Read User Reviews and Submit your own for The Invitation (2016)

7

Meth-dudeApr 17, 2020

While the movie is predictable and the story isn't all that original, it's still a very well made thriller. With decent acting performances, very tense scenes, good cinematography and a very entertaining last half hour, "The Invitation"While the movie is predictable and the story isn't all that original, it's still a very well made thriller. With decent acting performances, very tense scenes, good cinematography and a very entertaining last half hour, "The Invitation" delivers on it's interesting premise and should manage to satisfy most horror/thriller fans.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

All this user's reviews

9

AntonX2Apr 6, 2020

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This is such a genre-perfect example of how to do right. The pacing, plot, atmosphere, and overall tone of the movie leads you down your own paranoia of trying to figure out what is going on. It slowly twists its screws into you, building into what you think you didn't think you thought was going to happen. Although, there is one detail that I could not figure out. Around the middle of the movie, Will goes just outside the front door to talk to someone. We never see who it was, but it was clear Will did not want others to know who it was. I'm not sure if it is important to the plot, since Choi does eventually show up. But ... the voicemail message from Choi ... I don't know what to think about that. He dies, so obviously he wasn't in on it but why would he back out after coming all the way to the house? Other than that loose string, I can't think of anything that bugged me about the movie. Every character feels sufficiently fleshed out to service the main story, and the atmosphere of the movie is so masterfully tuned to heightening your paranoia about EVERY single little detail that you can't help but be engrossed by it. A slow burn that explodes in ways weird and great.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

All this user's reviews

7

SteDog333Oct 19, 2019

Kept you hooked from the first minute. The build up was long and intense but worth it in the end.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

All this user's reviews

0

Texgal76Aug 15, 2020

No stars! Was a horrible movie, horrible acting. and the plot was ridiculous, don’t waste your time

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

All this user's reviews

5

JLauSep 27, 2020

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Woman with a dead kid invited her ex and their awful friends to dinner with her new suicide cult buddies and not a lot happens.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

All this user's reviews

2

lenny68Nov 5, 2016

Pretentious twaddle masquerading as something much more deep and meaningful.

If your idea of a good movie is watching privileged, self indulgent, {mostly} 30 somethings get together and self destruct then go ahead. Otherwise avoid.

6 of 9 users found this helpful63

All this user's reviews

1

nuggetmanNov 5, 2016

This movie starts promisingly but goes downhill rapidly. In order to buy in to the whole premise a high tolerance for privileged but vacuous people is necessary.

4 of 6 users found this helpful42

All this user's reviews

4

tasslehoff69Oct 7, 2016

There's a lot to like. The party itself feels properly awkward. The acting is believable, the characters have real relationships and act the way that people would actually behave. You actually feel like you're watching old friends reuniting.There's a lot to like. The party itself feels properly awkward. The acting is believable, the characters have real relationships and act the way that people would actually behave. You actually feel like you're watching old friends reuniting. But the payoff is somewhat silly and isn't worth the buildup.… Expand

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

All this user's reviews

7

badgerryan19May 19, 2017

Really good. Truly keeps you on the edge of your seat guessing on whats actually going on. Psychological thriller/horror at its finest. Some people are saying this is a "slow burn" film. I don't see it. I was engaged right away, maybe itsReally good. Truly keeps you on the edge of your seat guessing on whats actually going on. Psychological thriller/horror at its finest. Some people are saying this is a "slow burn" film. I don't see it. I was engaged right away, maybe its just me.And some very good acting too. Could eventually become a Thriller classic.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

All this user's reviews

7

Benkoko11Feb 23, 2017

There is a chilling, something-is-definitely-off-here realism to Kusama's slow burning indie thriller that impels an almost Hitchcockian sense of dread and paranoia.

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

All this user's reviews

2

annbdFeb 8, 2019

Boring and annoying from the beginning to the end. I give credits for cinematography and main actor's performance. But over all dumb and not worth a watch.

