The Invitation (2015)

This was #665 on Chris Good Goodwin's list of the top 666 horror movies of all time. A film I'd never even heard of before, I came to this movie cold, which is something I always like. The less you know the more you gain is usually the case with books or movies, in my opinion. I won't say much about this film, as I think if you choose to watch it you'd be best knowing less rather than more. I will say a few things though:

1 The direction and cinematography are superb. The director Karyn Kusama has been responsible for a couple of films which I haven't seen, but are quite widely regarded as turkeys: Æon Flux (2005) and Jennifer's Body (2009). These have earned a 5.5 and a 5.1 on imdb respectively. The Invitation has a 6.7, so things are improving for Karyn. The film has a beautiful, rich look, full of amber and warm tones, the colours of comfort and warm hospitality. Everything seems safe; as one of the posters says "There is nothing to be afraid of." Yeah, but this is on a horror movie list, so you won't be convinced.

Marshall Logan-Green as Will

2: The acting is also very good. The lead is played by Logan Marshall-Green, who bears a close resemblance to Tom Hardy, but softer and more American. In this movie he looks like a kind of hipster Jesus. You may have seen him in Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017), Prometheus (2012) or The O.C. (2005) Other actors worth mentioning are Michael Huisman, who I don't remember seeing before but is apparently in Game of Thrones, Nashville and Orphan Black; Tammy Blanchard who played a young Judy Garland back in 2001, which makes perfect sense when you see her; Emayatzy Corinealdi as Will's level-headed girlfriend; John Carroll Lynch, who you've seen a thousand times before playing a cop or a small-time gangster; and Lindsay Burdge who plays a character who seems to have come straight from the Spahn Ranch.

3: The foreboding is strong. Very very strong.

4: The ending is chilling.

You should watch this; that's all I've got really. Enjoy.

Abandon Hope All Ye Who Enter Here. Wipe Your Feet.