Evie (Nathalie Emmanuel) is a struggling artist in New York City doing catering jobs to make ends meet. When her best friend swipes a goodie bag from their latest job Evie finds a DNA heritage test and can not resist given that she has recently been orphaned. The results lead her to a long lost cousin and an invitation to a mansion in the United Kingdom for a family reunion and wedding. To say that things are not as they seem would be an understatement. 

The Invitation is an example of a genre movie that does everything right to make an enjoyable and entertaining watch. It perhaps might not be something that you would revisit but it is certainly enjoyable whilst you are there. 

The film opens with an ominous act of violence in the family mansion that will be the setting for the majority of the film. It alludes to dark goings on and over the course of the film those machinations will be revealed. 

Nathalie Emmanuel is an enigmatic lead and she carries the film well. Whilst the likes of Thomas Doherty as the Lord of the Manor, with the unusual name of Walt revel in their role of “definitely hiding something British aristocracy”. Sean Pertwee also seems to be having fun as a very severe and strict Head Butler at the home. 

It is also worth mentioning the striking costumes on show and the set dressing inside the mansion. It really made me think of the likes of Crimson Peak which is the sort of Gothic aesthetic the film is trying for. 

A welcome viewing in what seems to be a very baron cinema offering right now.