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

All this user's reviews

1

JacksonTranOct 27, 2019

One dog **** movie that I am so unfortunate to watch since a long time. This movie is from beginning to the end is boring, lame, pointless. Save yourself 2 hours for your life and DO NOT WATCH this lame ass mediocre low IQ piece of junk, youOne dog **** movie that I am so unfortunate to watch since a long time. This movie is from beginning to the end is boring, lame, pointless. Save yourself 2 hours for your life and DO NOT WATCH this lame ass mediocre low IQ piece of junk, you would appreciate my disclaimer!… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

All this user's reviews

9

Alfie101Apr 8, 2016

I found this remarkably suspenseful and more poignant than I would have thought. It's less a horror movie than a psycho-thriller, but it has horrific elements. It features good characters in situations that seem uncomfortably real. I recommend it.

8 of 18 users found this helpful810

All this user's reviews

7

sanyrubOct 10, 2016

I was not too sure about watching this film. I thought it was not going to have enough punch or originality. But I was wrong. Despite the many slow scenes and dialogues it keeps you guessing and interested in what is going on. The actors do aI was not too sure about watching this film. I thought it was not going to have enough punch or originality. But I was wrong. Despite the many slow scenes and dialogues it keeps you guessing and interested in what is going on. The actors do a great job here and the script is great (the basis of any film, in case anyone forgets). A couple of great performances add to it. Watch it especially if you like this type of thrillers/mystery films). I have to say the very last scene was the only little disappointment to em and the only time I felt it was kind of generic. But it was easy to overlook. See it!… Expand

3 of 7 users found this helpful34

All this user's reviews

3

Q8MarrongGlaceApr 18, 2016

Too much talking long boring conversations movie gets better last 20 min , have nothing to do with horror nor thriller its more of drama ,nonsense and waste of time

Yes this all high rated and great reviews had me fooled and made meToo much talking long boring conversations movie gets better last 20 min , have nothing to do with horror nor thriller its more of drama ,nonsense and waste of time

Yes this all high rated and great reviews had me fooled and made me thinking maybe most of it was paid for really !!… Expand

3 of 7 users found this helpful34

All this user's reviews

4

mickmacApr 8, 2016

I must say I'm surprised by the raft of positive reviews. For me, the film never achieved lift-off. Characters are threadbare, dialogue is wholly unrealistic, the world of the film is both physically and narratively claustrophobic. ItI must say I'm surprised by the raft of positive reviews. For me, the film never achieved lift-off. Characters are threadbare, dialogue is wholly unrealistic, the world of the film is both physically and narratively claustrophobic. It shows that the film was shot in only 20 days. Direction misses so many opportunities, and when the film finally reaches its climax, it evokes little in the way of emotion or excitement, because the camera-work rarely succeeds in telling the story. I failed to care about the characters and the lead's past difficulty, and once the full premise is revealed... well, I couldn't go there. Suspense is in short supply, as is any character development. In short, I just didn't enjoy it.… Expand

5 of 12 users found this helpful57

All this user's reviews

8

NikolayGJul 31, 2017

I would give this a 7.5, but rounded up because Metacritic makes you select a whole number. The acting is excellent, so as far as that goes it gets a 9. My criticism is about the script. This is a thriller about a man who goes to a dinnerI would give this a 7.5, but rounded up because Metacritic makes you select a whole number. The acting is excellent, so as far as that goes it gets a 9. My criticism is about the script. This is a thriller about a man who goes to a dinner party hosted by his ex-wife. The best thing about this movie is the very last shot. The worst thing is that, instead of the plot unfolding at an incremental pace where the main character slowly puts together clues, building his understanding of what is really going on. the plot unfolds all at once in the last 20 minutes. Before that the main character has suspicions and things seem off and weird, but he's not really putting pieces together beyond knowing something's not right. There were a lot of opportunities, but the writers for whatever reason didn't go there. The consequence is that there is a period of about 15 or 20 minutes, no more than that, where you really start to think, "Is anything ever going to happen?" There's this little dead zone of time. Not because literally nothing has happened until that point, but because the level of suspicion and putting the pieces together has not kept moving forward. The protagonist gets to this point and then things just repeat, hover there for too long, with the protagonist not learning anything new but just reconfirming the weirdness of the situation without understanding or learning more detail about what's behind that weirdness. One big missed opportunity was to follow up on the woman who left the party early. Major miss there. However, all of this said, it was an entertaining thriller. It could have been a 9 if it had just been tweaked a little more. And as I said, the last shot is great, it actually for me is what lifts it from a 7 to a 7.5.… Expand

