The Invitation

The Invitation

Starring Logan Marshall-Green, Tammy Blanchard, Michiel Huisman, Emayatzy Corinealdi

Directed by Karyn Kusama

The Story:
Years after the death of his young son, Will (Logan Marshall-Green) still deals with guilt and depression, even though he's moved on with new girlfriend Kira (Emayatzy Corinealdi).  He hasn't spoken to his ex-wife Eden (Tammy Blanchard) in years, when all of a sudden he receives an invitation to her house for a dinner party with their old friends and her new husband David (Michiel Huisman).

Will reunites with his old friends, but being in his old house also brings back traumatic memories, and the odd behavior of David and Eden isn't helping matters.  Will notices some odd behaviors, such as locking all the doors, and begins to fear that there's a more nefarious motive for being invited to this get-together.  But is it all in his head?

The Synopsis:
Director Karyn Kusama is best known for directing female-driven films such as "Jennifer's Body," "Aeon Flux" and "Girlfight," and thanks to an independent financier Gamechanger Films (which grants funds for indie movies directed by women) managed to craft a slow-burn thriller without the meddling of traditional Hollywood.  The result is a smartly-crafted thriller with tremendous acting, a highly cerebral story, and an overall sense of dread.  This is a film that would make Alfred Hitchcock proud, with glints of genius reminiscent of Agatha Christie's "And Then There Were None."

This is one of those films where the less you know, the better.  Writers Phil Hay and Matt Manfredi brilliantly craft a tale so expansive yet so intimate that you can't help but be sucked into it.  They design fascinating, multi-layered characters that each have their own story, and each have a personal interaction with our story's protagonist.  There's no bit characters, as each one is so cleverly written that we feel for each of them, and hope for their well-being.  They also don't treat the audience like idiots, which is truly refreshing.  There's a gay couple and an interracial couple, but there's no pandering to any of those groups.  They treat the characters as adults, and, more importantly, treat the viewers as adults as well. 

The tale is an intriguing one: old friend reconnect at a dinner party, but there's much more to it than just that.  The hosts are incredibly off-putting, and there's a bit of a sales pitch as well, showing a video about a group they belong to with a shocking ending that would've sent any normal dinner party guest out the door, but yet they all stay and as the story develops, we're drawn to the story through the eyes of Will, who may or may not be entirely "there."  Is his paranoia simply due to past pains, or does he have a true reason to be worried?

At the heart of the film is dealing with the issue of loss and grief.  Will and Eden lost their son, David lost someone important to him, and everyone at the house has dealt with some sort of sadness.  It's how we deal with our issues that's the main focal point here; while on their way to the party Will accidentally hits a coyote, and puts it out of its misery, yet he still deals with his own private misery everyday.  David and Eden feel they found a way to true happiness, but is it the right path?  These questions are too big for a film to answer straightforward, but at least it attempts to.  This isn't your typical Hollywood story, and that's the best thing about it.

When the conclusion is finally reached, it sends the story traveling at a breakneck speed, and the final seconds of the film literally gave me goosebumps.  This isn't a remake, a reboot, a prequel, sequel or based on a book.  This is true talent, true imagination, and the payoff is substantial.  Not since Joel Edgerton's "The Gift" have I been so moved by a wisely-written original film which will stick with me long after it ended.

The Summary:
"The Invitation" is one of those rare films that you barely see anymore, and it demands for you to watch it.  This is one invitation I wouldn't deny.

The Score: A+