The Uninvited Review
In the glittering yet often precarious world of Hollywood, appearances are everything. This is the tense stage set in Nadia Conners’ latest film, The Uninvited, where a couple is on the verge of a career-defining evening when they are interrupted. This seemingly simple premise ignites a chain of events that this film navigates with sharp observation, exploring not only the superficiality of the entertainment industry but also the poignant realities of ageing and shifting identities.Â
Rose (Elizabeth Reaser), an actress-turned-homemaker, and her agent husband Sammy (Walton Goggins) are set to host a party to impress a star client (Rufus Sewell). Still, tranquillity is threatened when an elderly woman (Lois Smith) unexpectedly arrives at the house, claiming it is her own.Â
The just under 100-minute film is set entirely within the confines of Rose and Sammy’s property across one single evening. As with many one-location films, the setting becomes a character in itself. A glamorous, wealthy home furnished with old, ornate pieces that the elderly woman, Helen, tells stories of makes it so much more intriguing as a location. It’s large, as expected of an LA home, but charm can be found in its secret hiding places, providing a backdrop for more intimate moments. Upon discovering it was initially developed as a stage play, this all begins to make sense.Â
Writer and director Conners navigates this story with all the emotional intention it affords itself. Though the story may digress towards its hefty middle, Conners maintains the thoughtfulness she began with, continually exploring the price of femininity and what it means to grow gracefully as a woman. This is carried by Reaser, at the centre of the narrative, whose character struggles with womanhood and the uneasy nuances it can present, especially while trying not to sink in an industry obsessed with youth. Rose’s interactions with Helen are some of the most beautiful in the film, as they provide an emotional backdrop to the ever-growing disorder, which comes in the form of Sammy and Lucian (Pedro Pascal).Â
Goggins’ storyline starkly reminds us of Hollywood’s superficiality as he struggles to stay afloat amidst the chaos in his industry. His moral conflict only makes Goggins’ performance stand out more amongst the rest and proves him as one of the main pillars in this narrative. Pascal’s role, though smaller than his counterparts, still gives him enough time to establish his subtle power in such a story.Â
The film’s visuals match its tone. While the guests are ostentatious and flashy, the main characters are plain, completely stripped back as they uncover more of themselves and decide to opt for honesty over fantasy. While the film is primarily earnest, it finds its humorous moments and sits in them comfortably before moving on.Â
A raw and oftentimes unique portrayal of what it means to confront the past and find authenticity, The Uninvited plays into the refreshing idea that vulnerability can be a source of strength. Its moving themes are baked right into an occasionally meandering but altogether riveting story.Â
★★★★
In UK cinemas May 9th / Elizabeth Reaser, Walton Goggins, Pedro Pascal, Lois Smith, Eva De Dominici, Rufus Sewell / Dir: Nadia Conners / Foton.Pictures, Rosebud Pictures / 15
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