2 of 5 users found this helpful23

All this user's reviews

7

ninosanJul 24, 2016

This is a very solid psychological thriller type of movie, with a LOT of tension build up, and many moments where you doubt what exactly is going on. Some scenes make the movie seem very slow, and the focus is lost sometimes, but it's allThis is a very solid psychological thriller type of movie, with a LOT of tension build up, and many moments where you doubt what exactly is going on. Some scenes make the movie seem very slow, and the focus is lost sometimes, but it's all mostly justified. The ending is amazing, and the very last scene gave me some very intense goose bumps.… Expand

3 of 8 users found this helpful35

All this user's reviews

7

steven5itApr 11, 2016

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. From the trailers, I wasn't all that excited to see this movie since it reminded me of the Gift (which was a great movie). After watching the Invitation, I was glad that it was nothing like the Gift and turned out to be a solid "psychological thriller."

The acting was great, with Logan Marshall-Green (or creepy Tom Hardy) really standing out. The tension was constant throughout the movie like a taut string, threads barely holding it together. However, I do have one main criticism:
[SPOILER ALERT]

I found the movie to be so predictable that it almost wasn't predictable. What I first thought to be a weird sex cult and then thought to be a suicide cult (which you hear about in news stories all the time) turned out to be exactly that. There were so many directions I thought the movie might twist, that the most logical one turned out to be true. Yet, I did enjoy it and the very ending turned out to be a little better than I expected so kudos on the story not turning into a twist-filled nonsensical horror flick.… Expand

4 of 11 users found this helpful47

All this user's reviews

10

spartacus215Apr 9, 2016

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Holy Smokes. I will first state that this movie is Insane in the most
positive way possible and that it is a true Marvel to watch. I will start with the story which is about a man and his girlfriend who get invited to a dinner party at his ex's house with her new man along with a group of other friends after 2 years. The story then starts to unfold that something isn't quite kosher. The pace was scary good with some of the best pacing I have ever witnessed in cinema history. I will move onto the acting which is Absolutely Stunning with both "Logan
Marshall-Green" and GOT's actor "Michiel Huisman" stealing the show.
They both deserve awards for their performances. The entire cast did
Amazing but those two stole the entire movie. I will now continue with
the action and drama section. Wow this is where it truly comes to
fruition that this is a contender for the best movie of 2016. I mean
the atmosphere and the tension that builds towards what is in my
opinion the most Awesome culmination to a film I have seen in the past
decade. I will finish with the Cinematography which was Impeccable with
every scene building up something sinister and not quite right with the
whole entourage that is gathered for the dinner party. I will close
with saying that this movie is a Masterpiece and it kept me on the edge
of my seat the entire time. OMG the ending was Epic and of course no
spoilers. My hat comes off to Karyn Kusama who directed such a
transfixing film.… Expand

7 of 21 users found this helpful714

All this user's reviews

8

smiyamotJul 28, 2016

First off, why would you accept an invitation from your ex-wife? Then you find out her new husband is weird. A great set up for a movie. But it seems safe, all your friends are there too. What could go wrong? Don't know if I like whereFirst off, why would you accept an invitation from your ex-wife? Then you find out her new husband is weird. A great set up for a movie. But it seems safe, all your friends are there too. What could go wrong? Don't know if I like where the story goes for an ending but it did end well.… Expand

3 of 9 users found this helpful36

All this user's reviews

4

imthenoobAug 1, 2017

I agree with tasslehoff69. The acting is great and you truly feel like you are watching old friends reunite at a party but nothing really happens. It's a painfully slow build to a predictable ending and the payoff just isn't worth it. It's aI agree with tasslehoff69. The acting is great and you truly feel like you are watching old friends reunite at a party but nothing really happens. It's a painfully slow build to a predictable ending and the payoff just isn't worth it. It's a shame too because the cast really knocks it out of the park on this one.… Expand

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

All this user's reviews

2

SEROJFeb 6, 2019

"The invitation" began very promising, but ended up being another disappointment. My time was wasted and i don't think i'll ever watch it again.

