The Invitation 2016

Will, portrayed by Logan Marshall-Green, embarks on a journey with his girlfriend Kira to his former residence in the Hollywood Hills, having received an unusual invitation to a dinner party hosted by his ex-wife, Eden, played by Tammy Blanchard. The trip takes a dark turn when Will accidentally strikes a coyote with his car and, out of compassion, ends the animal’s suffering with a tire iron.

Upon arriving at the sprawling home nestled in the canyons of Los Angeles, Will is met with familiar faces he hasn’t seen in over two years—his friends Tommy and his partner Miguel, as well as Gina, who comments on the late arrival of her boyfriend Choi. They are soon welcomed by Eden and her new husband, David, who hints at a celebration that evening. Noticing a mysterious half-clad woman named Sadie, who later is introduced as someone Eden befriended in Mexico, tensions begin to rise as the night unfolds. Kira shares the unsettling story of Will’s encounter with the coyote, earning him both sympathy and mild rebuke from the group.

As the evening progresses, Will becomes ensnared in a web of memories and flashbacks, revealing the haunting past he shares with Eden, including a moment where he witnessed her self-destructive behavior. Their uneasy interactions draw out stark differences in their coping mechanisms—where Eden embraces a new philosophy regarding grief, Will grapples with lingering pain and distrust. The arrival of Pruitt, another member of Eden’s newfound community, adds to Will’s growing unease as he begins to suspect that the night isn’t merely a friendly reunion.

Despite the festive atmosphere, Will’s discomfort escalates, especially when David mentions past tragedies, including a home invasion, and locks them all inside—heightening Will’s vigilance and paranoia. He continues to uncover troubling details, such as the presence of unmarked pills in Eden’s room and the unsettling narratives surrounding a cult known as The Invitation, to which Eden and David belong. As the gathering spirals further into bizarre confessions and unsettling revelations, including a recruitment video with a chilling suicide demonstration, Will’s concerns mount.

Just as Will’s anxiety reaches a peak, he witnesses David and Eden celebrating another birthday too soon, prompting him to confront the group about Choi’s absence and their collective intentions. The atmosphere shifts dramatically; a dinner hosted under precarious circumstances transforms into a fight for survival. The tension culminates in a violent chain of events as cult members, driven by their twisted beliefs, reveal their true colors.

In a desperate bid for escape, Will and Kira, amidst utter chaos, must navigate through a landscape of betrayal, loss, and murderous intent. Will’s journey of grief takes a horrific turn as he fights to protect his remaining loved ones, ultimately uncovering that they are not alone in their plight—the red lanterns scattered across the hillside signify a far-reaching, nightmarish conspiracy, implicating many more in a chilling ritual set against the backdrop of their personal tragedies. By the end, Will is left to confront not just the shadows of his past, but a future that remains irrevocably altered by the night’s catastrophic events.