The Invitation

In recent months I've been told by several people to try and catch this film. 

It has eluded me a few times just because of what platforms its been available on, but finally it has released on the all-powerful Netflix so I decided to check it out right away. 

I'm a big fan of one-off films. Films that, once you see them once you can never really watch them again because the surprise/twist/journey has already been experienced. 

The Invitation is one such film. Watching it again would feel like a chore only because you already know what the destination is. But that first visit is a doozy and the ending is shocking in its final frames. 

The premise of the film is an interesting one. The audience knows almost next to nothing about what's going on. A couple is on their way to a dinner party and tensions seem high before they even get there. Once at the party, the mood is similarly off...there's something with this dinner party that seems strange and there's just enough evidence to make you continue questioning if something really is amiss or if it's all in our main character, Thomas's head.

"Anyone want to leave?"
"Yes. We all do."

The Invitation is basically one big cerebral puzzle that the film allows you to complete, piece by piece. Key moments of why this group is slightly awkward are revealed through flashbacks and dialogue. What's more is that the film likes toying and playing with you...adding in unknown elements, like characters, that you'd find odd at even your own dinner party. And that's probably the weirdest thing about The Invitation...imaging yourself at this gathering. I would've left in the first half hour, politely excusing myself and utilizing my night in a far better way. I say weird because clearly, these guests can't just all leave because, well then, we wouldn't have a movie now would we? If anything, I'd call it my biggest issue with the film. Things take such weird turns and some of the guests are so off that I find it hard to believe that people remain there for more than an hour or so. Instead, the night, on multiple occasions, continues on as if nothing happened. It's strange, clearly a plot device, but I almost wish the movie would have taken just a slight extra step to somehow justify why they're all staying here. 

That's a minor complaint though for a film that grips you quite tight and doesn't let go. Our main character, Thomas, is an odd one -- an introvert who's clearly going through some things -- but he doesn't feel like he's the oddest one at the party. Hell, most of the time he feels like he's right. Right in his worries and suspicions, and about the only sane one. Performances across the board are really quite strong given that these are mostly a bunch of unknowns (save for a Game of Thrones star in the mix). Each character has their own distinct personality and feels written and acted as a real person rather than just a character in a movie. Equally as strong is the film's editing and cinematography. It's done to achieve mystery and it certainly gets that right with some gorgeous shots but also some really creepy ones. 

"You've got a purrrty face. I like your face."

"All hail Game of Thrones!"

To say much more about The Invitation would be doing it a bit of a disservice because it's really a film that you should go into knowing as little as possible. It's a movie with a definitive resolution and ending, which I appreciated as part of me thought it might result in an open end close. If I had to voice one more complaint it would be the lack of a memorable original score, something that could have helped a film like this tremendously. Not that it needs any help per say, but still I think a trance-like music accompaniment would have been beneficial.

I'm quite happy that The Invitation was recommended to me because it's definitely the type of film that I like. Similar to a really good, page-turning book, it keeps you entranced from start to beginning just because of the oddity of it all. The fact that it's very much a one-and-done movie shouldn't deter anyone from watching it as the ending is worth the wait and the journey is most of the fun anyway. 

Especially now that it's on Netflix, you really have no reason to skip out on this great thriller.

CONS:

• Really odd that people remained at this dinner party. Almost hard to believe even so I wish a tiny bit of extra time would have been made to show why each person decided to stay
• I would have liked slightly more exposition into the characters background than what we got
• Could have used a stronger original score

PROS:

• Establishes a great mystery that keeps you guessing. Half the time you feel like you're just as crazy as he is for thinking something is wrong at the dinner party
• Strong performances from all
• A really crazy ending that, in its final frames, makes the film even more nuts
• I like how it starts the viewer out with no information. The puzzle building is half the fun
• An effective, smart, well edited and shot thriller. It's fun, creepy, mysterious, and a pretty wild ride

Rath's Review Score: 8/10