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

All this user's reviews

5

TryASummersaultApr 8, 2016

An extremely dull look into a yuppie cult. I had high hopes from all the positive critic reviews, but this really just didn't amount to anything really and left a gross taste in my mouth. Logan Marshall-Green was the only solid part of this.

4 of 13 users found this helpful49

All this user's reviews

1

Mike_MApr 13, 2016

You have to be kidding me. Epic crap artists on display here. I was constantly jarred out of the movie by the terrible writing, oafish "seriousness" and total lack of psychological understanding of our species.

It's nothing but forced,You have to be kidding me. Epic crap artists on display here. I was constantly jarred out of the movie by the terrible writing, oafish "seriousness" and total lack of psychological understanding of our species.

It's nothing but forced, unbelievable, melodramatic storytelling for the sake of genre fulfillment and a slow build. I defy you to get through the first 10-20 minutes of this movie and say you're interested. Only those with a desperate thirst for a 'crazy thriller' could possibly drink from this scummy pond.

16 "critics" gave this a good review? Yet another death knell for American film criticism.
RIP… Expand

4 of 14 users found this helpful410

All this user's reviews

7

SpangleAug 29, 2016

The Invitation is a slow, tense, thrilling film that may be a bit predictable and would have been better served sticking to its initial temptations, but will ruin your take on dinner parties regardless. Logan Marshall-Green is very good inThe Invitation is a slow, tense, thrilling film that may be a bit predictable and would have been better served sticking to its initial temptations, but will ruin your take on dinner parties regardless. Logan Marshall-Green is very good in the lead role as the grieving, paranoid ex-husband of the party host. As the film progresses, the air of mysteriousness and tension really take hold in this lushly shot film with lighting that more often than not is dreamlike. This dreamlike look is slightly disturbed at the alter, but returns for the ominous, chilling, and thoroughly terrifying final shot. The score from beginning to end is eerie and creepy, often setting the tone. However, the scariest sound is the one accompanying that final shot. Together, it creates a scene that is hard to forget. The Invitation's slow build up is more than worth it, but its climax was predictable from the second the film began, which left me incredibly disappointed even if it had a lot going for it overall.… Expand

2 of 7 users found this helpful25

All this user's reviews

9

SolInvictaMay 23, 2016

The tone begins affably, and as suspicion slowly settles in it shifts to unnerving. The tension is palpable and continuously built upon until the macabre finale. Expertly crafted, edge-of-your-seat psychological thriller.

3 of 11 users found this helpful38

All this user's reviews

8

DirigiblePulpJan 4, 2017

Another in a series of cult-minded horror movies that have been enjoying a renaissance of sorts lately. A dinner party in the Hollywood Hills, between old friends, and an ex-couple with a dead son whom they both grieve in their own waysAnother in a series of cult-minded horror movies that have been enjoying a renaissance of sorts lately. A dinner party in the Hollywood Hills, between old friends, and an ex-couple with a dead son whom they both grieve in their own ways (ostensibly leading to their divorce). What happens is an exploration of those classic themes, grief and acceptance, with a a modern twist. Characters are well-drawn, the acting is good to great all around, and there's genuine suspense. What's missing is surprise or newness. With this kind of story it's easy to guess where it's going, and while the ride there is fun and well crafted, it still has that common destination. There's an almost twist at the end, that plays like one, but in reality is nothing but a coda for things to come, and quickly, after that.… Expand

1 of 4 users found this helpful13

All this user's reviews

0

ds2020Feb 12, 2020

Poorly made senario, people in the movie are missing the slightest sense behind their acts. Spare yourself from wathing this waste of time.

