THE INVITATION [2015]

Director Karyn Kusama hasn't made a good film in over 15 years, so the deeply upsetting The Invitation is a welcome surprise to her filmography.
After a disquieting event on their way to a dinner party, a young couple beings wondering if the social gathering they are attending is far more threatening than it initially appears to be.
Considering this film is from the director of Jennifer's Body and the writers of the recent Clash of the Titans and Æon Flux films, I was happily surprised to find this was a well-crafted and highly effective mature tale that leaves a lasting impression.  Right from the get-go it sparks an unpleasantly awkward tension that only digs deeper and deeper into the psyche until it's bloody great finale.  It never really brings anything new to the table but it's still a well-made thriller that delivers enough mystery to please.

3½ red lanterns out of 5

PROMETHEUS [2012]

Ridley Scott's first visit back to the Alien-verse since 1979, Prometheus, is a bit of a questionable one.

While it's nice to see a sci-fi film using physical sets and animatronics instead of 99.9% CGI, there's just too many elements missing to make it a bit disappointing.  The characters are bland and dumb as fuck, there's an extreme lack of menace and you can't help but feel that it went through rewrite hell.  However there are some great set-pieces and some VERY memorable scenes that will haunt me forever.

As a popcorn film it's an entertaining ride...as an Alien film, it's a colossal disappointment.

2½ Peter O'Toole's out of 5