You know what’s scarier than a slasher and more chilling than a ghost? Having uninvited guests in your house who just.won’t.leave. We old people remember a 1978 SNL sketch that was actually entitled, “The Thing That Wouldn’t Leave,” a horror spoof with John Belushi that was kind of hilarious.
That’s the sort of creepy (but with a sense of humor) movie Who Invited Them? is. I liked it.
Adam and Margo are a good-looking couple who have found a degree of financial success after a lot of hard work and patience. They buy a modern, cool house in the Hollywood Hills that reeks of new money, even if the house in question has a history that made it a steal for the new buyers. Only problem is, their young son is having nightmares, something they will look into.
But first: their housewarming party!
With their son off to spend the night at their friend’s house, they are free as birds to host a party that, at least for Adam, seems like just an excuse to show off to his friends and colleagues, who all seem to think he’s a dick, by the way.
They see a strange couple among the crowd of guests, but each thinks the other is the one who invited them, so they don’t say anything.
Until they think everyone has gone home for the night, only to discover this creepy twosome are still there! They are also very attractive Tom (Timothy Granaderos) and Sasha (Perry Mattfeld), and they are definitely up for partying. In fact, they apply this sort of weird, almost unspoken pressure on the bewildered hosts to drink more, dance more, stay up and hang out, guys!
I will reveal no spoilers, but we will gradually see layers peeled away that reveal the identity of the couple, their motives, and just how freaking depraved they are. You might guess a step or two before the movie reveals, but it won’t matter – this is a tight, short thriller that is perfectly set up as a spring stretching, stretching, stretching, as the discomfort level pushes us forward into the final act.
Special shout out to Granaderos and Mattfeld for really bringing to the screen that thing that can make you more frightened than anything else: Not knowing what the hell a weird person is going to do next.
Who Invited Them is currently streaming on Shudder.
