The Invitation

Name: The Invitation
Genre: Thriller, Horror
Released: April 8, 2016
Duration: 100 min
Rating: 74
Cast: Emayatzy E. Corinealdi, Logan Marshall-Green, Michiel Huisman, Tammy Blanchard

2016

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 21 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 170 Ratings

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7.1	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 170 Ratings

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Movie Details & Credits

Drafthouse Films | Release Date: April 8, 2016 | Not Rated

Starring: Emayatzy E. Corinealdi, Logan Marshall-Green, Michiel Huisman, Tammy Blanchard

Summary: The tension is palpable when Will (Logan Marshall-Green) shows up to a dinner party hosted by his ex-wife Eden (Tammy Blanchard) and new husband David (Michiel Huisman). The estranged divorcees’ tragic past haunts an equally eerie present; amid Eden’s suspicious behavior and her mysterious house guests, Will becomes convinced that hisThe tension is palpable when Will (Logan Marshall-Green) shows up to a dinner party hosted by his ex-wife Eden (Tammy Blanchard) and new husband David (Michiel Huisman). The estranged divorcees’ tragic past haunts an equally eerie present; amid Eden’s suspicious behavior and her mysterious house guests, Will becomes convinced that his invitation was extended with a hidden agenda.… Expand

Director: Karyn Kusama

Genre(s): Thriller, Horror

Rating: Not Rated

Runtime: 100 min

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Critic Reviews

Chris Nashawaty

Apr 8, 2016

Kusama ratchets the story’s tension masterfully, building to a final shot that’s as chilling as it is perfect. Read full review

Peter Keough

Apr 13, 2016

Kusama’s handling of point of view is diabolically shrewd. She maximizes the terror potential of the vapidly ostentatious modernist mansion without fetishizing it. She intensifies the monstrosity of some of the characters by making them all too human. And as for guessing the ending — good luck. Read full review

Calvin Wilson

Apr 22, 2016

Psychological thrillers just don’t get any better than this. Read full review

Abby Garnett

Apr 5, 2016

The buildup stretches longer than it should, but the payoff comes with a satisfying bang. Read full review

Moira Macdonald

Apr 7, 2016

The horror is all the more effective for having sneaked up on us quietly. Read full review

The Playlist Kevin Jagernauth

Apr 7, 2016

A taut thriller that almost doesn't waste a single step. Read full review

Mark Jenkins

Apr 21, 2016

The filmmakers keep trying to make Will appear paranoid, but he’s not fooled for long — and most viewers won’t be, either. Read full review

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User Reviews

spartacus215

Apr 9, 2016

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Holy Smokes. I will first state that this movie is Insane in the most
positive way possible and that it is a true Marvel to watch. I will start with the story which is about a man and his girlfriend who get invited to a dinner party at his ex's house with her new man along with a group of other friends after 2 years. The story then starts to unfold that something isn't quite kosher. The pace was scary good with some of the best pacing I have ever witnessed in cinema history. I will move onto the acting which is Absolutely Stunning with both "Logan
Marshall-Green" and GOT's actor "Michiel Huisman" stealing the show.
They both deserve awards for their performances. The entire cast did
Amazing but those two stole the entire movie. I will now continue with
the action and drama section. Wow this is where it truly comes to
fruition that this is a contender for the best movie of 2016. I mean
the atmosphere and the tension that builds towards what is in my
opinion the most Awesome culmination to a film I have seen in the past
decade. I will finish with the Cinematography which was Impeccable with
every scene building up something sinister and not quite right with the
whole entourage that is gathered for the dinner party. I will close
with saying that this movie is a Masterpiece and it kept me on the edge
of my seat the entire time. OMG the ending was Epic and of course no
spoilers. My hat comes off to Karyn Kusama who directed such a
transfixing film.… Expand

7 of 21 users found this helpful714

CameronPepe

Jul 17, 2020

The invitation is a weird but phenomenal film that get you on the edge of your seat

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

TheQuietGamer

Oct 19, 2016

An invitation worth RSVPing to. What works here is that it's a very human tale. One backed by a fantastic cast and great writing. It's all about trauma and grief, and how to deal with it. It doesn't offer any easy answers.

