Review: The Invitation (2015) | A Psychologically Intense Thriller |

Shortcuts

• Introduction
• Background
• Summary
• First Fifteen Minutes
• From 15 Minutes to 33 Minutes
• From 33 Minutes to 51 Minutes
• From 51 Minutes to an 1 Hour
• From an Hour to an Hour and Fifteen Minutes
• Climax
• Conclusion

Introduction

I am not a critic.
The Invitation is a movie released in 2015 directed by Karyn Kusama with Phil Hay and Matt Manfredi as the writers.It is a psychological horror film that follows Will, a man who attends a dinner party hosted by his ex-wife Eden. As the night progresses, Will begins to suspect that Eden and her new husband, David, have a sinister agenda. The film delves into themes of grief, loss, and cult-like behaviour, creating a tense and unsettling atmosphere.

Background

I just finished watching The Invitation and it really has left me with a lot of chills and fun. Looking for movies I could write about and finding “The Invitation” as an underrated movie was a great choice. The movie without much action and great effects hooked me just with the tone of grief, doubt and clever shift of tones till the end. It surrounds itself with a limited story and smaller location but with a secret/mystery of the past and gradual build ups makes it hard to stick to a side and leaves with many unanswered questions.

Summary

First Fifteen Minutes

The movie for me in its first fifteen minutes creates a mystery and establishes its theme as a serious movie. It also tells about how it has just included the time for scenes exactly needed without stretching for a longer runtime.

From 15 minutes to 33 minutes

The movie for me from its 15:00 minutes to 33:00 minutes sets itself as a rollercoaster ride of emotions with its building up and releasing a cycle of tension and ease. Where it has included high setting violence or something serious and then shifts towards casual moments which can be suspected to be fake. Where it reveals itself in a fearful way.

From 33 minutes to 51 minutes

The movie for me from its 33:00 minutes to 51:00 minutes goes the same with its continuous ups and downs in shifts of moods. But death or things pointing towards it or its dimensions is always plotted cleverly around the movie. Which is done the same with transformation where they are pushed for it.

From 51 minutes to 1 hour

The movie for me from its 51:00 minutes to 1 hour made me realise how even scenes that can be light or easy are layered with sadness and mystery as per Will's (protagonist) point of view. From here scenes start to be cutted and started in a totally different location without prior buildup (after the dinner table scene).

Climax

The movie for me in its climax gives me a relief as it breaks its cycle and reliefs me with a side to pick. Where it ended killing Eden (ex-wife of will) and other characters leaving will,kira and tommy as the only survivors and with a twist of other lots of houses flashing the same red light as in theirs with the sound of sirens and gunshots.

Conclusion

I really liked The Invitation as my weekend watch. And I highly recommend it if you are looking for a thriller movie that will hook you up and leave you with a resolved climax and chills!.