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During these last, lazy days of summer, there isn’t a whole lot to do. Still, you’re probably going to want to RSVP “no” to “The Invitation.”

It had such potential, too. Director Jessica M. Thompson establishes an unsettling mood that suggests we’re about to enter a dark and twisted world. But then eventually, her film is just dark—as in, it’s hard to see what’s happening, with herky-jerky visual effects that are especially off-putting. And when the twist comes as to what’s actually going on, it’s like: Really? That’s it? The trailer pretty much gives it away (as most trailers do), but we’re all about having the best possible moviegoing experience around here—even if it is a mediocre movie—so we’ll do our best to avoid spoilers.

Nathalie Emmanuel has an appealing presence, though, as Evelyn—or Evie, as she prefers to be called. The “Game of Thrones” actress is a stunner, of course, but there’s also a no-nonsense naturalism to her delivery that makes her feel accessible. So when things go sideways on her too-good-to-be-true getaway to the English countryside, we remain on her side throughout.

Evie is a struggling New York artist who works as a catering waitress to pay the bills. At an event for a new DNA testing company, she snags a swag bag and takes the test inside; after the recent death of her mother, she feels alone and adrift and seeks a sense of identity. Turns out, she’s got a bunch of cousins, and they’re all British, and very white. But the script from Thompson and Blair Butler merely skims the surface of exploring the racial implications of this connection. When an overly enthusiastic second cousin ( Hugh Skinner ) invites Evie to join him for a posh family wedding at a decadent English estate—and she arrives and realizes uneasily she’s the only person of color besides the maids—there’s hope that “The Invitation” might have something more relevant and substantial on its mind along the lines of Jordan Peele ’s “ Get Out .” No such luck.

Her best friend back home, Grace (an amusing Courtney Taylor ), is appropriately skeptical, but Evie gets swept up in the sense of belonging. Sure, the maids are all wearing uniforms with numbers on them. That’s a little weird. And the butler ( Sean Pertwee ) is a condescending prig. And there’s a hidden key that unlocks the library that’s off-limits. But still! The young lord of the manor, Walter (a seductive Thomas Doherty ), is super hunky with his piercing blue eyes and his square jaw and his shirt unbuttoned one button too many. And he isn’t one of Evie’s relatives, which is always a plus.

As the three-day festivities unfurl, Thompson relies way too heavily on cheap jump scares to put us on edge, which is a shame, because there’s enough atmosphere within the film’s initial mystery. A spa day for Evie and the imposingly glamorous maids of honor ( Stephanie Corneliussen and Alana Boden ) is staged and paced particularly well. And she could have taken more time in building suspense to the big reveal, which occurs at an ominous, masked dinner party that’s like something out of “ Eyes Wide Shut .”

But then everything changes really suddenly, really quickly, and “The Invitation” becomes a different movie—a sillier one. The shift into campier territory is jarring and even a little disappointing. It felt like Thompson was onto something here. Instead, she revisits some extremely familiar material in uninspired fashion.

The costume design is fabulous, though—the work of Danielle Knox . So even when Emmanuel is forced to do a tough juggling act between horror and comedy, at least she looks great in the process.

Now playing in theaters. 

Christy Lemire

Christy Lemire is a longtime film critic who has written for RogerEbert.com since 2013. Before that, she was the film critic for The Associated Press for nearly 15 years and co-hosted the public television series "Ebert Presents At the Movies" opposite Ignatiy Vishnevetsky, with Roger Ebert serving as managing editor. Read her answers to our Movie Love Questionnaire here .

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The Invitation (2022)

Rated PG-13 for terror, violent content, some strong language, sexual content and partial nudity.

105 minutes

Nathalie Emmanuel as Evie

Thomas Doherty as Walter

Stephanie Corneliussen as Viktoria

Alana Boden as Lucy

Hugh Skinner as Oliver

Kata Sarbó as Manicurist

Scott Alexander Young as Uncle Julius

Virág Bárány as Emmaline

• Jessica M. Thompson
• Blair Butler

Cinematographer

• Autumn Eakin
• Dara Taylor

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‘The Invitation’ Review: Bringing Down the Haunted House

Nathalie Emmanuel stars as the unwitting belle of an English manor in this middling gothic horror movie that leaves her blind to the blood-red flags waving at every turn.

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By Natalia Winkelman

“The Invitation,” a brittle, droning excursion into gothic horror, primarily takes place at a manor in the English countryside. The setting is admissible, if unimaginative: the exterior of the estate appears constructed of Playmobil; coated in cobwebs, its dingy indoors most closely resemble a dungeon.

Outside of the cinema, an invitation to such an abode would ring a cacophony of alarm bells and leave a guest clambering for the door. Not so for Evie (Nathalie Emmanuel), a jaded ceramist in New York who unwittingly becomes the belle of the dwelling after a long-lost cousin, Oliver (Hugh Skinner), invites her to a wedding on its grounds. An only child who recently lost her mother, Evie is tickled by the prospect of extended family, even if the stuffy brood are uniformly white and ominously keen for her company.

But soon, Oliver and his vast array of blond brothers and uncles hardly figure into the equation. Once Evie arrives on the property, she takes a shine to the lord of the residence, Walter (Thomas Doherty), a smirking bachelor dripping in wealth and vampiric good looks.

What follows is an escalating sequence of creaky-freaky jump scares interspersed with beats from a budding romance between Walter and Evie. Dressed to the nines, the pair drink champagne and smooch under a flurry of fireworks. At the same time, the estate’s maids are sucked into a menacing string of set pieces that invariably end in shrieks over a black screen.

The juxtaposition of these events might be exciting — or even mischievously funny — if each scene wasn’t so tedious. For a fright-fest as broad as this one, there’s an awful lot of banal dialogue, and the scare patterns are repetitive enough that even the easiest startlers (I count myself among them) grow immune early on.

Directed by Jessica M. Thompson, “The Invitation” makes feeble gestures at issues of class and race, but its efforts are as diffuse as the whooshing specters haunting Walter’s estate. Emmanuel, for her part, admirably endeavors to imbue Evie with smarts and sass, but confined within a story that leaves her blind to the blood-red flags waving at every turn, her scrappy heroine is hard to cheer on. Had the movie emerged as a friskier game of eat the rich, it might have had a fighting chance of survival. Instead, it’s middling, morbid pap.

The Invitation Not rated. Running time: 1 hour 44 minutes. In theaters.

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The Invitation – Netflix Review (3/5)

Posted by Karina "ScreamQueen" Adelgaard | Dec 24, 2022 | 4 minutes

THE INVITATION (2022) is a new vampire horror film out on Netflix in the US. It is visually stunning and with a new twist on a well-known vampire tale. Read our full The Invitation movie review here!

THE INVITATION (2022) is a new horror film out on Netflix in the US. It’s a vampire tale, and the trailer unfortunately spoils some of the twists this movie has to offer. However, don’t worry, even if you’ve watched the trailer, there are still a lot more twists and turns to come. Not least in relation to some surprising developments.

OTHER MOVIES WITH THE SAME TITLE If the title sounds familiar, it’s probably because you know Karyn Kusama’s absolutely fantastic The Invitation from 2016 >

Overall, this vampire movie is a very polished and delicious movie-watching experience, which is clearly on purpose. The point is to show how the whole vampire world has to be so appealing that you’ll want to become part of this dark world.

Continue reading our The Invitation movie review below. Find it on Netflix (US) from December 24, 2022.

Bride of Dracula in new clothes

There is no doubt that The Invitation will probably trigger opinions and reactions that differ quite a lot. We’re dealing with a vampire tale that is essentially a reinterpretation of “Dracula’s Bride”. This kind of thing should of course not be messed with (some say), while others enjoy seeing modern interpretations that take place in the present-day world.

I really like both, so I’m very happy with both the classic setting and interpretations like this one. The fact that I also got a pretty intense Get Out vibe along the way certainly didn’t hurt! Our main character even talks continuously to her best friend from home, just like in Jordan Peele’s Get Out .

All while she’s surrounded by strangers who seem to think she’s absolutely amazing… maybe a little too eagerly. The main character Evie, who is played perfectly by Nathalie Emmanuel ( Game of Thrones ), is also not afraid to point out when it all gets a little too strange. And I always like it when a character reacts in more realistic ways!

