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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.

The Invitation

“The Invitation” is a dinner-party-from-hell scenario best served as unspoiled as possible. After all, a psychological thriller built upon slow-simmering tension is only as good as its surprises. Therefore, I will refrain from any major bean spillage and provide what I think is just enough to get you hooked.

However, there is one element of note that can be revealed and celebrated without peril. Filmmaker Karyn Kusama has at last fulfilled the promise she showed in her knockout feature debut, “ Girlfight ,” a pugilistic coming-of-age drama from 2000 that also launched the career of its scrappy star, Michelle Rodriguez . With “The Invitation,” Kusama appears to have gotten her lean-and-mean vision back into focus, one that went astray with 2005’s female-driven action flop “Aeon Flux” and 2009’s Diablo Cody-ized, flesh-eating cheerleader horror comedy “Jennifer’s Body.”

With backing courtesy of Gamechanger Films, which finances indie movies directed by women, Kusama seems to be freed from much of the commerce-minded constraints placed upon her by regular studios. It also feels refreshing if almost shocking that nearly all of the characters at this reunion of friends, which takes place in a sprawling mid-century-style abode in the Hollywood Hills, are in their 30s. In other words, they are allowed to be adults. No blatant pandering to the youthful demo here. Plus, the cast is casually diverse as it features both multiracial and Asian couples.

The script—written by Kusama’s husband, Phil Hay , and Matt Manfredi —divides the story’s action equally between the genders. While there is a bit of a “Big Chill” feel—grief and loss of a loved one is the film’s emotional engine—“The  Invitation” is primarily an intimate, highly effective chiller in a confined space with an armrest-grabber of a payoff.

The setup immediately provides cause for anxiety. Will ( Logan Marshall-Green , all haunted eyes and exposed nerves) and Kira (nicely low-key Emayatzy Corinealdi of “ Miles Ahead ”) driving along a twisty high-altitude road. Not without trepidation, they are headed to a gathering held in Will’s former home. It is being thrown by his ex-wife, Eden ( Tammy Blanchard , all ruby red lips and clingy white gown), who he hasn’t seen  in two years , and her new husband, David ( Michiel Huisman , whose specialty is scruffy hunks on TV shows like “ Nashville ” and “Treme”).

Foreshadowing comes into play early when Will’s car suddenly hits a coyote. He puts the injured animal out of its misery by whacking it with a tire iron. Once they reach their destination, a shaken Will and Kira are warmly greeted both by their friends in attendance but also by their touchy-feely hosts. Toasting “new beginnings,” David breaks out some triple-digit bottles of fine wine and everyone gets cozy—save for Will, especially after he spies a female stranger down the hall sans pants and panties.

Turns out, there are two unknown quantities joining the festivities. Manic pixie nut Sadie ( Lindsay Burdge ), now wearing a mini dress, and Pruitt, an older balding man (the ever-invaluable John Carroll Lynch ). David and Eden explain that they met them in Mexico where they were visiting a community—a cult as it were, where they learned to deal with trauma.

Soon enough, David hauls out his laptop and shows his guests what amounts to a recruitment video—one that ends with a rather disturbing and unexpected sequence. Will, already suspicious, now has his hackles on high alert.  When he makes the observation that Eden, David and their fellow cult members are weird, a fellow partier replies, “Yeah, they’re a little weird. But this is L.A. They’re harmless.”

Of course, similar statements were probably made about the Manson family, too.

Kusama keeps us guessing for quite a while, maybe for too long. Is Will, prone to unsettling flashbacks of life with his former spouse, just imagining things or should everyone run for their lives? Then again, Lynch has major creepy cred as the prime suspect in 2007’s “ Zodiac ” and Blanchard’s Eden, for all her talk of tossing aside her anger, certainly can deliver one a hell of a slap when someone declares her new belief system to be “fucking crazy.” Plus, that dinner—as delicious as it looks—arrives awfully late in the proceedings. I would have been out of there hours ago, if only because of hunger pangs.

Some clues that suggest something might be afoot turn out to be red herrings. But others, not so much.

Taut pacing is, indeed, a virtue in these sorts of intense circumstances and that is one place where Kusama could improve her game. But, to her credit, she has picked her cast wisely—Marshall-Green especially, who acts as the viewer’s guide and keeps the proceedings honest without stooping to overacting. And the film ends on a clever visual note that is open to debate. In other words, this is an “ Invitation” you should RSVP with a “will attend.”

