"The Invitation" - Review

The Underrated Thriller of the Year (So Far)

Last year, Joel Edgerton took a break from big blockbuster films and directed a small independent project that he also wrote. That movie was The Gift, which starred himself, Jason Bateman, and Rebecca Hall. It turned out to be a refreshing mystery with affecting drama and a great pay off. The movie came out of the blue and under everyone's radar and it turned out to be a wonderful treat to break of the monotony that naturally comes after having several giant explosion heavy superhero movies every year. Do not get me wrong, they are a lot of fun, but sometimes you need a change of pace and The Gift was a wonderful one. This year, it has happened again with The Invitation. Directed by Karyn Kusama, who previously directed the very problematic Aeon Flux and Jennifer's Body, and written by Phil Hay and Matt Manfredi, who also worked on Aeon Flux but also wrote Ride Along 2 and directed Tracy Lett's Bug, this film film feels like it wants to break free on its own terms. It has no studio dictating how it needs to be made. It has nothing to prove and no expectations to fulfill. This is a passion project and it is one that really works. The Invitation is an incredibly affecting mystery/thriller that has an unexpected emotional punch. Just like The Gift last year, The Invitation is a gem that feels fresh and deserves your time.

Note: if you are at all interested in seeing this movie, just do it. Stop reading and go. Like 10 Cloverfield Lane just recently, you will have a much better experience knowing next to nothing about it going in. It is currently in select theaters, but it is also available on every major VOD platform, including YouTube and Google Play. It is only 5-7 bucks to rent. There is no reason why you should not see this movie. Go do it. You will not regret it. If you feel like you need to know more, read on at your own risk. I will not spoil anything intentionally, but you have been warned.

The Invitation begins with a couple, Will and Kira, traveling into the Hollywood hills. They have been invited to a dinner party by Will's ex-wife Eden, who he has not heard from in 2 years, and her new husband. Also invited are Will and Edens' long time friends, who have also not been all together in some time. The dinner party is a reunion of sorts, with a few new faces thrown in for good measure. Will starts to suspect that the party is not what it seems to be and he tries to get to the bottom of it. The dread starts ratcheting up and you do not know if that is due to their hosts or if it is of his own making.

This is a film about grief and pain and how people find different ways to get past it. Even those around us are affected by our personal tragedies and have to figure things out to get by. This is a theme that presents itself early on in the film and builds along with the tension and uncomfortable atmosphere at the same pace. This film really is a slow burn in that regard, but it does not waste that time. The tension builds and builds until it finally reveals its intentions. These revelations are not of the "THEY WERE ALIENS THE WHOLE TIME!!" variety. They work as visceral shocks but also as an emotional catharsis for what led up to them. The thrills work in conjunction with telling a thoughtful story, instead of it merely being just subtext. It is an incredibly clever use of typical genre conventions and it ultimately creates a powerful experience.

The choice of casting is also great. The film was originally green lit in 2012 and was going to have more A-list stars cast in the small number of roles. To cut down on cost so it can be an independent production, the filmmakers ended up choosing lesser known stars for their film. You may recognize some roles (Michiel Huisman who plays Daario Neharis on Game of Thrones is part of the cast) but they are not actors with any preconceived views toward them or the characters they play. You are not able to guess who might be more significant because of how high caliber the casting choices are. This ultimately made this film better as a result. I had no idea where this movie was going to go at any time and that was a refreshing feeling to have. It does not happen nearly often enough.

The only gripe I have with the film, and it is a small one, is that some of the banter in the dialogue toward the beginning, specifically by one character, was a little out of place. Without spoiling too much, there is a character among the friends who is more of a "bro" in how he talks. So you get the occasional "That's what I'm talking about!" and the occasional crude outburst about wanting a blowjob (as you do). It works for the most part because of the atmosphere that these people create together and the history they have with one another, but I would be lying if I did not say I rolled my eyes a couple times at dialogue like that. Just a bit silly is all.

Regardless of that momentary silliness, this film is incredibly well written and directed. It is not made up of twists and turns in the conventional sense, but more in the emotional sense. There are many witty uses of misdirection that consistently changes how you view the film. When that third act revelation comes, it is satisfying and earned. Even if it is spoiled for you, the movie leading up to it is suitably dramatic and effecting. It works as a great character piece as well as a thriller. This film will surely go under the radar for its whole existence and that is a shame. It is a wonderful piece of writing based art disguised as a thoroughly entertaining thriller.

As I said before, The Invitation is available right now as I type and as you read this to rent. I highly suggest you do that.

Grade: A.