Invitation to Hell (1984)

As far as horror films go, "Invitation to Hell" is pretty laughable. It seems like the Wes Craven was trying to create something in the likeness of an episode of the "Twilight Zone" but the story is very poorly told to the point of hilarity. The plot is difficult to explain, but it concerns a family that moves to a new town and are enamored with their new neighbors, until it turns out that there's something demonic going on at the local spa. Many plot elements have no payoff or are introduced very badly, leaving the audience scratching their heads. Early in the film we learn that our protagonist is working on a space-suit that can withstand extreme temperature and is meant for space travel. It also has the ability to recognize life-forms and inform the person wearing the suit if it human or not human (using SCIENCE!). When it becomes apparent that something is wrong with the people around him, I figured that this suit must have been created with some nefarious purpose in mind, because why else would it have such specific abilities? Did they anticipate to meet humans on Venus, where the suit is meant to travel to? I would imagine that if they saw ANYTHING moving on that planet, it would be easy to identify it as not being human because you know... humans are from Earth? Logically, the suit must have been made to allow humans to travel to hell! Actually no, it's just a coincidence that we have a suit that can detect non-humans and is able to travel to extreme temperatures. When we have a need to figure out who is a real person and who is an impostor and have to travel to the bowels of hell, just go ahead and borrow that convenient device, it's easy! The poorly written story goes further, with the head villain being given vaguely established powers that are used only when it's most dramatically convenient. The special effects are good for what they are (it's a made for TV movie from 1984) and if you are looking for something to make fun of, you'll have a good time. Otherwise, stay away! (On VHS, April 20, 2012)

A man (Robert Urich) get a promotion and moves his family to an isolated community. Here there are a different way of doing things, and a local country club dominates the lives of the citizens... with more going on than meets the eye.Although this film is entertaining to a point, its made-for-TV origins limit the fun Craven could have had with sex and blood... this film is quite tame, and completely bizarre. Don't ask too many questions about how the plot works, or you'll go crazy.Mike Mayo nails it on the head when he says, "A capable cast can't compete with goofy plot revelations", and laments that the film "lacks the subversive excesses of his early films". It's true. Maybe this is a swipe at exclusive clubs or yuppies, but it's just toothless. And the biggest plot revelation is revealed in the first minute of the film...Michael Berryman has a small cameo, and Soleil Moon Frye (Punky Brewster) has some memorable lines and moments, including one with a bunny. If you're waiting for a creepy scene, the closest you come is during a sleepover. And Susan Lucci? The DVD box calls her a "sexy director"... I guess "sexy" meant something else in 1984.This film could be ranked as Wes Craven's oddest film, and makes a good drinking picture for you and some friends. I suspect most people have never heard of it, and I doubt that Craven really tries to get people to notice.

The Winslow family -- honest, morally upright dad Matt (a fine and likable performance by Robert Urich), sweet mother Patricia (a radiant portrayal by the ever lovely Joanna Cassidy), son Robbie (Barret Oliver), and daughter Chrissy (cute Soleil Moon Frye of "Punky Brewster" fame) -- move to an affluent California suburb to start a new life for themselves. Matt suspects that the local popular country club run by the alluring Jessica Jones (deliciously played with sinister sexiness by Susan Lucci) that everyone belongs to is harboring some kind of dark and deadly secret. Can Matt rescue his family from the club's wicked spell? Noted horror director Wes Craven, working from a compelling script by Richard Rothstein, relates the absorbing story at a steady pace, neatly grounds the fantastic premise in a plausible everyday suburban reality, and does an adept job of creating and sustaining a spooky and uneasy mysterious atmosphere. Moreover, the narrative offers a neat critique about the quintessentially 80's upwardly mobile yuppie obsession with power, success, and material gain that folks will literally sell their souls to obtain. The able acting from a sound cast rates as another substantial asset: Urich makes for an engaging hero, Lucci has a ball with her juicy femme fatate role, plus there are commendable turns by Joe Regalbuto as Matt's jolly, ambitious friend Tom Peterson, Kevin McCarthy as stern, but hearty CEO Mr. Thompson, Patty McCormack as Tom's perky wife Mary, and Nicholas Worth as a menacing sheriff. The climax with Matt venturing into hell to save the ones that he loves is quite gripping and exciting. Dean Cundey's glossy cinematography and Sylvestor Levay's shivery synthesizer score are both up to par. A solid and satisfying film.

Everything is idyllic in Suburbia when the little family moves in, as the father have got a new job in a computer company there. But no paradise would be complete without its snake. Strange things happens as the family joins the local country club without the husband, as it certainly holds secrets. The father is not a joiner, but pressure is on him to join, as everyone who is anything in the neighborhood and at work are members. Robert Urich's good guy part is a bit tepid, but Joanna Cassidy as good natured housewife turning nasty sizzles. Suspenseful and well-made chiller with a bitchy Susan Lucci as club chairperson. Look out for cult favorite Michael Berryman in a bit part as a valet. The movie captures the sense of paranoia and the special effects final is worth waiting for. I have seen this movie quite a few times.