This applies not least to the owner of the mansion she suddenly lives in when she is invited to a wedding in England by her newfound (and rather distant) relative. She normally lives in New York and has a New Yorker reaction to this “Lord of the manor”. He also looks like he came straight from a fashion show (or the cover of a romance novel).

Complete with the shirt buttoned down to the middle of the chest, the widest jaw, and the whitest teeth.

Yes, it’s all a bit too much. And yes, it’s all very intentional. Precisely for this reason, it is also pointed out by the main character. At the same time, she is flattered by him, since he seems to accept (maybe even appreciate?!) her very direct manner.

Stephanie Corneliussen makes an awesome impression

Stephanie Corneliussen plays another key character in The Invitation , and you cannot avoid noticing her. She’s probably a head taller than everyone else, and also just seems like a bigger and stronger personality. Basically, she’s a scene stealer and an instant crowd favorite!

Also, she plays a wonderful (as in memorable) character in this vampire horror film. Her character is in many ways an ice queen (or just a super fierce woman), and Stephanie Corneliussen knows how to play this perfectly. If you’ve watched Mr. Robot , you’ll already know this!

In fact, Mr. Robot is exactly where many know (and love) her from. Myself included, which is a little wild since she’s Danish and I myself am a Dane. Yet, it’s a US television production, I know her from. You may also recognize her from Legion  or  Legends of Tomorrow .

In The Invitation , Stephanie Corneliussen actually plays the coolest villain character – though in a more nuanced way than we’re used to in vampire movies. Her, Nathalie Emmanuel, and Alana Boden have the best scenes together. From witty, fierce, and downright brutal dialogue to the more physically challenging. This is a vampire movie, after all.

Watch The Invitation on Netflix in the US!

Jessica M. Thompson is the director of The Invitation , written by Blair Butler. It’s only the second feature from Jessica M. Thompson, who made her feature debut in 2017 with The Light of the Moon . Screenwriter Blair Butler has previously written the horror movies Hell Fest  (2018) and Polaroid  (2019) as well as an episode of the Helstrom horror series.

In terms of special effects, there is just a bit of CGI towards the end that doesn’t work quite as well for me. Otherwise, the use of various effects is quite sparse and when used very efficient. The biggest challenge, overall, is probably that the film is a good 15 minutes too long.

To be fair, it’s mostly just one story element that could have been cut a little tighter for a better final product. Overall, however, it’s an entertaining, strong, and different vampire film that will probably divide viewers, but definitely deserves to be watched!

The Invitation (2022) is out on Netflix in the US from December 24, 2022.

Director: Jessica M. Thompson Cast: Nathalie Emmanuel, Thomas Doherty, Hugh Skinner, Stephanie Corneliussen, Alana Boden, Sean Pertwee, Courtney Taylor

Evie’s long-lost cousin invites her to a swanky English wedding, where she uncovers a dark and twisted family secret that threatens to upend her life.

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Karina "ScreamQueen" Adelgaard

I write reviews and recaps on Heaven of Horror. And yes, it does happen that I find myself screaming, when watching a good horror movie. I love psychological horror, survival horror and kick-ass women. Also, I have a huge soft spot for a good horror-comedy. Oh yeah, and I absolutely HATE when animals are harmed in movies, so I will immediately think less of any movie, where animals are harmed for entertainment (even if the animals are just really good actors). Fortunately, horror doesn't use this nearly as much as comedy. And people assume horror lovers are the messed up ones. Go figure!

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‘The Invitation’ Review: Nathalie Emmanuel Gets Sucked Into a Languishing Legacy

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It’s not hard to tell something is off about New Carfax Manor, where the maids’ aprons are numbered and supposedly carnivorous birds roam the skies. Sitting somewhere in England’s creepiest countryside, the mansion’s implausibly cream-colored Barbie Dreamhouse exterior belies its shadowy Gothic insides; all dark corners and drafty bedrooms with bars on the windows (to keep the birds out, so they say). The grounds provide an eerie enough setting for “ The Invitation ,” a Gothic horror thriller in the style of “Dracula” with a half-baked attempt at “Get Out”-style social critique thrown in. Part inert bodice-ripper, part vampire Cinderella story, its mixed themes could have benefitted from a purer bloodline.

Arriving like a lamb lost in the woods (or led to the slaughter) is Evie ( Nathalie Emmanuel ), an aspiring ceramicist who makes her living as a cater waiter in New York. When her friend swipes a swag bag from an upscale gig, she discovers a free trial for a DNA site called Find Yourself, like 23andMe for the elite. Recently orphaned, she can’t help but feel curious when her search turns up a match in an overly enthusiastic Brit named Oliver (Hugh Skinner). Her long lost cousin happens to be loaded, delighted to make her acquaintance, and invites her on an all expenses paid trip to England to attend a posh family wedding.

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Undeterred by the oily glee with which Oliver delivers the phrase, “Great Uncle Alfred is dying to meet you,” Evie pulls up to Carfax in total awe. Though she’s introduced as a woman of the people, kindly helping pick up the glassware she caused the maids to drop, she loses all spine once she encounters the Lord of the house. Pompous and devilishly handsome with a jaw so sharp it could draw blood, Walter DeVille (Thomas Doherty) takes an immediate liking to Evie. It’s hard to understand why she returns his affections after hearing the way he speaks to his staff, but some handy exposition via phone calls to her friend Grace (Courtney Taylor) back home rewrites the scene to appear chivalrous.

The creepiness continues when Evie is introduced to her long lost family members, all of whom are old white men. “So many boys, we thought we were done for,” announces shriveled Uncle Alfred from behind his eye patch, and the room erupts in an cacophany of evil harumphs. On the phone with Grace again, she inexplicably calls Uncle Alfred sweet and admits she almost shed a tear during his chilling speech.

Unbeknownst to Evie, the Butler is lining up the maids and calling them off by numbers, where they’re being locked in the library and served as dinner to a mysterious creature with claw-like fingernails. In her nightmares, Evie sees visions of the woman who hung herself in the house, and is startled by a bird smacking dead into the window. As her romance with Walt heats up, so do the house’s quirks, and she finds herself visited in the night by the clawed creature.

Written by Blair Butler and directed by Jessica M. Thompson , “The Invitation” has a distinct air of white feminism wafting through it. Initially titled “The Bride,” Thompson recently told IndieWire they renamed the movie when the original didn’t track well with male audiences. That sad anecdote offers a small sense of what even white women directors are up against in Hollywood, but “The Invitation” does little to slip subversive themes into its milquetoast social commentary.

When Evie is finally offered her deal with the devil, she is promised “wealth, power, a life of privilege, a sense of belonging.” Talk of bloodlines, elitism, privilege, and power drones through the movie, but Evie’s final resistance lacks any of the bite that would drive home her refutation of such ideals. She spends the entire movie romanticizing wealth and power, only turning her back on them when it’s revealed she’ll have to kill to keep them. The pace picks up when the slashing finally begins in the third act, but it’s too little, too late to get the blood going.

A Sony release, “The Invitation” is now in theaters.

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Stream It Or Skip It: ‘The Invitation’ on Netflix, A Horror Film Where the Frights Run in the Family

Where to stream:, game of thrones.

• nathalie emmanuel

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Stream it or skip it: ‘arthur the king’ on vod, a sports drama that stages an epic scruff-off between mark wahlberg and a very cute dog, stream it or skip it: 'fast x' on peacock, in which jason momoa makes a floundering franchise even more annoying, stream it or skip it: ‘die hart 2’ on roku channel, a continuation of kevin hart's silly quibi spoof.

The Invitation basically came and went with little noise in theaters, topping the box office with one of the lowest weekend grosses in years when it came out in late summer 2022. But it’s opening 2023 by burning up the Netflix charts. Should you be RSVPing for the first big communal fright-fest of the year?

THE INVITATION : STREAM IT OR SKIP IT?

The Gist: “It all ends here … with me,” begins The Invitation . The film opens with a prologue involving a woman hanging herself from the balcony of an English manor. Cut to: Evelyn Jackson (Nathalie Emmanuel) – Evie for short – is a contemporary young Black woman who’s doing catering by night and ceramics by twilight. Feeling isolated with both her parents departed and alienated by the New York dating scene, she investigates her family history via DNA test only to uncover some stately heritage from across the pond. At the behest of an accommodating English cousin Hugh Alexander (Hugh Skinner), she accepts an invitation to attend a family wedding at the estate in New Carfax Abbey.

