Sometimes, films are unjustly judged. Other times, popular opinion needs to be challenged. Either way, our review of The Invitation will almost definitely be Unpopularity Content.
The horror genre is a fairly versatile one, but it often returns to tried and tested characters. Vampires are among the most prolific horror movie monsters in cinema, having even bridged the gap between horror and other genres. Vampire romance in particular has become an increasingly popular subgenre, which is perhaps a small part of the idea behind The Invitation‘s premise.
The film sees 20-something orphan Evie approached by a distant British relative and invited to a wedding. Evie’s trip to England sees her out of her depth, surrounded by old-fashioned pomp and circumstance that puts her ill at ease. The film’s mid-point reveal sees Evie learn the true nature of her visit: her handsome host is a vampire who intends to marry her.
The Invitation‘s cast features Nathalie Emmanuel, Thomas Doherty, and Sean Pertwee. The first half of the movie setting up what appears to be largely a romantic affair with occasional unnerving undertones soon gives way to something else entirely. Critics were generally unimpressed with the movie, and it received mixed-to-negative reviews.
The Invitation Bizarrely Fuses Two Incompatible Ideas
The marriage (pardon the pun) of intense romance with vampiric horror is a strange one. The Invitation leans so hard into both genres in turns that it undergoes a fairly jarring mid-point shift as one gives way to the other. Romance with tension becomes outright nightmarish horror, with Emmanuel’s performance being perhaps the only truly consistent element.
The film’s final scenes see Evie transform (in more ways than one) into a vampire-slaying machine intent on putting an end to her hosts’ reign of terror. It leans into a few horror movie tropes, but it’s also relatively unique in its execution. Despite critics’ reactions to its lack of genuine scares and inconsistent script, The Invitation has many strong positive aspects.
Thematically, there’s a sound narrative undercurrent to the movie. The slow build-up of tension creates a sound atmosphere of horror, and Emmanuel’s performance stands out as especially competent. It’s easy to see where the criticisms are rooted, but when watched with fresh eyes, The Invitation has a lot to offer and is uniquely entertaining.
Rating: 65%
Summary: The Invitation takes a strange approach to its premise, but manages to put a fun spin on one of the most beloved horror stories ever told.
Highlight: Evie responding to her traumatic realization by becoming a vampire-killing machine marks a triumphant climax to the movie’s tense build-up.