The Invisible Guest, or Contratiempo (“Setback”) in the native Spanish, is a 2016 mystery thriller with twists and turns that constantly put into question how much each character knows. One of the more underrated Netflix thrillers, The Invisible Guest comes from Spanish director Oriol Paulo and stars Mario Casas and Ana Wagener. The film had a lukewarm response in Spain when it was released, but since then, it has found popularity in international markets, and since 2016, there have been six remakes in different languages.
This murder mystery thriller begins with businessman Adrián Doria (Casas) getting released on bail after being arrested for the murder of his lover, Laura Vidal (Bárbara Lennie). Adrián was found in a hotel room unconscious with his wife dead in the bathroom and the doors locked from the inside. When a mysterious witness is set to come forward and prove Adrián culpable, Adrián’s lawyer brings in an outside attorney to work on a defense. Virginia Goodman (Wagener) asks to know everything in order to help Adrián so he tells his story, revealed in flashback.
Virginia Offers Adrián A Defense For His Crimes
Virginia Tells Adrián To Lie About Seeing His Abductor
After hearing just about everything Adrián has done in the lead-up to him being found in the hotel bathroom, Virginia gives her thoughts on the case and what he’ll need to do to avoid going to prison. Virginia suggests that Adrián claim he saw the face of the man who tied him up in the hotel and presumably killed Laura. When Virginia reveals she knows who the man is, Adrián is unmoved, acknowledging that his story should have led her to his identity and that he only left out his name to test his new attorney and make sure she was capable.
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The identity of the man is Tomás Garrido (José Coronado), the father of Daniel (Iñigo Gastesi), a banker Laura and Adrián accidentally killed in a hit-and-run, and whose death drove a wedge in his and Laura’s relationship. It’s a wedge that suggests Adrián did kill his lover and if this new witness was present at the scene of the crime, he could convince the jury to believe Adrián killed Laura to hide Daniel’s murder. So Virginia suggests accusing Tomás because they both know it was likely him who killed Laura, even if Adrián didn’t actually see him.
Virginia then also suggests planting a personal item of Laura’s in Daniel’s car in order to make it look like she was solely responsible for killing Daniel. Adrián admits there’s a problem, though. Daniel was alive when he pushed him and his car into a lake to hide the evidence and an autopsy would reveal he had drowned. Having given her his whole story and Virginia giving Adrián her suggestions, Virginia then tells him what she really thinks about his tale.
Adrián Really Killed Laura
Laura Would Have Gotten Them Both Caught For Killing Daniel
Virginia offers that she believes Adrián is lying, about Laura at least, and that she is not the femme fatale archetype he is describing her as, and that he is possibly just as dangerous as he makes Laura out to be. However, she still believes that Adrián did not kill Laura, and agrees that the culprit is likely Tomás. Tomás’ wife, and Daniel’s mother, Elvira, worked at the hotel Laura and Adrián were found in. It would be easy for Tomás to knock Adrián unconscious and kill Laura, then have Elvira unlock the window and relock it after he escaped.
Then comes the big twist: Adrián admits to Virginia, who, as his attorney, cannot disclose anything he says, that he staged the entire scene, and he was indeed responsible for killing Laura.
Then comes the big twist: Adrián admits to Virginia, who, as his attorney, cannot disclose anything he says, that he staged the entire scene, and he was indeed responsible for killing Laura. After Daniel died, Laura kept his wallet and stole his money. When Adrián confronts her, fearful that her recklessness will get them both in trouble, she threatens that she will take Adrián down if he even thinks about trying to stop her from using the money. Determining that his safest option is for Laura to die, he kills her himself.
Virginia Was Elvira In Disguise
Elvira Manages To Record All Of Adrián’s Confession
As Adrián makes his big reveal, Virginia also acknowledges that she knows Tomás has been following Adrián. He’s also been following Virginia, and she points to the building complex across the street where Adrián can see Tomás pacing around in a room. Confused, but glad that Virginia can now help him, Adrián relaxes and waits while Virginia takes a break. Adrián’s other lawyer, Félix (Francesc Orella), who hired Virginia, calls to check in and when he does so, Adrián hears a high-pitched ringing noise.
Adrián suddenly realizes that someone has been recording him and the only person who could have done so is Virginia. He looks across the street to Tomás’ apartment and sees “Virginia” walk in. The woman removes a wig and make-up, revealing herself to be Elvira in disguise. As Adrián watches Tomás phone the police with Adrián’s confession, a knock comes from the door and the real Virginia introduces herself, and asks if Adrián is ready to go over the case.
The Real Meaning Of The Invisible Guest’s Ending
Adrián Degrades The Morality Of Everyone He Comes In Contact With
There are twisting moral lines all throughout The Invisible Guest and at the center of them all is the unpredictable Adrián. From the start, Adrián proves himself an unreliable narrator, and an even worse person. He constantly lies to everyone, including himself, only telling the truth when he thinks he’s managed to convince someone of a lie. His deceitfulness and violence also cause others to test their moral boundaries. Laura, though an accomplice, resorts to thievery after committing a crime with Adrián.
The Invisible Guest has been remade in Italian, Hindi, Telugu, Korean, Chinese, and Kannada languages.
Tomás and Elvira are innocent before their encounters with Adrián, but they are forced to be deceitful themselves in order to get justice for their son. Though their motives may be pure, they’re forced to lie and deceive to capture Adrián. Adrián’s evil changes those around them, forcing them to make morally gray choices that they otherwise could have avoided. The Invisible Guest paints Adrián’s lies and murders not just as a sin against those he intends to harm, but towards everyone who is in his orbit.
The Invisible Guest is a Spanish thriller directed by Oriol Paulo. It stars Mario Casas as Adrián Doria, a successful businessman accused of murder. As he prepares his defense with the help of a prestigious lawyer, played by Ana Wagener, unexpected twists and revelations come to light. The film explores themes of deceit and the subjective nature of truth in a gripping narrative structure.
- Release Date
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January 6, 2017
- Runtime
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106 Minutes
- Cast
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Mario Casas
, Ana Wagener
, José Coronado
, Bárbara Lennie
, Francesc Orella
, Paco Tous
, David Selvas
, Iñigo Gastesi - Director
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Oriol Paulo
