A genre of fiction which is intended to frighten, scare, or disgust, horror seeks to scare, yet The Invitation just barely meets these standards. Although the film has the aspect of monstrous characters filled with a vile nature, the lack of horrific cinematography is why this film just barely meets horror movies standards. The Invitation is a new 2022 Horror/Mystery film that is directed by Jessica M. Thompson. The film is rated pg-13 and runs about 1h 44m.

The Invitation follows protagonist Evie as she discovers her long-lost family as well as the secrets behind the lavish setting of England. Evie wants a full life where she can “throw caution to the wind,” though being a freelancer artist keeps her at bay. Her nebulous life takes a turn when Evie is invited to attend a wedding at a regal estate centered on her family. 

With England comes the dashingly handsome mystery love interest and estate master Walter De Ville. Of course, he deepens the film’s complexity but is the romance really needed in a horror film? This brings to light the movie’s first problem. The sprinkle of romance in the beginning was fine, but when the “horror” movie is romance driven within the first 50 minutes, one starts to question what genre they are actually watching. 

Now this movie was good but in different aspects. The Invitation felt more like a fantasy thriller with heavy romance than a nail-biting, sweaty-palms horror. All in all the movie wasn’t a horrendous film, though it would be considered dreadful within the wider context of the horror genre. The Invitation did not leave one with blankets over their head; it didn’t spark the racing heartbeat a horror is so good at channeling. The sprinkle of horror that was represented in The Invitation wasn’t enough for one to turn away from the screen trying to avert their eyes. 

Another problem the movie holds is character development. Evie felt the same from the beginning till the end of the movie. She had no development, no reason for a viewer to get attached to her. She was just another character thrown into the game of survival of horror films.

If one was looking for a good horror The Invitation would come up dry, the movie would only leave the watcher with dissatisfaction. But if one was looking for a fantasy thriller The Invitation would be anything but disappointment. All in all The Invitation is one of those films the audience would only want to watch once and never think about again.