[Listen to me talk about <I>The Invitation</i> on <B>The Letterboxd Show Podcast</b> <B><A HREF="https://pod.link/letterboxd/episode/39964f85ef60d3a99e8c6f084f37c941">here</A></b>]
Grief is the main character in Karyn Kusama's <I>The Invitation</i>, but is also a catapult into how others choose to move forward, whether here in the present or, what some may say, the afterlife. So when Will (Logan Marshall-Green) receives an invitation to attend a gathering hosted by his ex-wife, with whom he shared a child with that had died due to a tragic accident, and her new husband, he accepts, and hopes this will be a new step to overcome some of the obstacles in his life. While there, he is surrounded by many old friends who had also received invites, but also new faces as well, including Pruitt (a fantastic performance by John Carroll Lynch), a fellow member of a group called The Invitation. Stories are told, questions are asked, and Will senses something's not quite right, and, while there, notices hints of trouble coming about.
Kusama takes Phil Hay and Matt Manfredi's script by the hand with her camera(s) to skillfully express the actions of each character and setting. There are some unsettling scenes, but nothing too extreme that would make you look in the other direction. You can feel what each character expresses throughout - excitement about seeing old friends, engaging in conversation about The Invitation, telling old stories and jokes - until the time that all is exposed. This anticipated downward spiral is what makes <I>The Invitation</i> a must-see film.
<B>Final thoughts</b>:
RSVP <B>Yes</b>. If available, watch the film with LG OLED's <B>Perfect Black</b> enabled. It's a dark film with even darker tones, and this is the way to experience it.
The Invitation
There is nothing to be afraid of.
Rating
Release Date
4/8/2016Runtime
100 minsOverview
Will and his new girlfriend Kira are invited to a dinner with old friends at the house of Will’s ex Eden and her new partner David. Although the evening appears to be relaxed, Will soon gets a creeping suspicion that their charming host David is up to something.
How It Feels
Read from this film's synopsis, keywords and credits, and used to work out what it sits beside.
A slow-burn psychological thriller that traps you in a dinner party where every smile feels dangerous and every moment of silence crackles with threat. The dread builds methodically as suspicion metastasizes, leaving you unsure what's real and what's Will's escalating paranoia.
Mood
Themes
Pacing
Look
Structure
Heads up
Reviews
Since being added to <a href="http://letterboxd.com/shudder" title="Shudder">Shudder</a>’s library (December 2021), it was definitely worth revisiting this film. It’s dark and emotional, and watching the main scenario unravel just blew my mind. 👏🏻
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