The Invitation – An Impressive Gem

The Invitation directed by Karyn Kusama is an intense film that could easily describe itself as a drama, thriller and horror.

The film starts with our lead Will (Logan Marshall-Green) and his girlfriend Kira (Emayatzy Corinealdi) on their way to a dinner party being hosted by Will’s ex.

The dinner party is pretty awkward from the get go. This is the house he lived in with his now ex before the death of their son drove them apart. Being back at the house is enough to affect Will in a big way.

This group of friends haven’t seen the hosts in two years and it’s clear they’ve changed. While Will is still grieving for his son, his beard and long hair, downcast eyes while his ex Eden looks radiant in her long white dress. It’s all smiles and warm welcomes but there’s an atmosphere in the house.

Over the course of the evening things get strange. A man Eden and David called Pruit arrives, played by the brilliant John Carroll Lynch, who is the embodiment of creepy. Eden and David reveal that they’ve spent the last two years in Mexico and that they’ve joined a group of people who have given them a new outlook on life. Pruit and Sadie (another unknown guest) are part of this group and while Pruit is creepy in a quiet understated way, Sadie looks and acts like a Manson Family member (Clearly a reference to Sexy Sadie.)

Will is already on edge by being back in his old home and experiences flashbacks but he’s the first to notice that something is off about this get together. As the night progresses things go from bad to worse and this dinner party takes a very dark turn.

I loved The Invitation. A good cast, good score and a creeping sense of dread that never gives up. It’s a tight thriller that really draws you in and leaves you something to think about.
Much like films such as Coherence and The Gift the less you know going in, the better.

Moxie McMurder
A Shared Madness