Throughout the years, we have continued to see the entertainment industry progress to put strong female characters at the forefront of their narratives. As media continues to affect the way society sees itself, the representation of courageous female voices on the big screen is gaining traction as the world realizes women are not meant to be seen only as damsels in distress, but that they can fight, defend themselves, be villains, and more. Representation is slowly, but steadily increasing across the different genres of cinema, including action, thrillers, and horror. Coming to the big screen this August 26, is Sony Pictures’ THE INVITATION, Sony’s latest mystery/horror film featuring Jessica M. Thompson as the director, Blair Butler as the screenwriter, and Nathalie Emmanuel as the bold and daring star of the film, “Evie”.
The mysterious and obscure film follows the story of Evie (Nathalie Emmanuel), who is curious about taking a DNA test after the death of her mother, which left her alone with no known relatives. Through the DNA test, Evie discovers a long-lost cousin she never knew existed and gets invited to a lavish wedding in the English countryside. Though first seduced by one of the sexy aristocrats, she soon discovers she is trapped in a nightmare and will need to do anything in her power to survive the twisted secrets of her extended family’s history and mysterious intentions.
Though the horror genre has been typically dominated by men, the almost all-female power group of creatives involved in this film bring a new layer and perspective by bringing in a strong female character and subverting themes typically associated with women such as romance and weddings. Meet below the killer women of Sony Pictures’ The Invitation.
[metaslider id=106269]Jessica M. Thompson – Director: Born in Sydney Australia, Jessica is an Emmy-nominated filmmaker who made her writing and directional debut with The Light of the Moon, a film that became the winner of the Audience Award for best Narrative Film at the SXSW Film Festival in Austin, Texas. In 2021, Thompson directed her second feature film The Invitation and with her fascination towards the horror genre, Jessica teamed up with fellow female creatives Blair Butler (Screenwriter), Autumn Eakin (Director of Photography), Felicity Abbott (Production Designer), Danielle Knox (Costume Designer), and Dara Taylor (Composer) to create a suspenseful project.
Blair Butler – Screenwriter: Kansas-born writer Blair Butler brings to life the script of the story, which is vaguely based on the story of Dracula. Blair began the crafting of this mysterious plot and joined forces with director Jessica Thompson to create an all-female power duo. With previous experience in the genre, having written horror films HellFest and Polaroid, she uses the story of Dracula as inspiration to create a story full of strong characters, deceit, and desperation that you won’t want to miss.
Nathalie Emmanuel – “Evie”: Born and raised in the UK, Emmanuel is an Emmy-nominated actress that is best known for her breakout performance as Missandei on the critically acclaimed HBO series “Game of Thrones.” Notably, Emmanuel starred in Quibi’s “Die Hart,” alongside Kevin Hart and John Travolta. She is back on the big screen to play the role of Evie, a woman that due to curiosity and the overwhelming feeling of loneliness, gets involved in a nightmare of survival as she uncovers the strange secrets and disturbing intentions behind the generosity of her newly found extended family. Nightmares, fantasy, romance, and horror are the dualities that a powerful woman like Evie can face in mysterious and unknown circumstances that life has put her through.
THE INVITATION IN THEATERS AUGUST 26
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