Susan Wloszczyna

Susan Wloszczyna spent much of her nearly thirty years at USA TODAY as a senior entertainment reporter. Now unchained from the grind of daily journalism, she is ready to view the world of movies with fresh eyes.

• Mike Doyle as Tommy
• Logan Marshall-Green as Will
• Tammy Blanchard as Eden
• Karl Yune as Choi
• Emayatzy Corinealdi as Kira
• Michiel Huisman as David
• Marieh Delfino as Claire
• Lindsay Burdge as Sadie
• John Carroll Lynch as Pruitt
• Toby Huss as Dr. Joseph
• Michelle Krusiec as Gina

Cinematographer

• Bobby Shore
• Karyn Kusama
• Matt Manfredi
• Plummy Tucker
• Theodore Shapiro

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'The Invitation' Review: A Gothic for the Modern Age — With Bite

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It may be difficult to name a work of horror fiction that has so undeniably sunk its teeth into centuries of pop culture than Bram Stoker 's Dracula . The epistolary novel first published in 1897 was initially regarded as a Gothic work, but laid the foundation for many a vampire tale that would follow thereafter. If the titular Transylvanian count had never been created, it's difficult to say whether these fanged creatures of the night would have been as popular as they are today — but the world of Dracula is one that, all these years later, continues to be ripe for drawing stories from. Most adaptations or reimaginings tend to focus on the vampire himself, but more and more are beginning to veer away from that focus in favor of prioritizing other characters at their center. In the conceit of the original novel, Dracula's mysterious and seductive vampire brides only appear briefly, but their impact has continued to live on.

This year's The Invitation , directed by Jessica M. Thompson and written by Blair Butler , draws inspiration from that element of the classic story in following an unsuspecting American woman named Evie ( Nathalie Emmanuel ) who travels to the English countryside after receiving an invite to a wedding from an extended family she's only just discovered she has. Over the course of her stay in the impressive mansion, Evie finds herself trapped between the promise of romance and horror, wrestling over whether to give into the possibility of a relationship with the manor's handsome lord Walter ( Thomas Doherty ) as barely-glimpsed threats lurk around her room each night.

The Invitation roots itself in embracing many of the best and most timeless Gothic tropes — with a modern flair, of course, but bringing a story like this to the present day wouldn't be nearly as successful if it wasn't for the actress grounding the supernatural in more realism. Emmanuel, who fans may already be familiar with for her roles in Game of Thrones and several Fast & Furious movies, plays an endearing heroine in Evie, a part-time caterer and struggling artist still grieving the loss of her mother, which leads her to search for any hint of remaining family she might be able to discover courtesy of a mail-in DNA test. The surprising results, in turn, put her in touch with a long-lost cousin, Oliver ( Hugh Skinner ), who endearingly fumbles his way through inviting her to an upcoming wedding across the pond — and once she accepts, Evie finds herself in a realm she's completely unprepared to navigate.

RELATED: ‘The Invitation’ Trailer Shows Not All Family Can Be Trusted

Emmanuel's character is our entry point into the story, but also the fresh-eyed perspective that comes to the manor house with a clear preference of prioritizing sincerity over propriety. From being too helpful with the maids to insisting on cleaning up after herself, Evie's rejection of the way things are simply just done immediately puts her at odds with the butler, Mr. Fields (a scene-gnawing Sean Pertwee of Gotham fame), and their clashing continues even into the film's most climactic moments. Contrast to that tension, however, is the reassuring presence of Mrs. Swift ( Carol Ann Crawford ), the head housekeeper, whose complicated emotions about the manor's newest guest don't prevent her from becoming a valued ally to Evie when she needs it the most.

While the staff is significantly more conflicted about Evie's presence, there is one person who openly welcomes her with charm practically oozing out of his pores — Walter. With his piercing blue eyes and a jaw well-defined enough to possibly cut through glass itself, Doherty has been perfectly cast as the English gentleman more than capable of wooing Evie from top to bottom, and his chemistry with Emmanuel immediately sells the belief that these characters would develop a connection in the midst of whatever horrors the manor house is hiding. Later on, he proves just as compelling a presence on-screen when the Alexander family's intentions for their newly-discovered relative are ultimately revealed — and in the most horrifying fashion possible. Doherty feels equally at home playing either the romantic lead or the manipulator driven by his own secret motives, and as the latter gradually and unnervingly emerges, it's heartbreaking enough to throw all of Walter's previous actions into question but equally thrilling to get to watch Doherty embrace all the darkest edges of the character's potential.

