Invitation (2003)Movie Info
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Movie Name | Invitation |
| Release Year | 2003 |
| Original Title | Invitation |
| Director | Kim In-sik |
| Screenplay Writer | Kim In-sik |
| Story By | Kim In-sik |
| Based on Novel by | — (Original screenplay) |
| Producer(s) | Korean independent production |
| Executive Producer(s) | — |
| Lead Actors | Shin-yang Park, Ji-hye Yun |
| Cast | Shin-yang Park, Ji-hye Yun, Jun-seok Heo |
| Genre | Horror, Thriller |
| Subgenre | Psychological Horror, Mystery |
| Release Date | 2003 (South Korea) |
| Runtime / Duration | 1h 42m (102 minutes) |
| Budget | Independent production |
| Box Office (Worldwide) | Limited release |
| Language | Korean |
| Country | South Korea |
| Production Company | Korean Film Council-supported production |
| Distributor | — |
| Filming Locations | South Korea |
| Music By | — |
| Cinematography | — |
| Edited By | — |
| Production Design | — |
| Costume Design | — |
| Special Effects | Minimal practical horror effects |
| Makeup Effects | Subtle realism makeup |
| MPAA Rating | Not Rated |
| Aspect Ratio | 1.85:1 |
| Sound Mix | Stereo |
| Format | Color |
| Themes | Grief, guilt, emotional trauma |
| Setting | Urban South Korea |
| Notable Trivia | Lesser-known Korean psychological horror title |
| Critical Reception | Limited international reviews |
| Audience Reception | Appreciated by niche Asian horror fans |
| Awards / Nominations | — |
| Home Media | DVD |
| Streaming Availability | Rarely available |
| Sequels / Franchise | None |
| Franchise Type | Standalone psychological horror film |
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Invitation opens up with a group of kids getting ready to play some baseball, in the background you see a chubby kid named Samuel Patrick, he’s being picked on by just about everyone, and of course gets picked last to play baseball with the other kids. While playing outfield, someone hits a homer over the fence and out into the road, the other kids yell at Sam to get his fat ass over the fence and get the ball. No sooner does Sam make it to the baseball before he gets splattered by a truck (off-screen).
Now in the present day, one by one, the “old gang” that is, the kids at the beginning (all grown up) minus Sam are receiving invitations in strange ways. The invitations are from Lee for the gang to get together up at an old lodge, and catch up on old times. Everyone but Lee meets up at the lodge and are greeted by Henry the caretaker, a somewhat cliché and creepy old man, followed by a strange old woman (the token doomsayer) telling the gang that they should leave, because at this lodge, people check in, but they don’t check out.
Later on when everyone is back together and whooping it up, Dan suggests a toast to Samuel Patrick, the kid that was killed playing ball. Dan is ridiculed and with the exception of his girlfriend Lex (who’s wickedly cute), everyone seems to think it’s a goofy idea, and none of them could really give a shit about the poor kid. They even make jokes to this day about him and his “enormous grave”
Basically when all of the pleasantries of reuniting are taken care of, the group goes back to just reminiscing about all the weird and fat kids that they made fun of. Most of them even say it’s not even a big deal “because everybody made fun of them” Yeah great reason, just makes me care that much less about your character and makes me hope to see your slow painful death (but I really do think that’s the whole point of this dialog being written this way)
Everyone in the group turns in for the night and that’s when everything takes a drastic turn for the worse. Filled full of freaky little ghost kids, and a clever spin on how the ghosts are able to get close to their victims without causing them to shriek uncontrollably and alarm everyone else around.
Also an interesting twist to the ending, not what I was expecting and I love when that happens, there’s much more to the movie than just a standard ghost revenge story, and it really is creative.
On the gore side, we get a killer tiller over the head, extra chunky please, some gnarly unbeknownst necrophilia, a nice face mangling via a car accident. A bloody gurgling smack to the head with a rock, followed by the poor disoriented bastard falling into a pit and receiving multiple impalings with punji sticks. Must be a pissed off VC out there too! A very painful looking fire poker impaling and a somewhat lame beheading.
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