The Invitation (2003)
Director: Pat Bermel
Writers: Pat Bermel, Neil Bermel
To avoid boredom keep repeating
It's not a horror movie
... not a horror movie
... not a horror movie
Wealthy writer Roland (Lance Henriksen) invites his closest friends to a dinner party held on his private island. During dinner he regales them with tales of his trip around the world seeking meaning to his life. Then he announces that he has poisoned each of them and in order to receive the antidote they must reveal the secret that haunts them. And that's how we get 85 minutes of people arguing and wailing about how they don't want to die or admit their mistakes.
The writers, brothers Pat and Neil, I'm sure thought their existential / metaphysical / whatever gobbledygook of an idea for a film high concept and hoped it would have opened the minds of viewers. Instead, it comes across as a school report written by a high schooler after discovering philosophy. However much I may or may not agree with the premise about forgiveness of oneself and shedding meaningless guilt it doesn't make for a good film. At least not in the case of THE INVITATION. It's no coincidence that the film is marketed as a horror film. At least with that label it'll trick a few punters into renting or buying it.
Legendary character actor Lance Henriksen gives a good performance and truly seems to be enjoying his role as man on the mountain but it's not enough to save this tedious exercise in self help.
*1/2 out of ****
No comments:
Post a Comment