Rounding out the cast are the so-called maids of honor, the women who have been tapped to serve the unseen bride at her impending nuptials and couldn't be more different from one another in presence but offer Evie a myriad of personalities to bounce off of. The tall, intimidating Viktoria (played by Mr. Robot 's Stephanie Corneliussen ) is at odds with her from the start, pairing thinly-veiled insults with equally disconcerting microaggressions against Evie's background, but by contrast, Lucy ( Uncharted 's Alana Boden ) is a kind, welcoming presence, making consistent attempts to rope Evie in on fun pre-wedding activities. Granted, even something as innocent as a spa day adopts a particularly ominous tone; one of the most tension-filled scenes in the entire movie happens over the course of the three getting manicures in a room deep within the manor, one that comes closest to resembling a tomb in and of itself. The film's primary location, Nádasdy Castle in Budapest, only contributes to the overall sense of history and legacy; none of the movie's scenes would be nearly as effective without the bones of such a place serving as their backdrop.

It's also in this environment where the horror truly begins — slow and foreboding rather than too reliant on jumpscares, offering a creeping sense that something isn't quite right each time the sun sets and everyone has turned in for the night — and while Evie is tormented in her own room, terrified by specters that only disappear once she turns on the light, even darker threats persist elsewhere, with unsuspecting staff finding themselves the victims of a dark and looming figure that pulls them into the shadows and cuts off their resulting screams. Thompson and director of photography Autumn Eakin prove themselves an expert pair when it comes to ratcheting up the suspense, with clever cuts and lighting that do more to make the monsters frightening sight unseen in a majority of the film; even when the reveal happens, the camerawork that results contributes to that sickening feeling of realization, as artifice is stripped away and the real purpose of the wedding is laid bare. The third act, however, is where The Invitation notably struggles, as if attempting to plant itself squarely in the divide between suspense and action movie when it really thrived most as the former. When the film leans into its indisputable strengths, the result is bitingly good horror; any attempts to swerve outside that vein result in a more toothless execution. Ultimately, though, The Invitation offers an inventive reimagining of a literary classic while asserting itself as a fun addition to the modern Gothic canon.

The Invitation will premiere exclusively in theaters nationwide on August 26.

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‘The Invitation’ Review: Karyn Kusama’s Best Movie Since ‘Girlfight’

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READ MORE: Watch: ‘The Invitation’ Teaser Summons You to a Sinister Dinner Party

With “ The Invitation ,” Kusama has returned to a subtler register. Having reworked formulas several times out, she finally heads in a surprising direction. 

While technically a thriller that dovetails into slasher territory for its third act, “The Invitation” maintains a unique intrigue that constantly defies expectations. Set in the confines of a palatial house in the Hollywood Hills, where a dinner party reunion takes a series of ghoulish turns, the movie finds bearded Will (Logan Marshall-Green) reuniting with his ex-wife Eden (Tammy Blanchard) along with assorted friends and their partners several years after a traumatic event. The particulars of that event remain unclear for much of the story, but they’re also irrelevant. Kusama scrutinizes emotions and attitudes by isolating them from too many details.

It’s a sign of things to come when Will accidentally kills a coyote on his way to the house. More than anything else, “The Invitation” deals with the disorienting effect of sudden events. Set almost entirely within the confines of the home — where, it turns out, he used to live — “The Invitation” careens through strange conversations that shift from harmless party talk to darker possibilities.  As Will grows increasingly suspicious of his old cohorts’ motives, unfamiliar people start showing up, and the nature of the gathering grows increasingly mysterious. Even before they start talking about their fascination with a spiritual guru who harbors a creepy obsession with death, there’s a certain cultlike quality to the way the group surrounds Will and his current wife (Emayatzy Corinealdi) in the living room. Kusama and her screenwriters (husband Phil Hay and Matt Manfredi) seem to be suggesting that group dynamics have the ability to squeeze out individual expression. Stuck with each other, they can’t possibly all get along. The house, at first a safe place for people seeking catharsis from a troubling existence, instead traps them in it. 

While the high bar for reunions gone wrong is “The Celebration,” Kusama’s abstract approach suggests Michael Haneke’s “Funny Games” by way of Harold Pinter’s “The Birthday Party” (with a touch of Ti West’s Jonestown-inspired “The Sacrament”). At times, the humorless tone and meandering conversations drag, but an expert cast keeps the sense of mystery in play. While Marshall-Green mostly looks infuriated with his peers, Blanchard delivers a wonderfully eerie turn as his mentally unstable ex. Michael Huisman becomes the de facto host of the proceedings with a strangely charismatic delivery, even when he forces the whole room to watch a video of death. 

