The Invitation

The Invitation follows Logan Marshall-Green’s Will as he and his girlfriend (Emayatzy Corinealdi’s Kira) arrive at the home of his ex-wife (Tammy Blanchard’s Eden) for a seemingly run-of-the-mill dinner party, with the already-awkward gathering taking on a whole new level of discomfort as Eden and her new beau (Michiel Huisman’s Dave) surprise their guests with a rather unexpected revelation. The degree to which The Invitation ultimately manages to engross the viewer is somewhat surprising, as the movie kicks off with a deliberately-paced opening stretch that’s riddled with decidedly less-than-appealing elements (including odd, discomfiting flashbacks and unusual behavior among certain guests). It’s clear, though, that the movie grows more and more compelling as time progresses, with filmmaker Karyn Kusama, working from a script by Phil Hay and Matt Manfredi, effectively developing both the various characters and mysterious narrative to an increasingly captivating extent. There’s little doubt, as well, that the undercurrent of palpable tension goes a long way towards perpetuating the intriguing atmosphere, as it does become progressively clear that something isn’t quite right with certain figures. (It doesn’t hurt, either, that Kusama effectively forces the viewer to wonder if Will is simply imagining things or if there really is a threat here.) And although the movie admittedly does take a conventional turn in its third act, The Invitation closes with an absolutely jaw-dropping final few minutes that more than compensates for its minor deficiencies – which ensures that the film remains lodged in one’s head long after the credits have rolled.

***1/2 out of ****