Guest in the House

Guest in the House is a psychological drama film released in 1944, directed by John Brahm, and starring Anne Baxter, Ralph Bellamy, and Aline MacMahon. The movie is an adaptation of the 1942 play "Guest in the House" by Hagar Wilde and Dale Eunson.

The plot revolves around a young woman named Evelyn (Anne Baxter), who moves into her fiancé's family home to recover from a nervous breakdown. While staying there, she becomes a permanent guest in the house, and her behavior starts to affect the other family members. Her presence starts to expose the underlying problems in the family dynamics, and one by one, everyone is forced to confront their true feelings towards her.

The film opens with Dr. Dan Proctor (Ralph Bellamy) bringing his fiancée, Evelyn, home to recover after a recent breakdown. He hopes that the change of scenery and the natural beauty of his family's coastal home will help her recover quickly. However, as soon as Evelyn arrives, she starts to behave erratically, creating tensions among the family members.

Evelyn is cold and hostile towards his family members, leading Dan's mother, Mrs. Proctor (Margaret Hamilton), to believe that she is a bad influence. Dan's sister, Miriam (Aline MacMahon), is initially tolerant of Evelyn but starts to dislike her after she starts meddling with her private life.

Evelyn's behavior continues to escalate, and soon she starts to manipulate everyone around her to get her way. She tries to break up Miriam's engagement by telling her fiancé that she loves him. When he rejects her advances, she accuses him of being too interested in her.

As Evelyn's grip on the family becomes more significant, the family members start to realize that something is wrong. They start to feel trapped, unable to escape from Evelyn's toxic influence. As the tensions rise, they are forced to confront their deepest fears and secrets, leading to a dramatic climax.

Guest in the House is a well-produced psychological drama that keeps the audience on edge throughout its runtime. The performances by the cast are top-notch, with Anne Baxter being the standout. She plays the role of the disturbed young woman with an excellent balance of vulnerability and manipulation.

The film is notable for its use of a voiceover narration, which is provided by Evelyn. The voiceover helps to provide insight into her thoughts and motivations and adds an extra dimension to her character.

Overall, Guest in the House is a gripping psychological drama that showcases the talents of its cast and director. It explores complicated family relationships, mental health issues, and the devastating effects of manipulation. It is a movie that stands the test of time and remains relevant even today.