READ MORE: Drafthouse Films Acquires Karyn Kusama’s SXSW Midnight Hit ‘The Invitation’

And then there are the unknown variables invited to join the shindig: Lindsay Burdge (“A Teacher”) is a unnerving femme fatale who tries to seduce with every stare, while the always engaging John Carroll Lynch portrays another strange visitor who clearly has psychopathic tendencies from the moment he walks through the door. His casual admission of a criminal background in the context of a seemingly harmless party game marks one of a few highlights when the aimless chatter suddenly gets dead serious. 

If Kusama’s films to date have a single theme linking all of them together, it’s that life is a constant battleground, no matter the specifics. That makes “The Invitation” her definitive statement, as it lands on the suggestion that surviving one tumultuous experience only leads to more of the same. 

“The Invitation” opens in theaters and VOD this Friday. 

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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.

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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 Reviews

Despite it being obvious that he is a bad decision, you will still root for Evie to hook up with Walter. There are worst fates.

Full Review | Jun 9, 2024

…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.

Full Review | Original Score: 1.5/4 | Sep 21, 2022

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

Full Review | Sep 19, 2022

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

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Sep 15, 2022

Refreshing. [Full review in Spanish]

Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/5 | Sep 15, 2022

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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

by Austen Goslin

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.

• Common Sense Says
• Parents Say 4 Reviews
• Kids Say 9 Reviews

Common Sense Media Review

Thriller about vampires has lots of blood but doesn't suck.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that The Invitation is a female-centric vampire film from writer-director Jessica M. Thompson. Through the eyes of Evie (Nathalie Emmanuel), viewers are able to see how women often feel like prey, unsure who among them may be a predator. There are moments of intense violence, including…

Why Age 15+?

Intense peril and distress. Vampires. Creepy images, startling movements, feelin

Sex indicated by removal of clothes and close-ups of passionate kissing, followe

Strong language includes "ass," "a--hole," "bulls--t," "s--t," "tatas," and one

Sparkling wine at big social events. Supporting character pours herself straight

Any Positive Content?

This is a female-forward story with a female writer, director, and cinematograph

Trust your instincts: If it's too good to be true, it probably is. You're strong

Women support each other, even putting themselves at risk to help one another. M

Violence & Scariness

Intense peril and distress. Vampires. Creepy images, startling movements, feeling of impending doom. Bloody bites, cuts, slices, including one explicitly gory scene. Impaling. Burning alive. Characters held captive. Death by suicide that's depicted as positive. Reference to sexually inappropriate behavior in the workplace.

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

Sex, Romance & Nudity

Sex indicated by removal of clothes and close-ups of passionate kissing, followed by a couple seen lying in bed together after. Woman's bare backside seen from a distance. Negative female character wears a cleavage-revealing dress. Romance full of stereotypical sweeping gestures.

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

Strong language includes "ass," "a--hole," "bulls--t," "s--t," "tatas," and one somewhat comical use of "f--k." "Jesus!" used as an exclamation.

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

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

Sparkling wine at big social events. Supporting character pours herself straight alcohol. Joking, negative reference to drugs. Main character wisely chooses not to drink a beverage prepared by someone she doesn't know.

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

Diverse Representations

This is a female-forward story with a female writer, director, and cinematographer. Main character is a mixed-race woman who's nervous about meeting the White side of her family for the first time. Through her conversations with her best friend, a Black woman, she shares common feelings and experiences of being Black and female. Supporting character is a woman of color.

Did we miss something on diversity? Suggest an update.

Positive Messages

Trust your instincts: If it's too good to be true, it probably is. You're stronger than you know. Women often feel like prey, unsure who among them may be a predator.

Positive Role Models

Women support each other, even putting themselves at risk to help one another. Main character treats those in service as peers, chatting with them, getting to know their names, not expecting them to clean up after her.

Parents need to know that The Invitation is a female-centric vampire film from writer-director Jessica M. Thompson . Through the eyes of Evie ( Nathalie Emmanuel ), viewers are able to see how women often feel like prey, unsure who among them may be a predator. There are moments of intense violence, including bloody wounds, a person on fire, and one explicit slice that's intended to spur a strong reaction. A death by suicide is positioned as a heroic choice. Sex is implied through close-ups of kissing, and a woman's bare backside is shown from afar. Expect some language ("ass," "s--t," and one use of "f--k") and drinking, too. While peril is high for the characters, so is courage. And when Evie's clichéd romantic fantasies seem to be coming true, she -- along with many viewers -- actively questions them: Can we allow ourselves to give in and enjoy the moment? Or should we know that if something looks too good to be true, it probably is? To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails .

