The Invite(2026)

What a recovery for Olivia Wilde after Don’t Worry Darling. The Invite is a deeply delicious treat packed with sharp writing, tension, and belly-laugh moments. I highly recommend. 

The simplicity is probably what made the difference. Don’t Worry Darling tried to address class, power, gender and had to create horror tension all at once, while The Invite is a simple relationship story with few revolutionary ideas. This allowed her to focus on crafting the script and pacing of the film and it showed. Also I think they were just having so much making this: one auteur working with three extraordinarily talented actors of a generation working together in a flow state. Of course it’s going to produce something special. 

(slight spoilers below)

I appreciate how the film sets up the expectation that both couples are dysfunctional. With Angela and Joe, that’s the first thing we see. With Pina and Hawk, that’s what we assume because of all the unconventional things about their relationship. We see the occasional friction between them as breadcrumbs that will lead to some big reveal about their hidden mess, and Pina’s outburst made everyone think that was it, but they simply resolve it with very normal conflict resolution skills. It’s a good reminder that friction is not a scandal but is the norm in any relationship. 

Beneath the sharp writing and comedic genius, the underlying truths this story tells are nothing new, which can make the ending feel a bit of a whiplash in terms of it being anticlimactic. But after some thought I think it’s actually a neat metaphor for relationships in general. Drama and emotion that are inherent in our humanity can make things feel complicated and overwhelming, but all it takes is a bit of humility and openness to being vulnerable. In the end, connection really is that simple.