A housewarming party turns sinister when the hosts grow suspicious of the
young couple claiming to be their neighbours.
Review by
Eric Hillis
Directed by: Duncan Birmingham
Starring: Ryan Hansen, Melissa Tang, Timothy Granaderos, Perry Mattfeld
Writer/director Duncan Birmingham's feature debut
Who Invited Them is a grisly spin on the classic comedy
trope of a conservative couple examining their relationship when they
find themselves in the presence of a liberal couple, a sort of Bob
& Carol & Ted & Malice. You have to wait a considerably
long time for the grisliness to arrive though, so for the most part
it's essentially another entry in this comic sub-genre.
The conservative couple are Adam (Ryan Hansen) and Margo (Melissa Tang). They've just moved into a plush home in the Hollywood hills. Adam
got the house for a steal, its price knocked down for a disturbing
reason he has kept secret from his wife, who isn't entirely happy
about the move. While Adam throws a housewarming populated by guests
mocking his social aspirations behind his back, Margot spends most of
the evening hiding from his friends and colleagues in the
kitchen.
Believing the guests have all left, Adam and Margot are shocked to
find a young couple – Tom (Timothy Granaderos) and Sasha (Perry Mattfeld) – emerging from their bathroom. Tom and Sasha are unknown to either
Adam or Margot but they claim to be their neighbours. Initially won
over by their free-wheeling charisma, Adam and Margot allow the
younger couple to stay for a nightcap.
The rest of the movie plays out in something close to real time, with
the boys separating from the girls. While Sasha is telling Margot to
be more assertive in her relationship, Adam is receiving the very same
instructions from Tom. It becomes apparent that Tom and Sasha are
enjoying shit-stirring, but as the night goes on we begin to wonder if
their intentions might be more malevolent than simply creating
friction in their neighbours' marriage.
While Tom and Sasha are stock villains, Adam and Margot are a little
more complex. As the drink flows and the night wears on, we learn that
they aren't exactly fully happy in their marriage, but their
complaints aren't particularly dramatic but rather relatably grounded.
They both feel like they're married to someone who doesn't really
understand their ambitions and they both feel unrewarded for the
compromises they've made. If we initially laugh at Adam for his Basil
Fawlty-esque snobby aspirations, by the end of the film we've
developed a degree of sympathy for a man who is simply desperate to be
taken seriously and respected by his peers. We also get an insight
into the sacrifices Margot has made for marriage and motherhood as
Sasha preys on any resentment she might have festering away in her
psyche.
99% of viewers will figure out early on where this is all headed, so
it's a little odd how long it takes for Birmingham to finally lay his
horror cards on the comedy table. The movie's final act is so short
that it all feels underwhelming, and an ambiguous ending doesn't quite
have the satisfying impact a more generic climax might have given us.
A subplot involving a friend of Adam and Margot who is babysitting
their young son ultimately leads to a pointless resolution that adds
nothing to the narrative. Similarly, hints at a supernatural element
are never followed up.
As a four-handed comedy of manners, Who Invited Them is
just about engaging enough thanks to the central performances, but
horror fans may find its reluctance to fully embrace the genre
somewhat frustrating.