Things immediately get off to a fitful start for Evie after she bumps into the staff and breaks some glass. But before she can get too caught up in embarrassment or shame, Evie catches the eye of the lord of the manor, Walter De Ville (Thomas Doherty). This dashing bachelor immediately takes a liking to the surprise guest, arousing anger and ire among the aristocratic elites gathered for the celebration. Evie picks up some strange, if not entirely sinister vibes, from the hosts. But that all begins to change when she begins hallucinating the figure introduced at the beginning of the film, almost as if the house is transferring a kind of sense memory to her. There’s something off with this gathering of the three families, and Evie cannot quite figure out how she plays into the seemingly supernatural shenanigans at play. Money, as she finds out, runs as thick as blood.

What Movies Will It Remind You Of?: If you’re the kind of person who knows what a “Screen Gems movie” is when you see the logo on this horror flick, you already know just about everything you need to know about The Invitation . But to get a little more specific to the content, the Black protagonist navigating a traditionally white space is Get Out to the core – and it’s even got a wise-cracking BFF checking in from afar to solidify the resemblance. The manor setting also recalls the genre thrills of Ready or Not and even Spencer as an unsuspecting woman enters palatial environs and feels an entire powerful family turn against her.

Performance Worth Watching: While it’s Emmanuel who has to carry The Invitation , it’s the suffocating smolder of Thomas Doherty that really steals the show. He’s got a kind of Jude Law affect about him as the cocksure lord of the manor. If Walter De Ville can at times feel like a facsimile of Dickie Greenleaf, Law’s indelible cinematic creation from The Talented Mr. Ripley , that’s likely because the character has studied such figures to obfuscate his real intentions. Doherty delights in traipsing along the thin line separating creepiness from charisma, and he’s one of the few sources of genuine tension the movie has.

Memorable Dialogue: “We’re not related, right?” Evie asks her cousin Hugh about Walter when she’s got a bit of a crush. “Not in the slightest,” he replies, to which the normally assertive Evie fumblingly (and funnily) deflects, “Yeah, okay. I was, you know, just … making sure.”

Sex and Skin: Walter offers to stay with Evie in her room — and bed — when she’s scared upon the first perception of phantasms, but their heart-to-heart never gets body to body. The two do finally get hot and heavy later in the film, but all privates are artfully covered up in their moment of post-coital conversation. The brief bit of skin in the film comes from a spa day where we glimpse the backside of an unclothed female swimmer in the pool.

Our Take: Neither Jessica M. Thompson’s direction nor Blair Butler’s script ever really finds the right wavelength for The Invitation . They’re uncertain how to meld the different tonalities and genres the story requires, so it all just feels rather clunky. The film really doesn’t stick the landing on its big reveal, either, which makes the last act fall flat. It’s a work of incredibly obvious choices – a record player scratching portends a ghostly jump scare; a first kiss comes accompanied by perfectly-timed fireworks. Any element that aims for deeper meaning, like the undercooked upstairs-downstairs drama at the estate, only serves to expose how shallow the pursuit of scariness and sexiness really is.

Our Call: SKIP IT. You can wait out the brief period in which The Invitation soars to the top of Netflix’s charts – it’s unlikely many will remember this limp horror flick in a week’s time. You’d be better off “mistakenly” watching the last film that shared this title ( the 2016 release by Karyn Kusama ) because that film would actually give you the kinds of things you’d hope to receive by pressing play on this brief sensation.

Marshall Shaffer is a New York-based freelance film journalist. In addition to Decider, his work has also appeared on Slashfilm, Slant, Little White Lies and many other outlets. Some day soon, everyone will realize how right he is about Spring Breakers.

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The Invitation is a waste of perfectly good evil vampires

It’s a boring riff on Ready or Not meets Get Out, with none of the fun of either

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Vampires are cinema’s most malleable monsters . They can sparkle , skateboard , yell “bat” , or do gymnastics , all while fulfilling their bloodsucking duties. In the horror movie The Invitation , vampires take on their more familiar role as society’s rich and powerful, as an unlucky human guest joins them for the weekend. The Invitation comes from director Jessica M. Thompson ( The Light of the Moon ), and while it pulls inspiration from several recent and successful out-of-place houseguest horror movies like Get Out and Ready or Not , The Invitation never manages to be scary, and it hides its vampires behind a lifeless love story.

The Invitation follows Evie (Nathalie Emmanuel), an unhappy and over-it gig-caterer in New York who’s fed up with her dead-end job, desperate to follow her passion for ceramics, and still reeling from her mother’s recent death. One day, Evie snags a gift bag from a swanky event she’s catering and tries out the included DNA testing kit. The test connects her to a previously unknown branch of her family that lives among the upper crust of English society. Before Evie knows it, she’s been invited to a mysterious wedding at an English estate, where she meets and quickly falls for the enigmatic Walter (Thomas Doherty), the lord of the manor.

This series of events takes almost all of the movie’s 105-minute run time to play out. That may surprise viewers who’ve seen any of the promotional material for this movie, which is far more focused on the story’s vampiric presence. The bait-and-switch of subbing a dubious romance in for vampire violence wouldn’t be much of a problem if the movie were willing to invest in the Gothic style and foreboding atmosphere that helps make vampire love stories timelessly creepy. Instead, Thompson is content with awkward flirting that’s shot as blandly as a one-season-only Netflix teen series.

Even though the story rests almost solely on viewers believing Walter is subtly seducing the worldly and cautious Evie, Emmanuel and Doherty never muster much chemistry beyond both being attractive people. The stiff, exposition-heavy dialogue never manages to make either character interesting, and it barely leaves room for the actors to add any spark or genuine emotion to the confounding romance.

Even stranger, the movie’s script, from Hell Fest co-writer Blair Butler, goes to great lengths to convince viewers that Evie is too smart to fall prey to the lures of old money. As a Black woman who has lived her whole life in the United States and knows what it’s like to be the disrespected server at a rich person’s party (even though she has a killer New York City apartment), Evie constantly sympathizes with the wedding’s ill-fated servants, and swears to her best friend that she’d never fall prey to the trappings of wealth and the luxuries colonialism paid for. Then she does. Right away. With no convincing, and no charm from Walter whatsoever. While her sudden susceptibility might suggest something supernatural is at play — something that might have helped sell the romance, and given her a meaningful internal struggle — The Invitation never makes any hints that that’s the case.

In fact, Evie’s only reason for thinking Walter is anything other than a rich playboy with a big house is that he apologizes to her for his butler being rude. (Yes, it’s the help’s fault when something goes wrong for Evie. No, the filmmakers do not acknowledge the irony.) The Invitation is desperate to try to replicate the awkward fish-out-of-water terror of Jordan Peele’s Get Out , without realizing that part of what made that movie so eerie is the implication of a loving, meaningful relationship between the protagonist and one of the villains, which started well before the movie begins.

The tedious flirtation in The Invitation is occasionally punctuated by scenes that bring the movie a little closer to the horror and moodiness that its vampiric premise promises. There are a few scenes of mysterious creatures lurking in shadows, or locked rooms that guard unseemly creatures of the night. These brief horror scenes are shot in an overly dark manner, with tacky blue lighting that obscures almost all of the action. But they at least manage tension for a few seconds at a time, and they provide a bit of the foreboding atmosphere that the rest of the movie is sorely lacking.

Finally, in its last 25 minutes, The Invitation turns into the vampire-slaying action movie Sony wanted audiences to believe it is for the whole run time. During a suitably creepy dinner — the movie’s most effective scene, thanks to the dozen or so masked vampire cultists — Walter finally explains his full vampiric machinations to Evie. The movie seems intent on revealing this information as a twist, but considering it not only makes up most of the trailer but is also hinted at in the movie’s prologue, Evie’s shock at the reveal ends up feeling like the most surprising part of the scene, especially given the broad hints at something weird and nefarious happening.

Once the cat’s out of the bag, The Invitation finally transforms into its best self, a vaguely angry movie about a woman who’s fed up with all these vampires and would very much like to kill them. The action itself is mostly lackluster and bloodless, and it never reaches the giddy violence or entertaining heights of Ready or Not , the movie The Invitation feels most indebted to. At least it’s more exciting than Evie and Walter’s baffling courtship.

