THE INVITATION
XYZ/Drafthouse
2015 color
100 Mins.
Horror/Thriller
Logan Marshall Green, Michelle Krusiec, Aidan Lovekamp, Mike Doyle, Jordi Vilasuso, Marieh Delfino and Jay Larson.
Written by Phil Hay and Matt Manfredi
Directed by Karyn Kusama
N/R contains language, violence, gore and sexuality.
The Invitation is a slow burning, psychological horror film that erupts in it's final moments. The film centers on a young man named Will attending a dinner party with his girlfriend. The dinner party is being thrown by his ex wife and her new boyfriend. At first everything seems normal over some drinks but the night slowly begins to get very weird and Will seems to be the only one realizing it. The movie plays with audience expectations as well as perceptions. I don't want to spoil anything by giving it away. I just want to say that the ending is worth the wait. At times the film feels a little slow in it's setup but it's only to establish a thick, dread induced atmosphere. Even the most meaningless actions feel sinister at points, Always keeping you on the edge of your seat. Featuring solid work all around Logan Marshall Green is really great in the lead he pulls off his character seamlessly. And might I say that the beard and longer hair look quite fetching on him. It all culminates to an unexpected, jaw dropping finale. The writing from Hay and Manfredi is inspired with nods to Hitchcockian horrors of yesteryear. The cinematography fits the proceedings well. It's stylish and foreboding as is the simplistic but effective score. But this all comes together beautifully because of the taut direction from Karyn Kusma. An unknown film maker that explodes onto the scene with this finely tuned masterwork of nightmare cinema. Although the film is not perfect it does seem to drag a bit early on it quickly moves past it, establishing an immersive, curious atmosphere before dropping the hammer into your face. ****.5/5
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