You might ask, “Who Invited Us” but today we’re asking (as far as 31 Days of Horror are concerned), “Who Invited Them?”
Today we’re covering…
Who Invited Them!
Movie Details:
- Release Date: 2022
- “Run”time: 1 hour 21 minutes
- Where to watch it: Streaming
- Directed by: Duncan Birmingham
- Written by: Duncan Birmingham
- Starring:
- Stars
- Ryan Hansen
- Melissa Tang
- Timothy Granaderos
- Perry Mattfeld
Synopsis: A couple in their new home run into issues with their new neighbors overstaying their welcome.
Open Stab Wounds (out of 10): 5
Review: Sometimes I go into films without a clue of what they are about. The Salton Sea is one that I watched because I grabbed the wrong case off the rental shelf; it is fantastic, by the way and I highly recommend it. Today’s movie, Who Invited Them, was added to our list by Brandon and I decided not to look anything up about it. Sometimes it is just fun to go into things blind; especially with horror.
Who Invited Them tells the story of Adam and Margot (Ryan Hansen and Melissa Tang), a young couple who recently moved into their new home in the LA hills. Their house is quickly filled with guests, as they are having a housewarming party with all their “friends.” I throw those quotes in there because none of their guests seem to even want to be there, or even like them. After all the guests leave, the couple talks about the fashionable couple that was invited, but neither of them knows who invited them (ugh! It’s so annoying when movies force the title into the dialogue).
Turns out, that fancy couple was still there and that is how we are introduced to Tom and Sasha (Timothy Granaderos and Perry Mattfeld), Adam and Margot’s new neighbors. Tom and Sasha decided to crash the party and get to know their new neighbors. Initially, the couples decide to have a nightcap, but things quickly start to go in dark directions.
Keeping in line with not spoiling the newer films on our list, I’m not going to describe the plot any further. What I will say though, is that if you’ve watched any films like this, you will not be surprised at all. I found none of the characters likable (protagonists, antagonists, nor side characters) and they all made me hope that they’d be first on the chopping block. It was a paint by numbers horror, with no real originality or compelling narrative.
This was easily my least favorite film on our list, so far. Visually it was not bad and the audio, including the music was pretty good. That being said, I was bored the whole film. They can’t all be winners and I’ve definitely sat through worse. I choose cantaloupe.
Brandon’s Thoughts: So, uh, I didn’t put this movie on the list either (despite what Kevin wrote earlier). I honestly thought he put this one on there. After watching the film last night, we talked about it a little and I was surprised he hadn’t seen it. So this is a very odd case of, “If I didn’t put it here… and you didn’t put it here… who invited them?!”
Unlike Kevin, I actually enjoyed it. It’s not going to surprise you. The biggest thing it keeps you in the dark about is what exactly Sasha and Tom’s motivations are. Is it supernatural? Just crazy? What’s going on? There’s some misdirects with Adam and Margot’s kid having some weird dreams.
What I actually liked the most is the resolution of the film. The film is decidedly sparse in the way of kills and gore, so calling this a horror movie is a stretch. But the way they ended it, and the moral essentially… love each other and love your kids. You can hate each other but never take it out on your kids, I thought was a great message. You might not be a great couple or even a *good* couple… but as long as you love each other and *try*, you’re doing something right.
Open Stab Wounds (out of 10): 7.5
Thanks for reading and watching along with us! Be sure to keep up with all 31 days of our Halloween Horror Film coverage!
Oh, and make sure to follow Brandon on Twitter @BarnyardCruz and Kevin @Solucid!