The Invitation (2003) Reviews

• Beautiful and Thought-Provoking.

  shippermd2005-09-04

  The cover suggests a horror or thriller, but instead, WOW, it was an awesome, quite deep, philosophical and sweet movie. Roland wanted to share his 'gift' with his friends and boy did he! Hats off to the quiet intensity of Lance playing Roland, who just wanted to impart a very rare and profound gift to those he loved. Some of the lines he spoke in the movie, along with the beautiful scenery and music that accompanied it...will leave you feeling strangely serene and peaceful by the end of it. Give it a chance. The story is a bit weak, not really explaining and resolving everything, but all in all, it's a must-see for lovers of deeper, profound type movies. Also recommended: What Dreams May Come, The 5 People You Meet in Heaven, What the Bleep Do We Know, Waking Life. Shipper

• Warning: Not a horror movie!

  SkdRow82004-03-28

  Do not be fooled by the poster and cover art or by the trailer for this film, it is not a horror film. It is a morality play, and a pretty intriguing one at that. The basic plotline: Roland (Henriksen) invites his six best friends to his island estate for a getaway. He tricks them into taking a poison and tells them that the only way he will give them the antidote is if they tell their greatest secrets, if they atone for their sins. This film is actually quite well done, with the characters each struggling with their own demons, wondering whether their secrets are worth dying for. Henriksen is excellent as always, and relative unknowns Christopher Shyer (Joel) and David Livingstone (John) stand out from the rest of the cast by giving fantastic performances. The Invitation is not a horror film by any stretch of the imagination, but it is a very intriguing morality play with solid acting from an ensemble cast of anonymous unknowns, with the exception of Henriksen. Well worth a watch. 7/10.

• A very good movie

  lyecoatha2005-07-04

  I was going through the Starz! schedule looking for good movies to see and I saw this movie and I thought the name sounded familiar so I came to this site to check it out and it was a movie I had seen last year on the same channel. I thought it was just amazing. Here this man (Lance Henriksen as Roland) has been running from something that he feels he cannot escape. *I remember a scene where he is on a cliff,I think he wanted to die.* Then some people found him and he was given this liquid and told that it was poison and the only way to get the cure was to tell them his deepest darkest secret. After that his life changed dramatically, he was a free man with no regrets. So Roland invites his friends over to his home and at dinner he tells them of his experience and then tells them he put that liquid in their food or drink. He does this because he wants to give them a chance to be free, he does this out of love. It's a messed up thing to do but I understand why he did it. And he helps each one of them to get past their pain, or their guilt and regrets. It's a wonderful movie I hope you watch it and feel the same way too.

• Chilling tale that rings true to everyday life and the secrets we keep from the people we love and ourselves

  autmntoashes2005-02-23

  I really liked this movie. It had a great story line and though some elements of the story seem unlikely and weird they are true. If you liked this movie then i also recommend My little eye. This movie isn't a crazy thriller about a guy that lost his mind and tries to kill his friends it is a story of secrets and lies that everyone has and keeps. Even though some things in the movie are not completely explained it still is a modern day tale of morals and a real release of the mind. After I first watched it it really made me think. It stayed in my mind until I got the movie. Then I watched it again with my brother and it really made me look at him and what he may have done. After you see this movie you will look at the people around you in a whole new light.

• Very moving and thought provoking

  sophiesmybaby2007-09-14

  I really liked this movie. It was not the best movie I have ever seen, but it did move me more than any movie has in a long time. The acting was for the most part very good, especially on the part of Lance Henrickson. When is he ever bad? I have read some negative comments,but it seems obvious the author of those comments weren't really paying attention to, nor did they watch all of, this movie. They would have found the answers they were looking for if they had. It's the kind of movie that makes you think. It makes you wonder if the secrets you hold inside are preventing you from enjoying life the way you should. It also makes you wonder if the people in your life who seem so closed off emotionally are only afraid of revealing their own secrets.