Where to Watch

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Parent and Kid Reviews

• Parents say (4)
• Kids say (9)

Based on 4 parent reviews

'The Invitation,' now this, is a good one!!

What's the story.

After she takes a DNA test, Evie ( Nathalie Emmanuel ) is contacted by her long-lost cousin Oliver ( Hugh Skinner ). He offers to fly her to England to meet the rest of the family, who will be gathered for a lavish wedding. Accepting THE INVITATION, Evie become charmed by a family friend who's hosting the event, a British aristocrat named Walter ( Thomas Doherty ). But things aren't what they seem, and the family reunion quickly turns into a gothic conspiracy.

Is It Any Good?

Thompson's vampire film takes a bite out of the romantic fantasies that have kept fans under their spell for centuries. Smart, strong, and on her toes, Evie is thankfully the direct opposite of Twilight ' s co-dependent Bella. The success of that franchise in the early 2000s reignited entertainment's love affair with vampires, werewolves, and other supernaturally spooky beings (including the Disney Channel's villain-fest Descendants , where Doherty initially found fame). Perhaps in acknowledgment of that trend, Thompson and co-writer Blair Brown crafted a story for The Invitation that revolves around the allure of two romantic figures that today's teens have grown up with: Prince Charming and a sexy vampire.

But the filmmakers seem to be trying to put the final nail in the coffin of these stories that, in a sense, groom fans to be taken advantage of. The Invitation is a horror thriller that pivots on elements of the female experience -- specifically, not knowing who to trust and yet wanting to give in to the kind of princess fantasies that many have been fed their entire lives. While it's wildly fantastic, this is also a cautionary tale: Don't fall for an appealing promise, the offer of exotic, all-expenses-paid travel, or an invite to attend a party where powerful men will be in attendance. Thompson asks: When a magnificent, opulent door is opened, do you walk through? Is Prince Charming going to be like Prince Harry ... or Prince Andrew? The Invitation doesn't have all the answers, but it makes one thing clear: Women thrive and survive when they can "Count" on each other.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about real-life examples of women being lured into danger with the promise of easy money, glamorous situations, or dream opportunities. How can these circumstances be avoided? Why does Evie and Grace's system fail?

Why do you think literature and entertainment often portray vampires as alluring? How does The Invitation compare to other monster movies you've seen?

Talk about how to advocate for yourself on the job or at school. How do authority figures intimidate women throughout this film?

Who demonstrates courage in the film? Why is this an important character strength?

What does "complicit" mean, and how do we see it play out in the film?

Movie Details

• In theaters : August 26, 2022
• On DVD or streaming : September 16, 2022
• Cast : Nathalie Emmanuel , Hugh Skinner , Thomas Doherty
• Director : Jessica M. Thompson
• Inclusion Information : Female directors, Bisexual directors, Female actors, Black actors, Gay actors, Female writers, Bisexual writers
• Studio : Sony Pictures
• Genre : Horror
• Topics : Monsters, Ghosts, and Vampires
• Character Strengths : Courage
• Run time : 104 minutes
• MPAA rating : PG-13
• MPAA explanation : terror, violent content, some strong language, sexual content and partial nudity
• Last updated : July 18, 2024

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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A group of seven high-profile social media influencers receive a mysterious invitation to an elite Hollywood event, promising the chance to network with industry giants and take their career... Read all A group of seven high-profile social media influencers receive a mysterious invitation to an elite Hollywood event, promising the chance to network with industry giants and take their careers to new heights. Thrilled at the opportunity, they eagerly attend, each one plotting how ... Read all A group of seven high-profile social media influencers receive a mysterious invitation to an elite Hollywood event, promising the chance to network with industry giants and take their careers to new heights. Thrilled at the opportunity, they eagerly attend, each one plotting how to leverage the night for maximum exposure. However, their dreams of fame turn into a nigh... Read all

• Brandon Morson
• Kenny Pettis Jr.
• Lexi Collins

• All cast & crew
• Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
• October 24, 2024 (United States)
• United States
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• $3,000,000 (estimated)

Technical specs

• Runtime 1 hour 10 minutes

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