Invitation Only [DVD] [2009]

!!!WARNING. MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS!!!Wade Chen(Bryant Chang) struggles to hold down his job driving rich executives round town. He catches company President Yang(Jerry Huang) having sex with a famous magazine model in the back of the car, but Yang tells him everything is good and to buy his silence, Yang gives Wade an invitation to an exclusive party. The back of the invitation card invites the guest to write down their greatest wish.Wade cannot believe his luck when he arrives at the party. Not only does he get lucky with the very same magazine model that he caught Yang with, he also wins big on the roulette wheel and finds out he's one of five inductees who have been granted membership into the mysterious Mr Warren's circle. All five are taken to one side and told their greatest wishes are about to come true. It soon becomes apparent however, that the five unsuspecting guests are part of someone elses twisted wish fulfilment fantasy,as one by one they are hunted down by a masked killer.This slick and twisted Taiwanese slasher does take a little while to get going but once it does it stays in first gear for the rest of its duration. Lulling viewers into a false sense of security, at the half hour mark it suddenly presents its audience with a brutal slaying and from then on things get very bloody indeed, with a couple of quite extreme set pieces that made me wince a little.Okay, the film is hardly original, taking its inspiration from Western horrors such as Hostel, Vacancy and the Saw fanchise. It does, however, have enough wit and invention of its own to sustain interest.Bryant Chang is very likeable as the male lead, the character of Wade finding hidden strengths in the terrible situation he finds himself in. Julianne Chu also impresses as the spunky heroine, using great ingenuity to plan her escape from her tormentors.There are a few holes in the plot, but the central theme of a group of rich thrillseekers eliminating the undesirable poor from society is put across very well. This makes it all the better, when Wade finally turns the tables on his torturers. It does run out of steam in the last few minutes, but up until then it provides plenty of splatter and nice little twists and turns.A very enjoyable horror/thriller, adeptly directed by Kevin Ko. 4 out of 5

You'll never view an invitation in the same way after this all action Taiwanese gore-fest!'Invitation Only' isn't a classic but I've seen it twice now and really enjoyed it on both occasions (the second time I posed as a human-hiding cushion for someone far less hardened to horror than me!)Gore, blood and plenty of cringes are the main ingrediants of this decent J Horror offering. The acting looks iffy and at times it gets a little confusing as the dialogue switches from English to Mandarin and back again.There is also a cracking line (maybe scripted, maybe a dodgy subtitle translation) which really made me chuckle. One of the characters says (rather impatiently) "Hey, come on, what's the matter" to a her bawling accomplice. This comes after the body parts of a dismembered party goer have just been found!!"I've got a touch of toothache" was the pick of our sarcastic living room responses!I'm being picky though and if it's an enjoyable splatterfest your after then 'Invitation Only' delivers the goods. It wouldn't be for me all the time, but in fairness the plot is solid, the storyline quite original and the pace fast-moving. There's a little twist thrown in for good measure and the SFX are highly applaudable; no CGI here, just buckets of blood and some pretty near-the-mark 'ouch' moments.For fans of this type of horror 'Invitation Only' is a definite. RSVP now and accept!AJMoore

Invitation Only is proof that sometimes a tried and tested formula can work.It's also proof that foreign films have as much, maybe more to offer, than the traditional Hollywood horror film. Certainly true if you have ever heard of a movie called Steel Trap that is essentially the American version of this and nowhere near as effective.I loved the film and that could be understatement of the year. By my own admission I am not someone who will automatically love every film that happens by my way and often the ones I care about tend to slowly draw their way to my heart and Invitation Only is another to add to the list.Since the film has been mentioned often, I hope the lack of a plot synopsis is not an issue.The characters are highly enjoyably especially the main male lead as you both feel for him throughout. His predicament is even more heart wrenching for the fact he was not invited, let's say, the traditional way.One thing I can say for films of this ilk is that the gore is intense. Insanely intense. Forget Saw, forget those in the last few years that proclaim to be messed up, this is what true insanity means and should have been used for.The use of the camera really highlights the city and despite trying to add some colour, the irony lies in the drab surroundings adding another element.I have a tendency to love music(al) scores in cinema and there is no exception here. Eerie, sweet and rather poetic it fits with the overall scheme.I could laud it to the high heavens but every film has its failing and if there is any in Invitation Only is that not all the characters are given the definition you expect and the beginning is rather slow and disengaging until things ramp up a gear but they are far and in between.The only thing I can say is if Hostel/ Saw, these types of film do not appeal, then skip. You would see at times, a similar tone, and it might potentially put you off. However on the other hand if you love the slasher angle and have a special affection for Foreign Horror I can recommend heartily.Gruesome, quite eccentric and strangely absorbing with some beautifully tender moments it shows that horror does not always have to be off putting.Invitation Only and I invite you to come and see this stellar little film...