Who Invited Them (2022) Review

Having recently moved to the neighbourhood, couple Margo (Melissa Tang) and Adam (Ryan Hansen) throw a housewarming party for their friends at their glamourous new home. Acting as the perfect hosts, the pair have little time to relax amongst the gathering until finally winding down, they reflect on the evening and realise that neither knew the sophisticated young couple dressed all in black.

The couple return, apologetically revealing themselves as their new neighbours, and charismatically coax the couple into a nightcap before turning in. The couple are persuasive, lavishing compliments on Margo and Adam. Adam in particular seems enamoured by the positive attention and is blissfully unaware of the increasingly uneasy vibe that is developing.

As the night develops, the enigmatic duo of Sasha (Perry Mattfelt) and Tom (Timothy Granaderos) seem to find a range of reasons for them to stay despite Margo and Adams increasingly obvious hints. Fearful of appearing rude, Margo and Adam go along with the whims of their new neighbours.

Though their motive is unclear, the audience can clearly see the deviant games being played by Sasha and Tom as they delicately work to drive a wedge between Margo and Adam for their own amusement.

Things begin to worry the homeowners as all evidence seems to suggest the couple are not in fact who they say they are, yet even in such a tense and ambiguous situation, Margo and Adam tread carefully. It’s frustrating for the viewer. From the outside looking in we can see how Sacha and Tom are toying with the couple like a cat pawing at a mouse, but Who Invited Them cleverly builds on this sense of social awkwardness that prevents Margo and Adam from calling the suspicious couple out.

It is not until our protagonists have finally had enough that they realise how deep they have gotten, and how much danger they may actually be in.

From Director Duncan Birmingham, Who Invited Them is at its core a simple story, but its realistic dialogue and tense slow burn pacing puts the audience in the couple’s shoes. Fearful of a social faux-pas, Margo and Adam allow themselves to be played until it is too late. As much as watching the film you want to shout, ‘just throw them out!’, societal constructs have put them in an awkward position and I honestly can’t say I would have acted differently in their place.

Elements of the film are reminiscent of ‘Funny Games’, though the action never quite reaches the crescendo it seems to be building towards. As so much of the feature focuses on the build up, the eventual pay off feels a little lacklustre and ultimately lets the film down a little in the final third.

However overall, Who Invited Them is an enjoyable experience that will leave you questioning your own actions in such a situation.

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