Dracula is a figure that even non horror fans are familiar. With over 200 adaptations to his name, second only in number to Sherlock Holmes, he's been making himself at home as part of the culture since the 19th century. The Invitation dusts off the coffin once more to tell a gothic horror story focused on Dracula's brides. Following Evie (Nathalie Emmanuel), a struggling American artist, when a DNA test informs her of a previously unknown branch of her family made up of rich British gentlemen. Unfortunately, when she agrees to attend a lavish wedding being hosted by Walt (Thomas Doherty), a friend of her new family, she becomes a pawn in an ancient alliance between four bloodlines.
2022 Mid Atlantic Films
The Invitation is a film that is deeply aware of what it is, and it plays into all the expected gothic horror tropes right from the very beginning, opening with a dark and stormy night and a foreboding manor house. Embracing its gothic roots, the movie doesn’t waste any time before throwing the audience in at the deep end as they witness the suicide of a woman later revealed to be one of the three brides. It maintains this atmosphere throughout, playing up shadowy corridors and shapes in the dark corners of rooms. However, a lot of these scares are inflicted on the multiple maid characters rather than on the protagonist, as she is seduced by the master of the house. For the first half, it almost feels like two films put together as the relationship between Evie and Walt leans more towards the more modern romantic vision of vampires than their earlier sinister counterparts. Despite the audience knowing that Walt undoubtedly has sinister intentions (particularly if they saw the trailer), the way the horror elements and the romance elements are paired serves to build a false sense of security where it’s easy to think maybe, just maybe, he might have a shred of humanity lingering behind his fangs.
2022 Mid Atlantic Films
The characters are a deeply enjoyable part of the film. Emmanuel brings just the right combination of vulnerability and fire to Evie, her conversations with Walt almost like verbal sparring matches filled with combative sarcasm. Walt himself is charming and after some brief aloofness at the beginning, he comes across as more down to earth and open as things progress, before switching to a crueller predatory characterisation towards the end. These transitions could have been very jarring but Doherty slips between them seamlessly. Another delightful character is the sweet and bubbly Lucy (Alana Boden), one of the three brides, particularly when paired with the darker and more classically vampiric Viktoria (Stephanie Corneliussen). Boden’s Lucy is a side character that the audience can really come to care about.
While the plot is fairly by the numbers (and was basically spoiled by the trailer), the movie creates a world that is deeply interesting. How was the alliance of the families formed? What were the circumstances behind the turning of Lucy, implied to be in the 1920s, and Viktoria, in the 1500s? When did the brides switch from babies to maids as their preferred diet and how much does the New Carfax estate spend on replenishing their staff?
2022 Mid Atlantic Films
The allusions to Dracula itself are mostly subtle - the trio of brides, the name of the estate, Walt’s mention of being referred to as ‘son of the dragon’, the inclusion of Lucy – with the exception of one that feels more than a little gratuitous. During a scene towards the end, Evie runs into a couple whose names are revealed to be John and Mina Harker. This is the only overt allusion to Dracula, less like an enjoyable easter egg and more like the filmmakers wanted to make sure the audience knew this was a modern take on Stoker’s character. It feels particularly jarring since the pair appear to be firmly on Team Bloodsucker, as well as raising more questions about whether this is implying the events of Dracula happened and, if so, why the Harkers are quite so supportive of Walt.
Overall, this is a solid gothic horror, and it would not be surprising if a prequel was released at some point. While not one for gore hounds or those who like their horror films on the extreme side, it’s still a very enjoyable watch.