People don't always change for the better, and at a dinner party thrown by his ex-wife and her new husband, Will suspects that the former love of his life has changed in a twisted way. An evening get-together could have something sinister on the menu in The Invitation, the new movie from Karyn Kusama (Jennifer's Body) that premiered in the Midnighters section at this year's SXSW Film Festival and has now been picked up by Drafthouse Films for a worldwide release (likely in 2016):
Press Release - "Beating out several other distributors, Drafthouse Films has secured worldwide rights to Karyn Kusama’s acclaimed thriller The Invitation, which opened the Midnight section of the 2015 SXSW Film Festival. The film has been well received by critics and audiences alike, landing on several “Best of SXSW” lists.
For Kusama, who first made her mark with Girlfight, the film represents a return to her independent roots. It is written and produced by Phil Hay & Matt Manfredi, produced by Martha Griffin along with Nick Spicer of XYZ Films, and financed by Gamechanger Films in association with Lege Artis, with Mynette Louie overseeing for Gamechanger and Anthony Mancilla overseeing for Lege Artis.
The Invitation stars Logan Marshall-Green (Prometheus) as a haunted man attending a dinner party at the house he once called home, who becomes gripped with paranoia that his ex-wife and her new husband are harboring an insidious agenda. Tammy Blanchard (Into The Woods), Michiel Huisman ("Game Of Thrones"), Emayatzy Corinealdi (Middle Of Nowhere) and John Carroll Lynch ("American Horror Story") also star.
“The Invitation has remained under our skin since we first saw it and we’re honored that we’ll be able to share with audiences everywhere,” said Drafthouse COO James Emanuel Shapiro. “Karyn, Phil and Matt have crafted one of the best mysteries we’ve ever seen.”
“I know I speak for our whole team when I say that we could not be more thrilled to be working with Drafthouse Films for the release of The Invitation. Drafthouse is a one-of-a-kind label and an influential arbiter of taste. We love what they do. I’m excited by their passionate enthusiasm for the film and truly honored to be working with them,” said Kusama.
The deal was negotiated by ICM Partners and Nate Bolotin of XYZ Films on behalf of the filmmakers, and James Emanuel Shapiro from Drafthouse Films."
In case you missed it, read Heather's SXSW review of The Invitation and her interview with director Kusama:
Raised on a steady diet of R.L. Stine’s Goosebumps books and Are You Afraid of the Dark?, Derek has been fascinated with fear since he first saw ForeverWare being used on an episode of Eerie, Indiana.
When he’s not writing about horror as the Senior News Reporter for Daily Dead, Derek can be found daydreaming about the Santa Carla Boardwalk from The Lost Boys or reading Stephen King and Brian Keene novels.
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