10 Movies To Watch If You Love The Invitation

Horror films often rely on an abundance of gore or spooky imagery to provide scares. Yet, movies like Karyn Kusama’s The Invitation demonstrate that a thriller can be just as intense and creepy through minimalism – if the ideas are strong enough.

The film revolves around a broken man and his girlfriend, who have been invited to a lavish dinner party by his ex-wife, along with a group of old friends. But it soon becomes apparent that something is off about this party, as well as its hosts.

Kusama somewhat takes the “less is more” approach, as the film is more subdued and grounded as a whole. It emphasizes very humanistic elements to produce authentic scares – namely dealing with trauma, as well as the dangers of cults. The end result is an emotional, tense, and suspenseful ride – complete with a memorably dark ending.

When it comes to horror, The Invitation is fairly unique in its psychological nature, its slow escalation, and its focus on the darker side of humanity absent supernatural elements. Yet, there are a number of films that ring similar in terms of themes, premise, and/or tone.

10 Calibre (2018)

While a hunting mishap in the woods is a far cry from The Invitation‘s cult-inspired dinner party, this 2018 thriller from Britain exudes a similar level of tension throughout. The film centers around two young men embarking on a hunting outing in the Scottish Highlands when a tragic accident threatens to ruin them.

This tragedy has the out-of-towners on edge as they attempt to cover up their misdeed amidst a village of strangers. Similar to The Invitation, director Matt Palmer invokes fear and uneasiness by putting its protagonists in an uncomfortable scenario that seems virtually inescapable.

9 The Visit (2015)

Director M. Night Shyamalan is no stranger to shock-laden thrillers, and his standout horror from 2015, TheVisit, is no different. Parallels to The Invitation can certainly be made in terms of its building tension, as well as the premise itself. Two kids are sent to visit their grandparents, and just like Kusama’s thriller – things aren’t quite what they seem.

Despite most of the film taking place at the house of these odd grandparents, The Visit captivates with its suspense, its shocking revelations, and its unique semi-found footage style.

8 The Wicker Man (1973)

Given that The Invitation‘s premise and scares largely revolve around a nefarious cult – it would stand to reason that at least one cult-based horror should make our list. Rather than taking place in a barred estate in LA, however, this thriller puts our protagonist on a secluded island, elevating both the atmosphere and sense of vulnerability.

Though this title’s been associated with the rather cheesy remake starring Nicholas Cage, Robin Hardy’s classic horror from ’76 remains a truly eerie and suspenseful watch.

7 Creep (2014)

This one checks off most of the boxes when it comes to a great Invitation-esque thriller. You’ve got a similar plot involving a man visiting some pretty odd company in a secluded area, for one.

You’ve also got some creepy revelations – as well as the slow, methodical buildup of tension. And there’s a comparable threat of death bubbling to the surface, as it becomes more clear that the subject in question, Josef, seems to be up to no good.

In addition – this psychological horror can be compared to the likes of The Blair Witch Project, with a disorienting found-footage style that immerses the viewer – and makes it all the more unsettling. Creep certainly lives up to its name.

6 The Platform (2019)

This Spanish dystopian horror stands out with a truly unique plot and style of filmmaking that verges on the abstract and avant-garde. Seemingly coming out of nowhere in early 2020, The Platform instantly left an impression for Netflix viewers when it hit the service.

This is largely thanks to its palpably thick sense of atmosphere, its visual imagery, and sociopolitical symbolism. It’s also the distinctly dismal premise – a towering prison that doles out food according to standing – which makes this such a chilling, thought-provoking watch.

Much like Kusama’s work, it’s the concepts that prove disturbing moreso than any in-your-face action or blatant imagery.

5 Hereditary (2018)

Take the cultish themes of The Invitation, infuse it with demonic imagery a la The Exorcist, and dial up the gore to ’90s-slasher levels, and you’d probably have Hereditary. Director Ari Aster utilizes spooky mythology, a dark atmosphere, and squeamish violence to round out this heart-pounding horror.

The film centers around an evil cult that slowly-but-surely begins to tear apart a family – in more ways than one. It’s a supernatural journey into darkness that some regard as one of the creepiest films of the last decade.

4 The Gift (2015)

Director-actor Joel Edgerton’s The Gift involves a suspicious neighbor and childhood acquaintance whose unwanted visit soon escalates to outright stalking.

The film excels in its mystery; of the unknown, and of a possibly nefarious, untrustworthy figure making things uncomfortable. Rather than resorting to violence or the paranormal, Edgerton stresses realistic, humanistic qualities, and edge-of-your-seat suspense that’s distinctly effective. In this sense, The Gift is very much like The Invitation.

The comparable plot and jaw-dropping twists should also be a draw for fans of Kusama’s film, however.

3 Gerald’s Game (2017)

One effective trait related to The Invitation is its psychological, introspective nature throughout. While the plot itself proves creepy, seeing everything through the marred, broken lens of Will enhances the unsettling feel. Such is the case with Gerald’s Game – an emotional thriller based on a ’92 novel by Stephen King.

Despite the seemingly simple premise – a woman escaping confinement – the film captivates with its use of hallucinations and traumatic recollections. Like Kusama’s thriller, Gerald’s Game is an exploration of a troubled mind dealing with an equally-troubling circumstance.

2 Goodnight Mommy (2014)

The Invitation partly excels in keeping the viewer unsure as to who exactly they can trust, as it’s hinted that things aren’t quite right throughout the movie. This psychological horror from Austria similarly invokes this eerie uncertainty. It revolves around two boys and their mother – whose unnerving, bandaged appearance has them on edge, questioning her state of mind and intentions.

While the buildup and atmosphere are memorably spooky, the unpredictable twist in the final act is what really elevates this seemingly-typical horror.

1 Get Out (2017)

Like The Invitation, director Jordan Peele similarly uses the severing of trust among those seemingly close to the protagonist as its key plot device in his horror, Get Out. This cerebral ride involves a young man visiting the family of her girlfriend – whose sinister intentions are increasingly brought to light.

This groundbreaking romp proves to be a creepy, Twilight Zone-esque mental trip that creatively plays with concepts such as control and conspiracy. Yet, Peele also interweaves the social underpinnings of race and class to round out this gripping, heart-pounding watch.

About The Author

Stephen Lagioia
(250 Articles Published)

Stephen is an avid Nintendo, Indie, and retro gamer who dabbles in Xbox on occasion, mainly in the form of binge sessions of Overwatch. He’s a history buff, an aspiring writer of short fiction, and a devout metalhead who enjoys poorly drumming along to Black Sabbath on his cheap drum set. When his beloved Chicago Cubs or Bulls are not playing, he typically likes to watch random documentaries or campy horror films.

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