1 of 4 users found this helpful13

All this user's reviews

9

TheQuietGamerOct 19, 2016

An invitation worth RSVPing to. What works here is that it's a very human tale. One backed by a fantastic cast and great writing. It's all about trauma and grief, and how to deal with it. It doesn't offer any easy answers.

The tension isAn invitation worth RSVPing to. What works here is that it's a very human tale. One backed by a fantastic cast and great writing. It's all about trauma and grief, and how to deal with it. It doesn't offer any easy answers.

The tension is excellently crafted. There's just an overall weird feeling to the events that will make you just as uncomfortable and questioning as it's lead character. It's a pretty slow moving film. However none of that time is wasted. There's a strong drama element to the film that adds heart, soul, and plenty of darkness to the events. By the time the big mystery revealed and things come to a head, it all feels earned.

However none of it is too surprising. The entire movie leading up to it's tense and exciting final act tries to convince us that maybe this dude is just paranoid. We already know going into this that's not the case. I get why that decision was made, but it kind of still feels like an insult to the audiences intelligence.

While that sort of thing would have killed other horror-thrillers dead on the spot, The Invitation awards our intelligence in just about every other way so that little misstep is forgivable. It's a very adult tale. One with a lot of emotion backing it up. It's themes are powerful and haunting. An unforgiving look at the effects heartbreak, depression, and loss can have on a person's state of mind. Given how real these characters feel, you have a very powerful movie. One worth checking out for more than just cheap thrills.… Expand

2 of 9 users found this helpful27

All this user's reviews

10

tethysdustSep 21, 2016

I wasn't sure what to expect from this one, but it was a masterfully tense psychological thriller. The characters were established just as much as they needed to be, and it was really nerve-wracking watching the main character's paranoia (orI wasn't sure what to expect from this one, but it was a masterfully tense psychological thriller. The characters were established just as much as they needed to be, and it was really nerve-wracking watching the main character's paranoia (or good sense) throughout the strange dinner party.… Expand

2 of 9 users found this helpful27

All this user's reviews

9

MacheteDontTextMar 23, 2017

The less info before watching this the better!

Great movie, if you enjoy suspense, I wasnt actually able to tell whats going to happen in advance for a change. If you think about it the story doesnt make a lot of sense, but I didnt have thatThe less info before watching this the better!

Great movie, if you enjoy suspense, I wasnt actually able to tell whats going to happen in advance for a change. If you think about it the story doesnt make a lot of sense, but I didnt have that "this is **** feeling at the time I was watching. I just wish they cut off the ridiculous ending, it adds nothing but makes the whole thing a farce.… Expand

1 of 5 users found this helpful14

All this user's reviews

9

UtahbonesJul 13, 2016

If you invest, well worth the payoff. Don't be perturbed by some of the negative reviews below. They likely have the attention and patience of a fruit fly who still like to call everything hipster since they are so out of touch. If you like aIf you invest, well worth the payoff. Don't be perturbed by some of the negative reviews below. They likely have the attention and patience of a fruit fly who still like to call everything hipster since they are so out of touch. If you like a slow burning but good payoff movie, highly recommended.… Expand

2 of 11 users found this helpful29

All this user's reviews

6

princehevenApr 17, 2016

The film is based on doubt, you have to be attentive to every person and every movement in order to finally get a point of view may be the correct one or not. At the beginning of the film on the spot is set the tone twisted for us we allThe film is based on doubt, you have to be attentive to every person and every movement in order to finally get a point of view may be the correct one or not. At the beginning of the film on the spot is set the tone twisted for us we all recognize the people and the situation of concern in the film .we start the call with Will (Logan) and new girlfriend Keira where leads to the house where they were invited by his ex-wife, Leiden (Tammy Blanchard), who now lives with her new husband, David. Also in attendance a lot of old friends, who have not come together since the death of the former couple's children in the same house. Obviously this makes things a little confusing, and the constant tension make everyone screwed over for the film because of the antics of each one.film at times moving to the unease. Because all the characters do not really want to be present in the House, but they must accept the invitation from respect only, so the film is easy for us - as viewers - through not comfortable to interact with the story and tense and exciting way strangely, every friend of friends trying to get out of this call with the least damage. director presents us with some smart touches , while the choice of places and imaging wonderful .film disturbing enough to be scary, or playing to the situation of mental enough to be troublesome, but because the film connects each person scenes of the film plot permission on all wait to the end to find out who the victor in this plot and this great positive evaluation of the film for the movie i give 5.5 / 10.… Expand

