Released in March of 2015, The Invitation hasn’t been accredited as being a financially successful masterpiece, nor has it been mentioned in many movie-watcher’s top tens. Before I begin, I’d like to suggest that you all watch the film before reading my take on why The Invitation is criminally underappreciated; the movie is free to watch on Tubi (thank god) through this link. I promise you will not be disappointed. This psychological thriller, directed by the talented Karyn Kusama (who also directed Jennifer’s Body), on my first watch, was a fantastic film with gorgeous cinematography and a striking score.
In fact, the score is most likely the first aspect of film-making that can be noticed in the film. The story begins with a deep, booming, and unrelenting sound that immediately can make any scene off-putting. We’re introduced to our main protagonist promptly in what I consider one of the best openings to a film, ever. It perfectly sets up the partially broken mental state of Will, portrayed by Logan Marshal-Green, and creates a setting that launches the viewer directly into the film.
What I especially noticed on my second watch was that the camera remains outside of the car for almost a minute before we’re brought into the safe confines within the vehicle. This instantly advances the sense of danger and the unknown, which we are then punished for with a jumpscare accompanied with a dark, sinister boom in the score.
Another beautiful aspect of this film is that we, as the audience, are acknowledged as conscious in the movie, meaning that we know basically exactly what’s going to occur. What we don’t understand is when it happens, or why it does. That’s one of the primary driving forces of this movie, attracting the audience with each ticking second.
the score
Throughout the film, I believe that the score becomes increasingly more odd and violent with its sounds, sometimes accomplishing that hard-to-create malevolent noise that remains begins to become somewhat repetitive, although the repetition never reaches the point where it becomes annoying to endure.
Mainly composed by Theodore Shapiro, who also did work in The Intern and Collateral Beauty, every sound is ambitiously unique in its own lane, ultimately conglomerating into a fantastical and piercing noise that really drives those feelings of uncertainty and horror to the core.
I believe that the composing of this movie verily saved it from becoming another throwaway film. The acting was superbly done by the cast, and Michiel Huisman and Tammy Blanchard’s portrayal of their character was absolutely astounding to watch. They really carried it forward as characters who truly believed that they were right in their own mind, and their movements truly convinced me that they may partially be right.
two problems
By all means, I’m not saying that The Invitation is a top ten movie at all, and I’m not saying that it’s deserving of recognition from the Academy (but the score possibly deserves it). All that I want to illustrate is that the film isn’t as appreciated as it should be.
The first problem of mine is the acting done by Logan Marshal-Green. He absolutely delivered perfectly during some moments, especially the climax scene with the red “drinks”.
Other than that though, I had a few issues with his acting. Throughout the first half, his mental state and physical features were mainly composed of stoic reactions and the only reason why his portrayal is probably accepted by Karyn is because the score absolutely conveys its own sort of emotion, assisting the acting.
I’m not attempting to say that Logan is a bad actor at all, but I’m sure that his depiction of the character could’ve been a lot better, and I know that Logan could’ve contributed more with the aid of scriptwriters and Karyn. Overall, considering that he was made to depict someone with clearly a traumatic past, I still believe that Logan gave a moving performance.
My second, and last, issue with the movie is the ending. I both love it and hate it. Although I think that the tension was elegantly capitalized on, I feel like the stop was so abrupt. When we learn that both of the main antagonists were killed (the performance given by Tammy Blanchard as Eden was amazing), their reactions were not to leave the house immediately, although they certainly could have. They rather hugged it out in the backyard and noticed the symbolism of the red lantern. I felt like the ending certainly could’ve been longer and more exploitative with its characters.
In addition to this ending, the killing of David was definitely a low point in this film. No one expected him to die so easily, and the fact that it was a conclusive end to his influence really drew me out of the film.
why it’s underrated
Although The Invitation has its problems, every film has issues with its story and cast. I believe that this film is an unbelievably underrated thriller because of the vision that it seems to give.
The Invitation’s strength not only lies in its scores and delivery, but ultimately in the message that it portrays, and especially the relatability of everything. Just like The Strangers and Hush, this movie is grounded in the brutality of reality, especially in those who harshly deal with trauma. It’s a well-known fact that everyone encounters trauma differently, but we are shown what can happen if it goes too far, and to be honest, the film can certainly pass as one that is “based on true events”.
That’s what I believe gives to a good psychological thriller, not misunderstood medical diagnoses or murders made up from someone’s imagination, but rather a terror that reigns through reliability, and this movie perfectly captures that with tension and sophistication.