Starring: Logan Marshall-Green, Tammy Blanchard and Michiel Huisman
Directed By: Karyn Kusama
Rated: R
Running Time: 100 minutes
Drafthouse Films
Our Score: 4 out of 5 Stars
How long are you willing to let little inconsistencies nag at you before you passive aggressively leave, or better yet, uncomfortably point them out in a room full of people? “The Invitation” doesn’t necessarily ask that question, but depending on how you’d react in that situation, it’s certainly something to ponder. “The Invitation” us a slow-burning thriller that picks at Will (Marshall-Green), causing him to question himself and everyone around him
Will, and his current squeeze, Kira (Emayatzy Corinealdi) are heading to his ex-wife’s house for a small get together. Will hasn’t seen Eden (Blanchard) in years. Their marriage ended after the accidental death of their son and her inability to cope with the tragic loss. Eden moved on and met David (Huisman), who helped her recover in a unique way. Not only will it be the first time Eden and Will have seen each other in two years, but the first time many of their friends will have seen both of them in the same room.
It’s a relatable circumstance, attempting to reconcile or keep up appearances with a former flame because of mutual friends. But Will starts noticing that the smallest things are amiss. For instance, a bottle of pills in a medicine cabinet, a door that shouldn’t be locked, and a dinner party guest that never arrived. Every time Will, and the audience, is about to burst at the seams, the tension is ratcheted down and the minor irregular is laughed off. The movie does this several times, cranking up Will’s erratic behavior. But is it erratic or justified?
Fans of the horror movie genre might be able to pick up on what’s going on, but not without a lot of fight and sway by “The Invitation”. There’s credence to Will’s paranoia, but credence to everyone seeing Will’s outbursts as irrational inklings. Will could easily be suffering from buried emotions, linked to the death of his son. Or maybe Will’s suspicions are correct and something far more nefarious is afoot. As long as you’re willing to invite “The Invitation” to the inside of your head, you’re going to have an uncomforting blast.
“The Invitation” instinctively knows when to knock us off balance just when we think we’ve got it all figured out. A lot of that can be credited to the director, whose previous theatrical contributions don’t really hint towards the creepy unsettling nature of every shot. Even the actors here put full faith behind their characters, the motivations of their characters, as well as the story. Everyone is on the same page, even when the audience is still trying to piece it all together.
It’s difficult to discuss a movie like this because so much of its tension and story requires you knowing nearly nothing at all. “The Invitation” relies so much on the fear of the unknown, even if you think you know what’s happening. Obviously the disturbing nature of what’s going on won’t happen until the very end, but “The Invitation” is so chillingly effective, you’ll want the end to come as quickly as possible.