One part Get Out , one part Ready or Not , and too few parts Dracula , The Invitation is a pastiche of infinitely better horror stories that it never measures up to. You can make vampires do almost anything in movies, but The Invitation commits the one unforgivable sin: making vampires boring.

The Invitation opens in theaters on Aug. 26.

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The Invitation

A young woman is courted and swept off her feet, only to realize a gothic conspiracy is afoot. A young woman is courted and swept off her feet, only to realize a gothic conspiracy is afoot. A young woman is courted and swept off her feet, only to realize a gothic conspiracy is afoot.

• Jessica M. Thompson
• Blair Butler
• Nathalie Emmanuel
• Thomas Doherty
• Sean Pertwee
• 386 User reviews
• 100 Critic reviews
• 45 Metascore
• 1 win & 3 nominations

• Diya (Maid #5)

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• Great Uncle Alfred
• Imogen (Maid #2)

• Mina Harker

• Jonathan Harker

• (as Viktória Monhor)

• (as Celina-Betty Diana Schleicher)

• (as Anna Liza Murányi)
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• Trivia As Evie exits the airport, the last picture shown on the airport wall is of Whitby in North Yorkshire. As already mentioned to Evie by Oliver in New York, this was the supposed location of the film, and the place that Dracula was said to have landed in England, by ship called the Demeter, from Varna, Bulgaria.
• Goofs When Evie boards the plane to cross the Atlantic, she takes off in an aircraft with 4 engines and an upper deck. When then plane lands in England, it is a different aircraft with two engines and only a single deck.

[last lines]

Mr. Fields : I'll Cut Your Head Off And Feed It To The Wolves

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User reviews 386

• Aug 28, 2022
• How long is The Invitation? Powered by Alexa
• August 26, 2022 (United States)
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• $10,000,000 (estimated)
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• $38,036,130

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• Runtime 1 hour 45 minutes

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‘The Invitation’ Review: Numbingly Predictable Horror Thriller Packs a Few Last-Minute Twists

Director Jessica M. Thompson’s lackluster suspenser comes off as a half-baked mix of updated Charlotte Brontë and ’60s Hammer Films.

By Joe Leydon

Film Critic

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Despite some ambitious efforts by director Jessica M. Thompson and screenwriter Blair Butler to revitalize hoary horror movie tropes with allegorical commentary on race, class and male privilege, “ The Invitation ” is too wearyingly hackneyed for too much of its running time, and too often laugh-out-loud funny as its plot relies on the age-old convention of a smart yet naive heroine who makes one bad decision after another. It would not be at all surprising if, at some screenings, exasperated members of the audience shout rude things at the screen each time the endangered protagonist fails to act in her own self-interest.

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Yes, you guessed it: Despite blunt-spoken warnings from Grace (Courtney Taylor), her best buddy and sister wait staffer, that she would be ill-advised to hang with a host of probably snooty white folks, Evie makes Mistake No. 2.

There are vague references to the recent death of a family member, lame excuses for barred windows in the guest bedroom, things that go bump in the night upstairs and downstairs, maids who have a nasty habit of disappearing, a bitchy Amazonian snob  (Stephanie Corneliussen) who does everything but sprout horns to announce her wickedness, manifestations of monsters that are dismissed a bad dreams — and a drop-dead handsome lord of the manor, Walter ( Thomas Doherty ), whose campaign of seduction is as meticulously plotted as the Allied strategy for D-Day.

But even when Evie discovers that Walter relied on much more than a DNA test to vet her before extending his hospitality, all it takes is a few smooth-talk excuses from the dreamboat, along with side orders of poor-little-rich-guy posing, for her to overcome her anger, extend her stay and, more important, strip for action.

And then really bad things start to happen.

It takes Evie a very long time to discover she is stuck in the middle of a multi-family vampire coven. To be fair, though, the bloodsuckers here are able to walk around in broad daylight and do other things that make it easy to escape detection. (“There are so many misconceptions about our kind,” one vamp haughtily explains.) In fact, Evie seems less upset about being bitten than she is angry when someone condescendingly suggests: “For someone of your background, surely this is more than a leg up.” And she’s even more peeved when her rejection of immortality triggers this response: “You modern women are so ungrateful.”

The predictability of events during the film’s first hour of gothic-thriller setup is all the more annoying because of the plodding pace. Evie finally stands up for herself during some modestly clever third-act turnabouts, but, really, that’s not quite enough to regenerate a rooting interest in the character. There are some sly wink-wink references to “Dracula” here and there (ladies and gentlemen, meet Jonathan and Mina Harker!), and Nathalie Emmanuel does her best to keep Evie from coming off as entirely clueless. But the main attraction here is Thomas Doherty — or, more specifically, his distracting resemblance in several shots to a “Dr. No”-era Sean Connery. Who knows? If they really are looking for a younger actor to assume the 007 mantle in the next James Bond movie…

Reviewed at Regal Edwards Greenway Grand Palace, Houston, Aug. 25, 2022. MPA Rating: PG-13. Running time: 105 MIN.

• Production: A Sony Pictures Entertainment release of a Screen Gems presentation of a Latchkey production. Producer: Emile Gladstone. Executive producers: Michael P. Flannigan, Jessica M. Thompson.
• Crew: Director: Jessica M. Thompson. Screenplay: Blair Butler. Camera: Autumn Eakin. Editor: Tom Elkins. Music: Dara Taylor.
• With: Nathalie Emmanuel, Thomas Doherty, Stephanie Corneliussen, Alana Boden, Courtney Taylor, Hugh Skinner, Sean Pertwee.

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The invitation, common sense media reviewers.

Smart, emotional thriller with violence and a creepy cult.

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Reminds us that people have different ways of deal

Will seems brave and clever, he speaks out when th

An extremely gory climax, with shootings, stabbing

A woman naked from the waist down is seen in the s

Not frequent, but several uses of "f--k,&quot

Wine at a dinner party. Some whisky. Bottle of pil

Parents need to know that The Invitation is a thriller with some bloody/gory, horror-style scenes. There's lots of fighting, punching, bashing, shooting, and stabbing, with plenty of blood and many dead bodies. A coyote is run over by a car and must be put out of its misery (it's bashed with a tire…

Positive Messages

Reminds us that people have different ways of dealing with grief and that there's no real right way or wrong way to do it (unless, of course, that way includes killing people). It's also a warning against cult mentality.

Positive Role Models

Will seems brave and clever, he speaks out when things don't feel quite right, and he keeps his wits about him when everything starts to fall apart. But he's mostly just an ordinary guy trying to make the best of a bad situation.

Violence & Scariness

An extremely gory climax, with shootings, stabbings, poison, fighting, and struggling; many characters die, and bodies are seen. A woman falls and smashes her head into a table. Lots of blood. A car runs over a coyote, and it must be killed (bashed with a tire iron off screen). Disturbing story of a man punching and killing his wife.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.

Sex, Romance & Nudity

A woman naked from the waist down is seen in the shadows, briefly glimpsed. Man and a woman shown in a bathtub, kissing. Woman's breasts briefly seen. Same-sex and opposite-sex kissing. Brief sex talk. Blow job reference.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.

Not frequent, but several uses of "f--k," "motherf----r," "s--t," and "a--hole," plus "Jesus" (as an exclamation).

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

Wine at a dinner party. Some whisky. Bottle of pills (barbiturates) shown. References to cocaine. Reference to a recovering cocaine addict.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that The Invitation is a thriller with some bloody/gory, horror-style scenes. There's lots of fighting, punching, bashing, shooting, and stabbing, with plenty of blood and many dead bodies. A coyote is run over by a car and must be put out of its misery (it's bashed with a tire iron off screen). A man and a woman are seen in a bathtub, with her breasts briefly visible; a woman who's naked from the waist down is also briefly glimpsed in the shadows, and there's both same-sex and opposite-sex kissing. Language isn't constant but does include "f--k," "s--t," and "a--hole." Characters drink socially throughout the film, and cocaine and pills are shown and/or referenced. There are positive representations of a gay couple and an interracial couple. Ultimately this is a smart, well-made thriller that should provide food for thought for mature viewers. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails .

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• Kids say (12)

There aren't any parent reviews yet. Be the first to review this title.

What's the Story?