The tension is excellently crafted. There's just an overall weirdAn invitation worth RSVPing to. What works here is that it's a very human tale. One backed by a fantastic cast and great writing. It's all about trauma and grief, and how to deal with it. It doesn't offer any easy answers.

The tension is excellently crafted. There's just an overall weird feeling to the events that will make you just as uncomfortable and questioning as it's lead character. It's a pretty slow moving film. However none of that time is wasted. There's a strong drama element to the film that adds heart, soul, and plenty of darkness to the events. By the time the big mystery revealed and things come to a head, it all feels earned.

However none of it is too surprising. The entire movie leading up to it's tense and exciting final act tries to convince us that maybe this dude is just paranoid. We already know going into this that's not the case. I get why that decision was made, but it kind of still feels like an insult to the audiences intelligence.

While that sort of thing would have killed other horror-thrillers dead on the spot, The Invitation awards our intelligence in just about every other way so that little misstep is forgivable. It's a very adult tale. One with a lot of emotion backing it up. It's themes are powerful and haunting. An unforgiving look at the effects heartbreak, depression, and loss can have on a person's state of mind. Given how real these characters feel, you have a very powerful movie. One worth checking out for more than just cheap thrills.… Expand

2 of 9 users found this helpful27

Aladdin718

Jun 20, 2020

The build in intensity is well worth the wait for the crescendo. If you like a bit of a thriller / mystery, this one is well worth a watch.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

LeZee

Oct 24, 2016

Think carefully before attending your ex's party invite!

My first impression was, not another 'The Perfect Host'. And it is not, but the same category. This is a comeback film for the director after the average 'Jennifer's Body' that released half a decade ago. Some people liked it, butThink carefully before attending your ex's party invite!

My first impression was, not another 'The Perfect Host'. And it is not, but the same category. This is a comeback film for the director after the average 'Jennifer's Body' that released half a decade ago. Some people liked it, but for me it was an average film, because I've seen the better one. Still, I appreciate the effort, like handling the narration. You know these days viewers are bit clever, they begin to predict from the early stage, so this story quite interestingly upheld the suspense.

Till the final act it keeps developing, not the story or the characters wisely, but the event where the plot evolves. A at a same time it leaves behind some clues about what might come later. That part is very confusing, I did not know what to believe and what not. Because I don't want to be a fool when twist happens. This was a lot dramatised and when the crucial event comes into play, the pace increased. The first 80 per cent of the film was what I enjoyed, but the twist ruined my party and then the final scene was so smart. The best way to conclude for such a thriller.

There are none tense moments, except in the final segment, but the curiosity of the event's states gets higher like particularly everybody is waiting for the twist to come. That's where some people would be disappointed. If you are not expecting too much, you would enjoy the remaining part as well. There's nothing to praise about the actors, all were just good. The script should have been a bit smarter in some parts. For one time watch it will do fine, that's what I favour.

6/10… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

tasslehoff69

Oct 7, 2016

There's a lot to like. The party itself feels properly awkward. The acting is believable, the characters have real relationships and act the way that people would actually behave. You actually feel like you're watching old friends reuniting. But the payoff is somewhat silly and isn't worthThere's a lot to like. The party itself feels properly awkward. The acting is believable, the characters have real relationships and act the way that people would actually behave. You actually feel like you're watching old friends reuniting. But the payoff is somewhat silly and isn't worth the buildup.… Expand

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

ds2020

Feb 12, 2020

Poorly made senario, people in the movie are missing the slightest sense behind their acts. Spare yourself from wathing this waste of time.

1 of 4 users found this helpful13

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