Read Positive User Reviews 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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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7

vitortfvDec 3, 2020

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