Will ( Logan Marshall-Green ) and Kira ( Emayatzy Corinealdi ) drive to a dinner party and accidentally run over a coyote, which sends a foreboding chill over the evening. They're headed to the home of Eden (Tammy Blanchard) and David (Michiel Huisman). We learn that Will and Eden once had a son, but that a tragedy took him away. Two years have passed, and Eden has been out of touch with Will and her friends, spending time in Mexico with a kind of cult, learning how to handle her pain. After watching a shocking video about the group's beliefs and practices, Will begins to think that something terribly sinister is afoot, but he can't quite get a handle on what it is. Could his own grief be distorting his reason, or are his dark feelings correct?

Is It Any Good?

This shocker of a thriller is an intelligent, atmospheric slow burn that spends its early moments on interactions and emotions, avoiding obvious exposition or setups. Logically, anything can happen. Marshall-Green anchors the first part of the movie with his watchful, soft-spoken performance, dealing with pain and suspicion in equal measure. Will has re-entered his old house for the first time in two years, and flashbacks to time with his son are appropriately heart-rending, placing him perfectly off-balance from the rest of the characters.

Director Karyn Kusama ( Girlfight , Aeon Flux , Jennifer's Body ) uses the house as a vivid character, with muted lighting and clever staging to subtly highlight conflicts. Two outsiders (played by John Carroll Lynch and Lindsay Burdge ) are also ingeniously placed to brilliantly tense effect. A brutal climax upsets the mood ever so slightly, bringing THE INVITATION closer to a standard horror pic, but an eerie coda more than makes up for it.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about The Invitation 's violence . How does the movie use it to escalate the plot? What's the impact of media violence on kids?

How is sex used in the story? In what scenes does it appear to be connected to love, and in what scenes is it used for something else? Parents, talk to your teens about your own values regarding sex and relationships?

What are some of the ways that a person can mourn and deal with the death of a loved one? Can you think of movies that address this topic in other ways?

What is a cult? Why are they attractive? Why are they scary?

Movie Details

• In theaters : April 8, 2016
• On DVD or streaming : July 26, 2016
• Cast : Logan Marshall-Green , Emayatzy Corinealdi , Tammy Blanchard
• Director : Karyn Kusama
• Inclusion Information : Female directors, Asian directors, Female actors, Black actors, Latino actors
• Studio : Drafthouse Films
• Genre : Thriller
• Run time : 100 minutes
• MPAA rating : NR
• Last updated : June 19, 2023

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

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The Invitation review: All bark, no bite

The Invitation wears its influences on its sleeve. The film’s moody, effectively spooky opening prologue, which throws viewers headfirst into the deserted halls of a creepy British mansion on one fateful night, feels like something that could have been ripped right out of a Guillermo del Toro film. Its premise, meanwhile, feels so strikingly similar to that of 2019’s Ready or Not that the YouTube page for The Invitation ’s spoilerific first trailer is filled with comments comparing the two films.

In a sense, there’s something endearing about how obviously indebted The Invitation is to filmmakers like del Toro and modern horror thrillers like Ready or Not . But The Invitation also makes a classic mistake. It is, after all, commonly understood that acknowledging one’s influences is only a good idea if you’re capable of delivering something that still feels new and fresh. The Invitation doesn’t manage to do either. Instead, the ambitious, overlong new film packs neither the bite nor the thrills present in so many of its genre predecessors.

That’s not to say The Invitation doesn’t try to bring something new to its familiar vampire tale. Rather than adopting the perspective of its central vampires or taking place in a past version of Transylvania, The Invitation begins in modern-day New York City and follows Evie (Nathalie Emmanuel), a struggling artist who makes a living working the kind of catering gigs that force her to navigate crowds of endlessly rude, handsy elites. Evie’s life is turned upside down, however, when she participates in a 23andMe-esque DNA testing program that reveals her ancestral connection to a wealthy family based in England.

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When one of her British cousins reaches out and invites her to a family wedding, Evie flies across the pond in the hopes of having the U.K. trip that she and her late mother always wanted to take together. After she arrives, Evie quickly finds herself being courted by Walter (Thomas Doherty), the handsome owner of the impressive British mansion where the film’s central, mysterious wedding is being held. However, as she begins to fall for him, Evie begins to suspect that Walter may be harboring some dark, gruesome secrets.

It shouldn’t come as much of a surprise or spoiler to say that Evie’s suspicions are well-founded. The film’s opening flashback sequence makes that utterly clear, but The Invitation nonetheless attempts to draw out all of its very obvious mysteries for as long as it can. As a result, the film quickly begins to feel overlong and repetitive throughout its second act, which frequently jumps between scenes of Evie and Walter flirting with each other and standalone sequences in which certain unfortunate victims find themselves trapped alone in rooms with mysteriously cloaked figures.

Director Jessica M. Thompson, working off of a script by Blair Butler, attempts to wring as many bone-rattling scares out of The Invitation ’s rare horror sequences as possible. However, Thompson’s forced to do so while keeping the identities of certain characters unknown, which leads to several of The Invitation ’s scariest sequences being severely underlit. That detail, combined with the actual infrequency of the film’s slasher sequences, lessens the impact of many of The Invitation ’s scariest moments.

For her part, Nathalie Emmanuel turns in a charming and likable performance as the woman at the center of The Invitation ’s gothic plot, but she’s not ultimately given enough to do in the film. That’s because The Invitation chooses to spend more time developing Walter and Evie’s predictably problematic romance than on her attempts to survive the terrifying situation that she finds herself trapped in. Not only does that creative decision lead to many sections of The Invitation becoming unbearably dull, but it also prevents Emmanuel from getting to fully explore the darker psychological places her character goes in the film’s third act.

If The Invitation ’s closing section were more satisfyingly visceral or shocking, the slow-burn nature of its first two acts might not be as damaging to its overall quality. But The Invitation ultimately pulls its punches, delivering a climax that is rushed and jam-packed with expositional info dumps. The film’s eventual resolution comes too quickly and too easily to be a satisfying payoff to Walter’s drawn-out seduction of Evie, and Thompson and Butler’s script refuses to indulge in the same darkly comic violence as Ready or Not or the deliriously gothic sense of romance that Francis Ford Coppola’s 1992 vampire classic Bram Stoker’s Dracula  does.

By refusing to take its own story as far as it should, The Invitation ends up feeling like a less eventful, tamer version of the classic horror movies it so clearly wants to honor. It spends so much of its runtime dancing around its various mysteries that the film never gets to be as gory or scary as it ought to be. For most of its story, the gothic brutality promised by its memorable opening sequence only ever pops up in short, blink-and-you’ll-miss-them bursts.

The infectious hysteria of the film’s prologue is only reached again during the memorably bloody banquet sequence that kicks off The Invitation ’s third act. Coming off an hour’s worth of build-up, the scene is refreshingly blunt and blood-soaked, but Thompson and Butler’s script also stops it from escalating into a full-fledged horror show.

The same can be said for the entirety of The Invitation , which feels like a vampire movie that has had its feigns filed down. It may exist in the same genre as the films it was influenced by, but it’s not sharp or effective enough on its own to actually draw blood.

The Invitation hits theaters on Friday, August 26.

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The Invitation Reviews

…turning inside out the kind of Prince and Me daydream about marrying into royalty feels like the right subject for horror, even if most of the thrills are all generated by the rizz of the young cast rather than the narrative…

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Apr 1, 2024

It lives or dies by how much you're willing to just hang with the cast as they chew scenery and pretend we didn't already know what's really going on.

Full Review | Original Score: 6/10 | Jan 6, 2023

The Invitation is a satisfying retelling of a classic literary monster with lots of gothic horror goodness along the way.

Full Review | Jan 4, 2023

The simmering, building romance unfolds at a steady pace. This may not light a fire in BookTok circles, but the structure fits decades of romance storytelling.

Full Review | Original Score: 6/10 | Dec 31, 2022

It cannot rise above how generic and dull a lot of it is, never bringing the story to satisfying conclusions.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/10 | Nov 30, 2022

Nothing to re-invent the wheel certainly, and not always subtle but still effectively entertaining and with some nice little references for fans of the lingering source material.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Nov 10, 2022

While this has decent horror elements and fun performances, it’s overly predictable and loses its steam when you figure out what’s going on.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/4 | Nov 4, 2022

The Invitation begins with a great premise and also succeeds in keeping you hooked for most of the part, but it's only when the film enters its climax, the plot goes haywire and misses the plot.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Nov 2, 2022

Forgettable fluff.

Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/5 | Oct 27, 2022

...a workable premise that’s employed to somewhat watchable yet ultimately lackluster effect by Thompson...

Full Review | Original Score: 2/4 | Oct 22, 2022

With several tongue-in-cheek moments, countless Easter eggs and nods to vampiric lore (one character is named Harker), The Invitation is a luscious gothic horror that doesn’t ask you to take it too seriously.

Full Review | Oct 3, 2022

There’s no glitz or glamour to set it apart from the pack, and that’s ultimately [The Invitation's] demise.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/5 | Sep 27, 2022

Loses on all counts by offering neither an effective genre film – the horror in it is zero – nor a thematically complex work. [Full review in Spanish]

Full Review | Sep 26, 2022

An unimaginative Dracula-inspired horror tale told in a gothic style concerning issues over race and class.

Full Review | Original Score: C+ | Sep 22, 2022

At times "The Invitation" feels like someone wrote, "what if Prince Harry was a vampire" on a whiteboard and called it a day.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/10 | Sep 21, 2022

Tries to play the long game of a slow burn which offers more opportunities to consider loopholes in the rules followed by the evil handsome used to ensnare our heroine. Slowly.

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Nathalie Emmanuel and Thomas Doherty are magnetic in this well-crafted and thrilling vampire romance that gives off Ready or Not vibes.

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Has more in common with bodice-ripping novellas, those fantasy romances between poor girls and aristocrats...

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Refreshing. [Full review in Spanish]

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Netflix just added a disturbing AI movie that feels exactly like ‘Black Mirror’ — and it's 88% on Rotten Tomatoes

‘Upgrade’ combines AI and body horror

Artificial intelligence is a particularly huge topic of conversation right now . The very notion of this simulation taking over the world one day is scary enough, but imagine if it could control your mind through a computer chip implant. Well, the movie “Upgrade” captures this type of body horror perfectly, and it’s just been added to Netflix . 

“Upgrade” is a cyberpunk action thriller movie that keeps your attention for one hour and forty minutes. I can guarantee the whole time you’ll be glued to the screen, shocked and slightly disturbed about how technology can dominate humans in such a frightening way. Logan Marshall-Green, known for other projects like “The Invitation” and “Prometheus”, plays a traumatized and paralyzed man who has no choice but to rely on AI.  

Curious to learn more about the sinister intentions behind AI? Let’s delve into some basic plot details and whether you should stream “Upgrade” on Netflix. 

What is ‘Upgrade about?

“Upgrade” follows a paralyzed man named Grey Trace (Logan Marshall-Green), who now uses a wheelchair after being brutally mugged after his self-driving car malfunctions. The muggers also killed his wife Asha (Melanie Vallejo) after the accident, leaving him with immense trauma and depression. However, a billionaire inventor offers Grey a computer chip implant that will essentially “cure” him. 

“Upgrade” feels like an 80s movie with modern filmmaking methods.

Now, able to walk with superhuman strength, Grey has the chance to hunt down the attackers and destroy them by himself. “Upgrade” is a violent action-packed revenge movie that will have you sweating and wincing at times, but it also reveals how this near-future driven by technology is incredibly dangerous. 

This intense thriller was directed and written by Leigh Whannell, who also worked on some of James Wan’s movies like “Saw”, “Insidious”, and “The Invisible Man”. You can clearly see the horror elements weaved into the cinematography and setting throughout, which makes “Upgrade” feel like an 80s movie with modern filmmaking methods.

Critics and audiences enjoyed this futuristic thriller 

Critics and audiences have praised this movie for its dark action and believable performances. Right now, “Upgrade” has 88% on Rotten Tomatoes , proving that it's one to watch if you need something entertaining and thrilling at the same time. 

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In terms of reviews, many critics compared this movie to the science-fiction series “Black Mirror” . If you haven’t seen or heard of this show, each episode focuses on a different story about the unease of technology and how it can affect society in frightening ways. Matt Brunson from Film Frenzy said: “With its emphasis on technology, slightly futuristic setting, and fondness for disturbing developments, Upgrade feels like an episode of Black Mirror that somehow managed to break free from its Netflix surroundings and emerge unscathed on the big screen.”

Adam Graham from Detroit News also agreed with the “Black Mirror” vibes by saying: “Part Black Mirror, part Ex-Machina and part Hardcore Henry, Upgrade is a cuckoo science fiction horror pastiche that's smarter than it looks.” 

Village Voice’s Alan Scherstuhl believes Upgrade offers “memorable, legible fights, a compelling bombed-out retro-apocalyptic look and a mystery that seems obvious at the start but then keeps twisting.”

Not everyone is going to enjoy this AI body horror though. Nigel Andrews from Financial Times thought the movie was “fun for an hour, then a self-drive speed ride to nowhere very much.”

‘Upgrade’ is worth a watch on Netflix

You should absolutely stream “Upgrade” on Netflix if you enjoy futuristic movies with gory violence and fun action sequences. Marshall-Green does a great job playing a desperate man who will do anything to seek revenge. Plus, a good revenge movie is always satisfying to watch. 

Who knows, this movie could even encourage you to binge-watch “Black Mirror”. Netflix is bringing back “Black Mirror” in 2025 with six new episodes , so it’s definitely worth watching if you’re into creepy science-fiction thrillers. Just don’t let “Upgrade” give you nightmares about how intelligent AI might get in the future… 

Want more? Check out one of the best disturbing dramas on Netflix or watch the top psychological thrillers you probably haven’t seen before . 

Stream “Upgrade” on Netflix now.

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Alix is a Streaming Writer at Tom’s Guide, which basically means watching the best movies and TV shows and then writing about them. Previously, she worked as a freelance writer for Screen Rant and Bough Digital, both of which sparked her interest in the entertainment industry. When she’s not writing about the latest movies and TV shows, she’s either playing horror video games on her PC or working on her first novel.

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10 Underrated Horror Movies on Netflix That Deserve To Be Seen

H orror enthusiasts often scour streaming platforms like Netflix for their next scare, but some gems get overlooked in the sea of options. Whether it’s due to mixed reviews or niche appeal, these movies deserve a second look. Here's a list of ten underrated horror films on Netflix that are worth your time.

This British horror film follows four friends who embark on a hiking trip in the Swedish wilderness to honor their recently deceased friend. What starts as a bonding experience quickly turns into a nightmare as they stumble upon an ancient evil lurking in the forest. The Ritual is a masterclass in atmospheric horror, blending folklore with modern psychological terror.

The Invitation

In this vampire thriller, Evie (Nathalie Emmanuel) discovers she has a long-lost cousin after taking a DNA test. Invited to a lavish wedding in the English countryside, she soon finds herself entangled in a sinister plot. The Invitation combines gothic horror with modern themes, creating a menacing and suspenseful narrative that keeps viewers hooked.

Creep is a found-footage thriller that showcases the disturbing interactions between a videographer and his enigmatic client. The film excels in creating an unsettling atmosphere, with Mark Duplass delivering a chilling performance that keeps you guessing until the very end. It’s a slow burn that ramps up to a terrifying conclusion.

Things Heard & Seen

This supernatural thriller follows a couple who moves into an old farmhouse, only to discover sinister secrets about their new home. Amanda Seyfried shines in her role, and the film combines elements of ghost stories with marital drama, creating a haunting narrative that explores themes of trust and betrayal.

Blood Red Sky

Vampires get a fresh twist in this German film that takes place aboard a hijacked plane. Nadja, a woman traveling with her son, is forced to reveal her dark secret to save the passengers. Despite some plot holes, Blood Red Sky offers a suspenseful and unique take on the vampire genre, making it a must-watch for fans of horror and thrillers alike.

Choose or Die

Blending 80s nostalgia with modern technology, Choose or Die follows two friends who discover a cursed video game that forces them to make deadly choices. While it received mixed reviews, the film’s inventive premise and suspenseful execution make it deserving of a second look. Asa Butterfield and Iola Evans deliver strong performances that keep viewers engaged.

Day of the Dead: Bloodline

Zombie aficionados should add this film to their queue. A reimagining of George A. Romero’s classic, Day of the Dead: Bloodline offers plenty of gore and intense action. While it might not have garnered widespread acclaim, it provides a solid entry into the zombie genre with enough thrills to satisfy fans of the undead.

