The Invitation

Directed by Jessica M. Thompson, The Invitation follows Nathalie Emmanuel’s Evie Jackson as she takes a DNA test and discovers that she has a multitude of relatives living in England – with the character’s decision to subsequently visit resulting in dire consequences (to say the least). It’s a workable premise that’s employed to somewhat watchable yet ultimately lackluster effect by Thompson, which is a shame, certainly, given that The Invitation’s first half is admittedly far more engaging than one might’ve anticipated – with the surprisingly decent atmosphere due almost entirely to Emmanuel’s thoroughly appealing turn as the affable, sympathetic protagonist and a continuing emphasis on Evie’s engaging romance with Thomas Doherty’s Walter. (It doesn’t hurt, either, that Thompson delivers a midsection focused on Evie’s engaging romance with Thomas Doherty’s Walter.) And although the inclusion of a few decent jolts heightens the decent-enough vibe, as does the narrative’s admittedly unpredictable bent, The Invitation takes a palpable turn for the worse once it progresses into its horror-focused third act – as this stretch possesses a hopelessly tedious vibe that’s exacerbated by an ineffective, special-effects-heavy climax. The final result is a relentlessly erratic endeavor that peters out to a fairly distressing degree, which finally does cement The Invitation‘s place as an underwhelming misfire that feels like it could (and should) be so much better.

** out of ****

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