The Invitation (2015)

Karyn Kusama’s psychological thriller The Invitation (2015) is a slow-burn descent into paranoia, grief, and the horror of forced closure. The film takes place almost entirely in a single house in the Hollywood Hills, making the story feel claustrophobic, intimate, and intensely unsettling.

Detailed Summary

The Setup: An Awkward Dinner Party

Will (Logan Marshall-Green) and his girlfriend Kira (Emayatzy Corinealdi) are invited to a dinner party hosted by his ex-wife Eden (Tammy Blanchard) and her new husband David (Michiel Huisman). The gathering takes place at the house where Will and Eden once lived—a house that carries heavy emotional baggage, as the couple lost their young son there in a tragic accident.

As Will reconnects with old friends, he starts to notice strange behaviors from the hosts. There’s an oddly persistent cheerfulness, a lack of emotional realism, and an eerie guest named Pruitt (John Carroll Lynch) whose demeanor is both calm and unnerving. Will’s grief and skepticism begin to boil, and his paranoia grows.

The Cult: The Invitation Revealed

Things take a darker turn when Eden and David introduce their friends to “The Invitation,” a spiritual movement that helped them deal with grief. They show a video of a woman dying peacefully under the guidance of the cult’s leader, Dr. Joseph. The video shocks the guests, but the hosts brush it off as part of their healing journey.

As the evening progresses, Will becomes increasingly convinced that something is wrong—that the hosts are planning something sinister under the guise of emotional healing. His erratic behavior causes tension among the group, with some defending the hosts and others beginning to share his unease.

Pruitt’s Story and the Suspicion Grows

Pruitt tells a chilling story about accidentally killing his wife and how “The Invitation” helped him find peace. This, naturally, doesn’t help ease Will’s suspicions. He begins noticing other red flags: locked doors, missing cell signals, and conversations that feel rehearsed. When one of the guests, Claire, decides to leave early, Pruitt offers to walk her out. Will watches from the window, but never sees her car leave.

Will confronts the hosts and guests multiple times throughout the night, only to be gaslit or dismissed as still struggling with grief. The line between his trauma-induced paranoia and actual danger blurs heavily.

Movie Ending

Eventually, Will’s fears are confirmed.

During a toast, David pours everyone a glass of wine. Will suddenly snaps, knocking glasses out of people’s hands and insisting no one drink it. For a moment, everyone thinks he’s lost his mind—until Gina, who had taken a sip earlier, collapses and dies from poisoning.

Chaos erupts. David, Eden, and Pruitt spring into action—not to help, but to execute their plan: a mass murder-suicide ritual as part of “The Invitation” doctrine. David shoots one of the guests; Pruitt calmly strangles another.

In the chaos, Will, Kira, and a few surviving guests fight back. Will manages to kill Pruitt with a blunt object. Eden, injured by a gunshot wound (possibly self-inflicted), stumbles upstairs in shock. In her dying breath, she confesses that she just wanted to escape her pain.

The film ends with Will and Kira emerging onto the patio, bloodied and traumatized, having survived the slaughter.

Then the camera pans across the Hollywood Hills—and in dozens of nearby houses, the same red lantern that David lit earlier in the evening is glowing. In the distance, screams echo, helicopters circle, and it becomes clear:

This was not an isolated event.

The mass suicide was a coordinated attack by cult members across Los Angeles. The Invitation was real. And it’s everywhere.

Are There Post-Credits Scenes?

No, The Invitation does not have a post-credits scene. The final shot—those glowing red lanterns dotting the hills—is the last haunting image. There’s no further explanation, no epilogue, no catharsis. Just dread.

Type of Movie

The Invitation is a psychological thriller with strong elements of horror, mystery, and cult paranoia. It’s a slow-burning narrative where atmosphere and subtext build a deep sense of unease before exploding into violence.

Cast

• Logan Marshall-Green as Will
• Tammy Blanchard as Eden
• Michiel Huisman as David
• Emayatzy Corinealdi as Kira
• John Carroll Lynch as Pruitt
• Mike Doyle, Jordi Vilasuso, Michelle Krusiec, Jay Larson, Marieh Delfino, and others as guests

Film Music and Composer

The eerie and minimalist score was composed by Theodore Shapiro. It’s not overly melodic—instead, it uses ambient tones and subtle cues to ratchet up the anxiety. In many scenes, silence is just as important as sound.