Megan Fox stars in this gripping thriller as a woman handcuffed to her dead husband as part of a twisted revenge plot. Despite initial criticisms, Till Death delivers a tightly wound narrative filled with tension and unexpected twists. Fox’s performance adds depth to a story that keeps you on the edge of your seat from start to finish.

For those who find dolls creepy, Sabrina is a must-watch. This Indonesian horror film features a haunted doll that brings chaos and terror to a family. Combining elements of humor and supernatural horror, Sabrina offers a unique and entertaining experience that stands out in the crowded genre of haunted doll movies.

He Never Died

Starring Henry Rollins, this dark comedy horror film follows an immortal cannibal who tries to live a quiet life but is drawn back into violence. Rollins’ deadpan delivery and the film’s blend of horror and humor make He Never Died a compelling watch. It’s a fresh take on immortality and redemption with plenty of shocking moments.

These ten horror films may not have garnered widespread attention, but each offers something unique and terrifying. From supernatural thrills to psychological chills, these movies are perfect for horror fans looking to explore hidden gems on Netflix. So, dim the lights, grab some popcorn, and get ready to be scared by these underrated horror treasures.

The post 10 Underrated Horror Movies on Netflix That Deserve To Be Seen appeared first on New York Tech Media .

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Netflix: jennifer lopez ai thriller among new movies on streaming service this week.

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Jennifer Lopez in "Atlas."

Atlas —Jennifer Lopez’s latest movie—is among the new and previously released films debuting on the streaming service this week.

A Netflix original movie, Atlas stars Lopez as Agent Atlas Shepherd, a data analyst who has zero trust in artificial intelligence. Atlas is forced to embrace AI, though, when she needs to utilize the technology to catch Harlan (Simi Liu)—a rogue robot who was created to advance humanity that is now threatening to destroy it after failing in a previous attempt.

Atlas is directed by Brad Peyton, who previously directed Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson in the action-adventure hits Rampage and San Andreas .

Also starring Sterling K. Brown, Lana Parilla and Mark Strong, Atlas premieres on Netflix on Friday.

‘A Simple Favor’ (2018)

Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively star in A Simple Favor , a crime comedy mystery movie by Bridesmaids and Spy director Paul Feig.

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Kendrick plays Stephanie, a widowed mother and vlogger who befriends a high-society PR agent, Emily (Lively) when their sons become friends in school. After Emily goes missing, Stephanie investigates her new friend’s disappearance and gets caught up in some complicated relationship issues along the way.

According to box office tracker The Numbers , A Simple Favor was a hit at the worldwide box office earning $97.6 million against a $20 million budget.

The film was also embraced by Rotten Tomatoes critics, earning an 84% “fresh” rating based on 257 reviews and a 73% positive Audience Score based on verified ratings from 5,000-plus registered users of the site.

Also starring Henry Golding, A Simple Favor debuts Sunday on Netflix.

Illusions for Sale: The Rise and Fall of Generation Zoe (2024)

Also new on the streamer this week is the Netflix original documentary Illusions for Sale: The Rise and Fall of Generation Zoe .

The logline from Netflix reads, “In a world where the pandemic has wreaked havoc, a world steeped in frustration and uncertainty, a man comes along to shake up the markets—and people's consciousness—with an initiative that encompasses education, the financial sphere, and spiritual development.

“ Illusions for Sale: The Rise and Fall of Generation Zoe depicts the genesis, the growth, and the collapse of Latin America's most bizarre and ambitious financial platform, itself an accurate portrait of its eccentric creator, Leonardo Cositorto.”

Illusions for Sale: The Rise and Fall of Generation Zoe , premieres on Netflix on Thursday.

‘Butterfly In The Sky: The Story of Reading Rainbow’ (2022)

Produced in 2022, the documentary was originally titled Butterfly in the Sky when it debuted at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2023 and has been retitled Butterfly in the Sky: The Story of Reading Rainbow for its debut on Netflix.

The film chronicles the incredible story of the classic PBS educational program hosted by LeVar Burton, which featured 155 episodes in its initial run from 1983 to 2006.

Burton is naturally featured in the documentary, which recalls the run of the beloved children's series that taught kids about the joy of reading. In addition to Burton, the documentary features insights from actors Whoopi Goldberg, Alisa Reyes and Kenny Blank, as well as director Dean Parisot and key creatives involved in the Reading Rainbow series.

Butterfly in the Sky: The Story of Reading Rainbow premieres on Netflix on Friday.

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‘thelma the unicorn’ review: brittany howard voices title character in a netflix animated charmer for all ages.

The movie is based on Aaron Blabey's children's book, and features a vocal cast including Will Forte, Fred Armisen and Jon Heder.

By Frank Scheck

Frank Scheck

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That all changes when Thelma, playing around with a carrot, gets hit by a cloud of paint and glitter spilled by a passing truck. With the carrot stuck to her snout, she now looks like a unicorn, and resolves to change her life by adopting a new, magical identity. Rejecting the opportunity to make more music with her friends and blind music producer/guitarist Peggy Purvis (Maliaka Mitchell), she instead gets caught up in the pop music world, exemplified by superstar whale artist Nikki (Ally Dixon) and her scantily clad back-up dancers The Pool Boys.

The film’s satirical portrait of the excesses of the pop music world is consistently fresh and funny, and definitely on point, with Thelma’s original songs rejected by her record label in favor of ones created by algorithms. Adding to the authenticity is Howard, whose soulful vocalizing is spotlighted in several terrific original songs including “Fire Inside” and “Just as You Are.” She also proves a natural as a voice actor, investing her characterization with winning vulnerability and charm. Thelma is not the only character afforded a musical showcase, with Clement leading the raucously fun musical number “Three C’s to Success.”

The off-kilter character animation proves consistently appealing. And Clement’s Diamond is a hoot with his ‘60s-era London mod clothes and absurd facial hair. One of the film’s funniest visual gags involves a truck driver, Crusty Trucker (funnily voiced by Zach Galifianakis ), who demonstrates his bona fides as a champion clog dancer by showing Thelma his grotesquely muscled calf.

As with so many animated films, Thelma the Unicorn becomes overly busy in its final act, sacrificing some of its sly wit to cluttered visual freneticism apparently designed to rouse small fry who might be succumbing to a sugar crash. But for most of its running time, it’s a small-scale delight that balances quirky humor and heartfelt emotion to excellent effect.   

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Renée Zellweger Is Back as Bridget Jones — What We Know About 'Mad About the Boy'

Colin Firth has yet to confirm his return as Mark Darcy.

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Does 'bridget jones 4' have a release date, will 'bridget jones 4' be in theaters, is there a trailer for 'bridget jones 4', who will star in 'bridget jones 4', what is 'bridget jones 4' about, what happened in the previous ‘bridget jones’ movies, who is making 'bridget jones 4'.

A fourth Bridget Jones movie is officially in the works, marking the return of the UK’s most beloved love triangle . After much speculation and anticipation, fans of the endearing hot mess Bridget Jones ( Renée Zellweger ) can look forward to more of her romantic exploits with her in the future. Following the success of the franchise’s previous films, the upcoming fourth installment, adapted from Helen Fielding ’s novel of the same name , is poised to follow Bridget into her fifties as she starts a new chapter in her life.

While her former flame Mark Darcy ( Colin Firth ) may have taken much of the spotlight in previous films, the fourth movie is expected to give more screen time to the film’s charming bad boy, Daniel Cleaver ( Hugh Grant ). Without further ado, here’s everything we know so far about Bridget Jones 4 .

Bridget Jones's Diary

Bridget, a single woman in her thirties, embarks on a mission to overhaul her life by keeping a diary, where she records her resolutions, romantic entanglements, and professional aspirations. Her love life becomes a rollercoaster as she juggles the attentions of her charming but roguish boss and a seemingly cold but earnest family friend. Amidst comedic blunders and poignant reflections, Bridget’s journey highlights themes of self-discovery and genuine love. The film offers a witty and heartwarming portrayal of personal growth and the complexities of relationships in the contemporary world.

Bridget Jones 4 is scheduled to be released globally on Valentine’s Day 2025 in the U.S. The sequel comes nearly nine years after the release of the previous movie, Bridget Jones's Baby .

