Watch Invitation to Hell
- NR
- 1984
- 1 hr 31 min
-
5.1 (2,067)
Invitation to Hell is a 1984 made-for-television horror/sci-fi film directed by Wes Craven, starring Robert Urich, Joanna Cassidy, and Susan Lucci. The movie follows Matt Winslow (Robert Urich), a successful airline executive, and his family as they move to a new town for his new job. Little do they know, the town is hiding a sinister secret, and Matt soon finds himself in a living hell.
The movie starts with the Winslow family (Matt, his wife Patricia, and their two children) moving to the idyllic town of Salem, where Matt has taken a job as a project manager at a high-tech company called Dante Enterprises. They are welcomed by their new neighbors, the Davises, who seem to be a perfect family. However, things quickly start to go wrong. Matt's daughter, who suffers from a heart condition, suddenly develops superhuman strength and starts behaving strangely. Matt's wife also becomes increasingly erratic, lashing out at Matt and the children.
Matt starts to investigate what is going on with the Davises and Dante Enterprises, and his suspicions are confirmed when he discovers that the company is into some seriously shady business. The company is experimenting with a new technology that allows people to enter alternate dimensions, and it turns out that the Davises are not the perfect family they seem to be. They are actually demons from an alternate dimension who have taken human form to infiltrate the town.
Matt and his family become prime targets of the demons when they discover the truth about them. The Winslows are taken to an underground facility run by Dante Enterprises, where they are tormented with visions of their greatest fears and desires. Patricia becomes a victim of the demons and is turned into one of them, while Matt and his children are left to fend for themselves.
The final act of the movie sees Matt and his children trying to escape from the demons and the facility. They are helped by a kind-hearted scientist who works for Dante Enterprises and who helps them destroy the machine that allows the demons to enter their dimension. The movie ends on a high note, with the Winslow family recovering from their ordeal and deciding to move back to their old town.
Invitation to Hell is a classic horror movie that blends elements of sci-fi into its plot. The concept of alternate dimensions and demons crossing over from them is an interesting one, and the movie does a good job of exploring it. The acting performances are solid, with Robert Urich in particular doing a great job as the hero of the movie. The movie also features some impressive practical effects, especially during the scenes where the demons are revealed in their true form.
One of the strengths of Invitation to Hell is its pacing. The movie moves at a brisk pace, with plenty of twists and turns along the way. The tension and suspense are well-maintained throughout, with the audience never really sure what is going to happen next. The movie does an excellent job of building up the horror and the stakes as the plot progresses.
The movie also has some interesting themes, particularly around the dangers of unchecked ambition and the importance of family. The character of Matt is a classic hero, with his love for his family and his desire to do the right thing being his driving forces throughout the movie. The demons are a metaphor for the corrupting influence of power and ambition, and the movie does a good job of exploring this theme.
Overall, Invitation to Hell is a solid horror/sci-fi movie that is definitely worth watching. It has an engaging plot, good performances, and some impressive practical effects. The movie may be a bit cheesy and dated in places, but it still holds up as an entertaining and suspenseful movie. If you're a fan of horror or sci-fi, then this is definitely a movie to check out.
Invitation to Hell is a 1984 tv movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 31 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.1.