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Invitation

Original title: The Invitation
  • 2003
  • R
  • 1h 25m
IMDb RATING
4.3/10
692
YOUR RATING
Lance Henriksen in Invitation (2003)
DramaHorrorThriller

Six people are invited to a remote island by a famous horror author for dinner. He reveals that he poisoned everyone, just as he was having his own epiphany. In order to get the antidote, ea... Read allSix people are invited to a remote island by a famous horror author for dinner. He reveals that he poisoned everyone, just as he was having his own epiphany. In order to get the antidote, each person must confess their lies.Six people are invited to a remote island by a famous horror author for dinner. He reveals that he poisoned everyone, just as he was having his own epiphany. In order to get the antidote, each person must confess their lies.

  • Director
    • Pat Bermel
  • Writers
    • Pat Bermel
    • Neil Bermel
  • Stars
    • Lance Henriksen
    • Christopher Shyer
    • Stellina Rusich
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    4.3/10
    692
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Pat Bermel
    • Writers
      • Pat Bermel
      • Neil Bermel
    • Stars
      • Lance Henriksen
      • Christopher Shyer
      • Stellina Rusich
    • 24User reviews
    • 6Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 5 nominations total

    Videos1

    The Invitation (2003)
    Trailer 1:35
    The Invitation (2003)

    Photos2

    View Poster
    View Poster

    Top cast24

    Edit
    Lance Henriksen
    Lance Henriksen
    • Roland Levy
    Christopher Shyer
    Christopher Shyer
    • Joel Gellman
    Stellina Rusich
    Stellina Rusich
    • Liza Harris
    Stefanie von Pfetten
    Stefanie von Pfetten
    • Anne Prescott
    David Livingstone
    • John Leveque
    Douglas O'Keeffe
    Douglas O'Keeffe
    • Michael Harris
    Sarah-Jane Redmond
    Sarah-Jane Redmond
    • Maria Gellman
    • (as Sarah Jane Redmond)
    Lideo Baldeon
    • Jesus
    Michael Leisen
    • Manola
    Fred Henderson
    Fred Henderson
    • Calley
    Bob Dawson
    • Senior Partner
    Wanda Wilkinson
    • Patient
    • (as Wanda Wilkenson)
    Fulvio Cecere
    Fulvio Cecere
    • Correlli
    • (scenes deleted)
    William M. Gregory
    • Joel's Father
    Mikka Dargel
    • Anne's Sister
    Peter Fletcher
    • English Traveller
    Violetta Dobrozdravich
    • Woman in Law Firm
    Matthew Robert Kelly
    Matthew Robert Kelly
    • Husband
    • Director
      • Pat Bermel
    • Writers
      • Pat Bermel
      • Neil Bermel
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews24

    4.3692
    1
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    10

    Featured reviews

    24-2

    Don't Rent This (unless you've been poisoned and they only way to live is to see this crappy movie)

    This film had a great premise, and it just goes to show you that an idea IS NOT EVERYTHING.

    I don't know if the script was good and they killed it, but from what I watched, NOTHING MADE ANY SENSE.

    Instead of setting it up in a believable way, we never find out who the people are or how they connect. Then instead of starting off in a normal way and then saying, oh by the way, you know that little story I told you, well I did the same to you, they just some how guess that they have been poisned. Joke about it for 10 minutes and barely react when they find out it is true.

    If your friend told you they just poisoned you, first thing you do, is KICK THE SH%% T OUT OF THEM. Second, you ask, WHY. And third, TRY TO FIND THE CURE. I don't think anyone did any of these things in the movie.

    This movie made me sick it was so bad.
    4=G=

    B is for "blows", "bad", "bogus", and "boring".

    "The Invitation" is a B-flick from the get go. Telling a silly story about a man (Henriksen) who invites a bunch of friends to his island home only to poison them and hold back the antidote so they'll have some kind of near death experience or life altering epiphany or whatever, "The Invitation" starts off like a B-flick, ends like a B-flick, and everything in between is claptrap B-flick drama with poor performances, an awful story, psychodramatic overtones which don't work, a hidden agenda ploy which is utterly ridiculous, and huge plot holes which aren't even spackled up with titilators. Watch for this one on broadcast....so you can miss it. (D+)
    5cbarboneassociates

    Rollercoaster ride

    Didn't know what this was about. Radom click on Netflix. It was a shock to watch the story unfold and the last scene was really a surprise. It was unsettling and indicative of a world gone a bit wild. Like the one we live in now. Up is down. In is out and yes is no. I like movie makers who take risks.
    5woodfrtillson

    near death experience

    This movie must have grown out of the near death experience of the writer or a close relative of the writer. When the experience happens and a person gets another chance at life, everything changes and with it the urge to let our loved ones know about the secret. A secret so hard to explain that it can only be heard in the mind's eye by going through the door of knowledge that brings many things into a clearer perception. The urge for Roland takes us viewers on a journey to educate not only us, but the characters in the movie and all of those involved in it's creation as well. I think that this visual story teller will inspire many to think.
    8shippermd

    Beautiful and Thought-Provoking.

    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

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    Related interests

    Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama
    Mia Farrow in Rosemary's Baby (1968)
    Horror
    Cho Yeo-jeong in Parasite (2019)
    Thriller

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

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    • Trivia
      Rekha Sharma's debut.
    • Connections
      Referenced in Best of the Worst: Suburban Sasquatch (2017)

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 23, 2003 (Canada)
    • Country of origin
      • Canada
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • The Invitation
    • Filming locations
      • Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    • Production companies
      • Stage 18 Pictures
      • Farm Boy Films
      • Freedom IV Entertainment
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

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    • Runtime
      • 1h 25m(85 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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