The biggest shock about the new Bridget Jones movie is that while it'll be released in theaters internationally, including the UK; in the US it will receive a direct-to-streaming release on Peacock. However, it wouldn't be too surprising if the movie headed to the big screen in the US instead, considering that other studios have shifted some of their streaming movies in favor of theatrical releases.

With news of the film’s production still fresh off the press, the trailer for Bridget Jones 4 is currently unavailable. Stick around for future updates!

Playing the iconic lead role of Bridget Jones is none other than Zellweger. As a single woman navigating her thirties in London, Bridget finds herself under pressure from her married friends and parents’ constant nagging. To make sure she maintains some of her sanity, she chronicles the ups and downs of her daily life by jotting them down in her diary. Although Bridget proclaims that she’s focusing on her career, she can’t help but wonder what it’s like to have a man by her side, which would only be possible if she starts attracting the right kind of men.

Starring alongside Zellweger is Grant as the devilishly handsome yet dastardly Daniel Cleaver . Earlier in the movie, Daniel is first introduced as Bridget’s super flirtatious boss, only to end up falling in love with her. Although Daniel isn’t physically around in the third Bridget Jones movie, based on the shocking easter egg in the final scene, it looks like audiences will be seeing a lot more of David in the upcoming fourth installment.

Unfortunately, it remains unclear whether Firth would be reprising his role as the awkwardly stiffening yet endearing Mark Darcy. Audiences may remember him as the human-rights lawyer who spent his childhood years playing with his neighbor Bridget, only to drift apart later on in life. As one of London’s most eligible bachelors, it would be impossible for someone of his high stature to even consider dating Bridget. But Mark sees Bridget for more than she thinks she is.

Other stars expected to appear in the fourth Bridget Jones movie are Emma Thompson , who starred as Bridget’s intimidating obstetrician. Leo Woodall , recognized for his performances in The White Lotus Season 2 and Netflix’s One Day , is set to play Bridget’s young love interest. Also on the cast list is Chiwetel Ejiofor , who garnered attention for his role in the Oscar-winning film 12 Years A Slave .

Bridget Jones 4 is reportedly based on Fielding’s book, “Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy” published in Autumn 2013. While the official movie synopsis remains under wraps, interested viewers can check out the book’s synopsis below for a glimpse of what to expect.

“Move over, Bridget Jones’s diary: She’s back, and this time she’s texting and tweeting. Fourteen years after landing Mark Darcy, Bridget’s life has taken her places she never expected. But despite the new challenges of single parenting, online dating, wildly morphing dress sizes, and bafflingly complex remote controls, she is the same irrepressible and endearing soul we all remember—though her talent for embarrassing herself in hilarious ways has become dangerously amplified now that she has 752 Twitter followers. As Bridget navigates head lice epidemics, school-picnic humiliations, and cross-generational sex, she learns that life isn’t over when you start needing reading glasses—and why one should never, ever text while drunk. Studded with witty observations about the perils and absurdities of our times, Mad About the Boy is both outrageously comic and genuinely moving. As we watch her dealing with heartbreaking loss and rediscovering love and joy, Bridget invites us to fall for her all over again.”

The fourth installment of the Bridget Jones franchise is poised to follow Bridget into her fifties. At this point in her life, Bridget has become a widow after the passing of Mark Darcy and a mother to two children. Reflecting the modern times of the novel, Bridget learns to navigate her new life as a single mother in the age of social media - which includes searching for love through dating apps. To top things off, Bridget finds herself flirting with someone 28 years her junior, although someone from her past might just come and shake things up.

While it remains unclear how much of the film’s plot is adapted from the original novel, audiences will likely witness Bridget remaining true to her unhinged, yet entertaining ways, even after all these years.

Bridget Jones’s Diary first introduced audiences to the delightfully average Bridget Jones, a thirty-two-year-old woman who smokes too much, drinks too much, and can’t seem to put a filter on her mouth. Approaching the new year with hopes of finding a man of her own, Bridget resolves to take control of her own life for the better. To hold herself accountable, she begins keeping a diary, promising to always tell the complete truth. However, her romantic life ignites into chaos when her boss, Daniel Cleaver (Grant), starts flirting with her at work. To make matters even more complicated , her childhood neighbor and now barrister, Mark Dary (Firth), seems to be popping up everywhere in her life.

The second installment, Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason , takes place not long after the events of the first movie. Picking up four weeks after Bridget Jones’s Diary , Bridget and Mark are officially together. However, the relationship isn’t all rainbows and butterflies. Suspicious about Mark’s very attractive intern, Bridget can’t help but let her petty jealousy consume her. As for her professional life, Bridget has been developing a successful television career, becoming the face of the tabloid TV show “Sit Up, Britain”. Just as things are going well for her, Bridget’s former boss Daniel Cleaver decides to join her station, ultimately going on a trip to Thailand together for an assignment gone wrong.

The follow-up movie, Bridget Jones’s Baby , catapults audiences far into the future, featuring a now 43-year-old Bridget. She’s now a television producer, partnered with her anchor friend Miranda ( Sarah Solemani ), and her career has soared beyond her wildest dreams. There’s just one problem: she’s still single. No longer with Mark Darcy, Bridget’s romantic life has been rather stagnant, though she did have brief sex with Mark after learning of his divorce from his wife, Camilla ( Agni Scott ). Things take an unexpected turn when Bridget accepts Mirand’s invitation to a music festival, where she may or may not have accidentally slept with a charming stranger named Jack Qwant ( Patrick Dempsey ). To make matters even more shocking, Bridget discovers she’s pregnant . But the question is: who’s the father?

Fielding, the author behind the Bridget Jones books, dropped the news in 2022 that she was involved in a fourth Bridget Jones film, with Universal Pictures and Working Title on board. Fast forward to April 2024, and pre-production is reportedly in full swing. Filming plans are reported to be already taking shape, with all the necessary groundwork laid out. Despite some initial reservations about its realization, the movie is said to be on its way.

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Jennifer Lopez shares the ‘one thing’ she trusts as she attends ‘Atlas’ premiere without Ben Affleck

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Jennifer Lopez revealed you can always count on your family to be there for you as rumors of her split from husband Ben Affleck continue to swirl.

Lopez attended the red carpet premiere of her new film, “Atlas,” on Tuesday without Affleck by her side .

“One thing you can always trust in [is] family,” the actress told Entertainment Tonight while discussing the themes of the upcoming sci-fi movie, which follows a woman who must learn to trust AI in order to save the world.

Lopez didn’t specify if “family” included Affleck, but she shares two children, twins Max and Emme, 16, with ex Marc Anthony, and is close with her mother and sisters, Leslie and Lynda.

A source exclusively told Page Six this week that Affleck, who wed Lopez in 2022 , has “come to his senses” about his marriage and knows that they will divorce.

“If there was a way to divorce on grounds of temporary insanity, he would,” the insider added.

“He feels like the last two years was just a fever dream, and he’s come to his senses now and understands there is just no way this is going to work.”

The pair first sparked split rumors when Lopez attended the 2024 Met Gala solo earlier this month.

Eagle-eyed fans then realized the “Gigli” co-stars had not been photographed together in more than a month.

Affleck has also been spotted looking at properties in the Brentwood neighborhood of Los Angeles.

The “Jenny from the Block” singer briefly mentioned Affleck in an anecdote she told on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” Monday, commenting on the engagement ring the “Argo” star had gotten her “years ago.”

The high-profile couple were engaged in 2004 before calling it off, only to reunite years later.

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They wed in two ceremonies – one in Las Vegas and one on Affleck’s Georgia estate , blending her two kids and Affleck’s three children with Jennifer Garner.

Their love story was recounted in Lopez’s documentary , “Greatest Love Story Never Told,” which premiered in February.

In it, the Oscar winner shared that he had one request when they rekindled their romance.

“Getting back together, I said, ‘Listen, one of the things I don’t want is a relationship on social media,’” Affleck said in the film.

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“Then I sort of realized it’s not a fair thing to ask. It’s sort of like, you’re gonna marry a boat captain and you go, ‘Well, I don’t like the water.’”

Neither of them has commented publicly on the red-hot rumors but Lopez recently “liked” a cryptic Instagram post describing qualities in a partner that could lead to an unhealthy relationship.

The  post explained , “You cannot build a healthy relationship with somebody” who “lacks integrity and emotional safety.”

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