Filming Locations

The film was shot primarily in Los Angeles, California, especially in the Hollywood Hills, where the main house is located. The isolated, modernist home serves as both a symbol of upper-class detachment and a cage-like setting that intensifies the film’s claustrophobic dread.

The location isn’t just scenery—it’s symbolic. The isolation mirrors the emotional detachment of the characters and allows the hosts’ true intentions to unfold away from outside scrutiny.

Awards and Nominations

• Fantastic Fest (2015): Won Best Picture in the horror category.
• Sitges Film Festival: Nominated for Best Motion Picture.
• Fright Meter Awards: Nominated for Best Horror Film and Best Director.

Critics widely praised the film for its suspense, atmosphere, and thematic depth.

Behind the Scenes Insights

• Director Karyn Kusama saw the film as a metaphor for modern grief culture and emotional repression.
• The script was written by Phil Hay and Matt Manfredi (Kusama’s husband), who wanted to explore the psychological toll of trauma.
• The film was shot in sequence over 20 days, helping the actors build tension organically.
• The house was so isolated that the cast and crew began to feel paranoid themselves, amplifying the mood on set.

Inspirations and References

• The script draws thematic inspiration from the Jonestown Massacre and Heaven’s Gate cults.
• There are nods to films like Rosemary’s Baby, Martha Marcy May Marlene, and The Wicker Man, which also depict cult infiltration in ordinary life.
• The Invitation cult’s doctrine reflects the New Age grief healing trends and groupthink psychology.

Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes

While the final ending remained the same from early drafts, some alternate edits featured longer looks at other houses with red lanterns, hinting even more strongly at a wide-scale event. These were ultimately trimmed for pacing and ambiguity.

Deleted scenes mostly involved extended conversations between party guests that subtly hinted at their psychological states—but none dramatically altered the narrative.

Book Adaptations and Differences

The Invitation is an original screenplay, not based on a book. However, its tight script and thematic layering have led many viewers to compare it to literature by Shirley Jackson and Ira Levin, who often explored paranoia and domestic dread.

Memorable Scenes and Quotes

Key Scenes

• Will discovering the locked door and confronting David about it.
• The cult’s promotional video showing a woman dying peacefully.
• Claire’s unsettling departure from the party.
• The final massacre and the reveal of the red lanterns.

Iconic Quotes

• Eden: “There’s nothing to be afraid of.”
• Pruitt: “I forgave myself. You’d be surprised what you’re capable of once you do.”
• Will: “Something doesn’t feel right. Something is off.”

Easter Eggs and Hidden Details

• The red lantern is a visual code among cult members to signal the night’s event.
• Pruitt is played by John Carroll Lynch, who also portrayed a potential serial killer in Zodiac, adding unspoken tension.
• The wine toast scene echoes real-world cult rituals, particularly the idea of a “sacrament.”

Trivia

• Director Karyn Kusama initially struggled to find a studio willing to take on the film because it lacked a traditional horror payoff.
• The script was originally titled The Dinner Party.
• The house used for filming is an actual home in the Hollywood Hills and has since been used in other thrillers.
• Logan Marshall-Green is often mistaken for Tom Hardy, which led to confusion during promotional tours.

Why Watch?

If you’re into slow-burning tension, The Invitation is a masterclass in controlled paranoia. It’s a psychological gut-punch with emotional realism and a final act that hits hard. It’s not just about horror—it’s about grief, denial, trust, and what happens when people put their faith in the wrong place.

Director’s Other Movies

• Jennifer’s Body (2009)
• Girlfight (2000)
• Destroyer (2018)

Recommended Films for Fans

• Hereditary (2018)
• The Wicker Man (1973)
• Coherence (2013)
• Martha Marcy May Marlene (2011)
• Rosemary’s Baby (1968)
• The Lodge (2019)
• Get Out (2017)