flaws that I'll get to in a bit. Another major plus for me is that the film starts off with Crawford as the bad guy and Pierce as the good guy but throughout the movie they trade places and yet you can enjoy both characters. I enjoyed that we've got a film with only two characters and you can hate and like them and usually both within the matter of minutes. Crawford is extremely good in the more laid back role of the criminal and I thought he did a very good job with the role and especially when it was time for the events that happens to his character (again, I won't spoil them here). The real stand out is clearly David Hyde Pierce who is simply wonderful in the role. His character does so many odd things but Pierce makes you believe everything you're seeing and the amount of charm, charisma and personality that he brings to the film really makes this character his very own. While watching the performance it becomes clear that he's the only person in the world who could have played it. The film builds up some nice suspense throughout and I really enjoyed the rather unnerving way all the secrets get revealed. Horror fans will enjoy some of the black humor, which includes a hilarious piece involving the Gil Man from CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON. The film's major flaw is that there are a few too many twists and turns in the final ten minutes. With that said, THE PERFECT HOST is sadly going to get overlooked with all the blockbusters out there but hopefully people will give the film a chance as it's certainly a good little gem.
    mdnobles19

    Not so perfect

    An very eccentric black comedy/thriller that's boost a bold, creepy and wickedly funny performance from David Hyde Pierce. The movie goes down a pretty strange yet clever and suspenseful path that's similar to films like Swimming With Sharks, Hard Candy, Misery and An American Psycho but more on the comedy side. There was never a dull moment in this film it was entertaining throughout yet disturbing in its theme and keeps you guessing what's real and what's not and how it's going to end and the movie is kind of a refreshing take on the whole home invasion, held hostage type of thrillers but instead of the intruder doing the dirty work it's the owner of the home and I love that twisted take but it never gets too bloody because it's more witty and clever than that. Overall it never fully answers questions or fill in all the plot holes but it was different from the norm and was clever in its executions but still left me wanting more from it. Rental

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    Related interests

    Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Sian Clifford in Fleabag (2016)
    Dark Comedy
    Rosamund Pike in Gone Girl (2014)
    Psychological Thriller
    Will Ferrell in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)
    Comedy
    James Gandolfini, Edie Falco, Sharon Angela, Max Casella, Dan Grimaldi, Joe Perrino, Donna Pescow, Jamie-Lynn Sigler, Tony Sirico, and Michael Drayer in The Sopranos (1999)
    Crime
    Cho Yeo-jeong in Parasite (2019)
    Thriller

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The film only had a budget of $500,000
    • Goofs
      Warwick breaks a plate on the dinner table. After Warwick ties John up at the table with his hands behind his back, John finds one of the plate shards on the table. John takes the shard in his mouth and drops it in his chair. The camera cuts away for a few seconds and then the next time we see John he is using the shard to cut the rope that binds his hands behind his back. John would either have to stand up from the chair or bring his hands in front of him to get the shard from his chair into his hands. Not enough time passed for him to have done either of these things plus Warwick would have noticed.
    • Quotes

      Warwick Wilson: [threatened at knifepoint] You can't kill me, I'm having a dinner party.

    • Connections
      Featured in Ebert Presents: At the Movies: Episode #1.22 (2011)
    • Soundtracks
      Wannabe in L.A.
      Written by Josh Homme (as Josh Homme) and Jesse Hughes (as Jessie Everett Hughes)

      Performed by Eagles Of Death Metal

      Courtesy of Downtown Records

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    FAQ20

    • How long is The Perfect Host?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • May 7, 2011 (Japan)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Gia Chủ Hoàn Hảo
    • Filming locations
      • Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • Stacey Testro International
      • Mark Victor Productions
      • Perfect Host
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $500,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $48,764
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $7,505
      • Jul 3, 2011
    • Gross worldwide
      • $453,708
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 33m(93 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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