Customer Reviews

Invitation to Hell [VHS]

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is an eerie tale from the 1980s. It does not quite make it as a horror. More like a eerie drama. It is pretty entertaining, especially with the soap opers star, Susan Lucci. Shey played the female, succubus, demon in the movie very well. With a little more action and violence, this could have been a much better movie, still it is good for those who like a soft chill. I Did Like it though.

Invitation to Hell is an unknown and clearly underrated movie, done with very little budget but yet so strong emotionally. IMO a master piece.

It basically evolves around family bounds and how it feels to see the ones you love becoming strangers to you.

About the score, another great composition from Sylvester Levay (author of AirWolf main theme TV series) very simple and very emotional, that contributes a lot in creating the atmosphere of the movie.

Hope you will enjoy this movie as much as I did.

A-Lin

This was not a typical slasher, or supernatural movie of the 80's. Wes Craven does a nice job with the creativity on this one. The story revoloves around a country club in california. The new family joining the club, is eluded into thinking that the "secret" part of the club is only for a select few, who are admired most amoung all the other club members. Susan Lucchi from the "All my children" is in this one, as the evil main characters, who may just be satan him/herself...

Susan Lucci plays a great role as Steaming Springs Country Club's Director. Also in the dvd version in one of the scenes you can definitely see a size chart for offical club wear up to XXL did not see any members with that size mentioned. I highly recommend buying the dvd. The only thing that was missing is the tv trailers and behind the scenes, Surround Sound, Commentary from the cast and crew, and a Closed Captioned Subtitle. The only goof was in the viewscreens of the suite Benign it is supposed to say Being. I wish they made a sequel to the film.

Not the best of Wes Cravens horrors but not the worst.

Simple but enjoyable horror yarn that is crude in budget but still interesting and compelling to watch.

Although one of the secondary characters, the film is most noticable for character actor/muscleman Nicholas Worth who plays the musclebound demonic sherrif guardian to the hell gate.

I find Invitation To Hell to be a strange and wonderful little flick. I remember the first time I watched it. It really sucked me into that cold, detached, materialistic atmosphere very well. Not like that's a place you want to visit other than with escapism.
And even though it was just Tv movie from 1984, the acting was very good (IMO) Even TV flicks from 20 years ago, carry way better acting than anything you'd see of similar ilk these days. I credit Wes Craven for his excellent directing skills and love of true, effective creepiness. Also credit Joanna Cassidy for an excellent turn as the once decent, well mannered wife. Her morph into a superficial, devious and evil sexpot was really believable and effective. Robert Urich as well. To me he was great as the unintimidated, "simple needs" family man...the rock of good surrounded and tempted by sex, money power and superficial acceptance. These are all the selling points of "The Club", headed by Susan Lucci.

i know this all sounds a bit cheesey and in a lot of ways, it is. But with good acting, an ominous "feeling" and atmosphere running through the picture, some good directing, taut little script, the movie comes off most entertaining.
Even Susan Lucci, I think, did a fine job within her hard to believe role. She came off perfectly seductive, tempting and devoid of goodness. I suppose she's meant to represent the devil. In this case, the Devil in early 80's hair and make up and a really hot red dress (among other interesting outfits)

This flick plays as much a morality tale as it does a TV horror film. Again, it does own that somewhat cheesy TV horror flick dressing. But to me, underneath, lies a pretty cool, thought provoking, fun movie that sticks with you.

*I've always liked the first 70-80% of the film best. All the morality stuff....the family's decent into madness and deeper evil (loved ones losing their souls, etc.) The ending couldn't help but be a bit over-the-top and cheesy. It was 1984 and this was a TV budgeted movie.

**I really liked the whole scene with the dog too...(Urich's character would not fall to Lucci's temptations, but his family does) This "dog scene".....Urich's first dealings with his family after their initiation into The Club. their entrance into "the spring" All that with the dog knowing how they've changed. How we now hate Joanna Cassidy's character for not only taking the family dog the vet to be euthanized, but also for "wanting to watch"...I liked the vet character and his good decision to not let her get away with that. At that point of the movie, we really bond with Urich's goodness

The full frame transfer of this DVD is very good. Colors are strong and images sharp. the sound is clear, somewhat dynamic and dialogue is audible throughout

Nice relase of a memorable little Wes Craven nugget from '84

**One thing. I sure wish these TV movies on DVD would start to include TV SPOTS. i mean, who wouldn't want to see a TV Spot for the "upcoming" Friday Night At The Movies feature. Anyway, that's one thing this DVD is lacking...Special features. No trailer, TV Spots or commentary.

I sure wish the older films (whether A grade or B grade) would get some more respect in the way of special features. I mean, newer films are so loaded with fluff and BS. It's the older films we'd like to see good special features inclusive. Who needs to "look back on" (or see for that matter) Cyote Ugly. Just an example. Or say, any of the bloated but empty CGI flicks. Do we really need special features for those? i don't even need the film, let alone special features! Always containing some fluff piece featurette with a bunch of lame, supposed actors overusing the word "amazing" for a half an hour

the 70's was a true golden age of cinema, in so many ways. And the late 70's into the early 80's was a wonderful, inventive, fun time for horror flicks. We WANT special features for these!

So, "Invitation To Hell" has no special features but it's a worthwhile purchase for those seeking a cool little "morality tale horror film" they could've missed out on back then.

Great movie, definitely has the Wes Craven vibe. Plenty of stuff to laugh at but still totally watchable. Star studded in a great 80's tv/ b-movie way. Soleil Moon Frye (Punky Brewster),Barret Oliver (D.A.R.Y.L.), Jason Presson (Explorers). Susan Lucci rules as the satanic country club chick. If cheesy 80's flicks are up your alley I totally recommend it.

OMG, this was awful. I am a huge fan of low-budget 70's and 80's horror movies (I was born in 65), made for TV movies, etc., so I LOVE the genre, the era, but this was pure crap. I had just re-watched Summer of Fear (another Wes Craven) and while cheesy, I still loved it just as much as I did when it came out, so I expected to feel the same about this one and man, was I disappointed!! The premise was ridiculous, the acting terrible, Susan Lucci looked like an overly made-up clown and was not very believable, the dialog was stupid, I could go on and on. We made ourselves watch it to the end to see if there were any redeeming qualities, but alas, there were none. I give this movie two thumbs down (4 thumbs, including my boyfriend), and I rarely say that about ANY films of this type from this era!! Don't waste your money.

Saw this movie years ago, and never heard any more about it. Upon looking for old scary movies for halloween, This movie came to mind. Noone had heard of it. I went to Amazon and not even knowing the name of movie, I found it and purchased with no problem. I was so excited to see it again, and it was in great condition.

I enjoyed this movie for several reasons; It made me laugh, it made me nervous, and it blew my mind. There is something about the various characters in this film that are true to people, but obviously much more embelished. So I guess the acting really wasn't that bad.

It has something to say regarding people and the need to feel accepted or belong. That is a about the only thing that makes the story unique and timeless. Other than that a person would be horrified at the cheesy effects and sound on this film, though I liked it for that very reason. The way this movie is done makes you embarassed about the past and at the same time long for those days to be back. I can't imagine this would have required much of a budget. It indludes several familiar faces including Punky Brewster and the kid from the Neverending Story.

I would definately recommend seeing this movie once. At the beginning of this movie you might not know what to expect exactly so I won't spoil it anymore than I have. It might hurt a little at first... and all the way through for that matter. But if your head isn't made of concrete than you should get at least a little something out of this film.