The Invite (2026) Review

Wasn't sure what really to see at the Cinema this week, so I remembered that I saw the trailer for The Invite and was quite intrigued so I found the time to watch the film today and here is my review. The premise of the film sees a struggling couple have their neighbours over for dinner where things take some interesting turns. 

Main Character

Seth Rogan & Olivia Wilde play Joe & Angela and they are both really good. 

Starting with Rogan, he kind of plays the same role that he always does but it really works here. He gives charm and anger to his role and it just felt like a really human performance. Credit to Rogan for somewhat stepping out of his comfort zone for this role. 

Wilde not only stars but does a great job at directing the film. She is really struggling in the film and you can just tell that she is frustrated with her lot in life. She conveys it incredibly well and this is a great comeback for her. 

Supporting Characters

Penelope Cruz & Edward Norton play Pina & Hawk and they are excellent. 

They work so well in tandem here and the film does a great job in making them seem really interesting and making you question their characters and motivations. This is the best work that either performer has done in years and it is great to see them work. 

There is literally nobody else in the film and credit to the 4 actors for their excellent performances that really carry the film. 

Story

The story is interesting. It is intense throughout and keeps you on your toes. It has twists and turns and this is really driven by the excellent acting. However, by the end of the film it feels pretty low stakes and though I liked the ending it definitely made me question parts of the film. 

Script

With a film that has very few actors in one location it heavily relies on the writing and this film excels at it. It is so well written and has a great mix of humour and drama, the biggest credit I can give is that it feels very real and just like people would talk in real life. 

Style

The style of the film is pretty fascinating. It is really well directed and I really liked how the film flowed as a whole and took this interesting concept and run with it. But it does have a slight pacing with it, I mean it barely goes above 90 mins but it still lulls at times. 

Overall

Overall, The Invite is a Great Film that really forces you to focus. It has great acting and writing and if you have patience then it is really worth a watch. 

Rating - 8/10