1 of 6 users found this helpful15

All this user's reviews

4

Jack97Dec 22, 2016

You're sitting there waiting and waiting and waiting for something interesting to happen. And when something finally does in the last 15 minutes, it's too little too late and it feels very rushed.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

All this user's reviews

6

LeZeeOct 24, 2016

Think carefully before attending your ex's party invite!

My first impression was, not another 'The Perfect Host'. And it is not, but the same category. This is a comeback film for the director after the average 'Jennifer's Body' thatThink carefully before attending your ex's party invite!

My first impression was, not another 'The Perfect Host'. And it is not, but the same category. This is a comeback film for the director after the average 'Jennifer's Body' that released half a decade ago. Some people liked it, but for me it was an average film, because I've seen the better one. Still, I appreciate the effort, like handling the narration. You know these days viewers are bit clever, they begin to predict from the early stage, so this story quite interestingly upheld the suspense.

Till the final act it keeps developing, not the story or the characters wisely, but the event where the plot evolves. A at a same time it leaves behind some clues about what might come later. That part is very confusing, I did not know what to believe and what not. Because I don't want to be a fool when twist happens. This was a lot dramatised and when the crucial event comes into play, the pace increased. The first 80 per cent of the film was what I enjoyed, but the twist ruined my party and then the final scene was so smart. The best way to conclude for such a thriller.

There are none tense moments, except in the final segment, but the curiosity of the event's states gets higher like particularly everybody is waiting for the twist to come. That's where some people would be disappointed. If you are not expecting too much, you would enjoy the remaining part as well. There's nothing to praise about the actors, all were just good. The script should have been a bit smarter in some parts. For one time watch it will do fine, that's what I favour.

6/10… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

All this user's reviews

4

wealthychefMar 2, 2020

Way way too slow burning. The tension is very effective, but after a while of that, after 40 minutes of thinking "OK what's going to ever happen here?" I started skipping ahead to speed up the pacing, which is unbearably slow. The actionWay way too slow burning. The tension is very effective, but after a while of that, after 40 minutes of thinking "OK what's going to ever happen here?" I started skipping ahead to speed up the pacing, which is unbearably slow. The action part is very good, and the acting is actually very good too. But the glacial pacing ruins it for me, thus the low score.… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

All this user's reviews

5

PanchogulJul 20, 2020

Me gustaron las interpretaciones, el nivel de tensión es bastante creíble y eficiente, pero en general no llenar las expectativas, los miembros de supuesto culto quedó a mi juicio muy pobremente mal hecho y poco interesante.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

All this user's reviews

6

AproxxAug 5, 2018

Look. It's directed as a "mystery movie", but its definitely not. So that's bad.
But the acting from Logan Marshall-Green is awesome (or at least perfect for the character), so he carries the movie on the weakest parts.
They had a chance toLook. It's directed as a "mystery movie", but its definitely not. So that's bad.
But the acting from Logan Marshall-Green is awesome (or at least perfect for the character), so he carries the movie on the weakest parts.
They had a chance to do something surprising entering the third act, but they used it to mantain the same flow the movie had...
And the ending was predictable and just "ok" at beast.
The last shot is what makes it a 6, or a "good" movie for me. Because it somehows makes it scarier.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

All this user's reviews

7

vitortfvDec 3, 2020

Um filme que embora pareça linear, consegue prender a atenção e passar sensações agoniantes.