On November 6th, 2024, the 9,000th article was added to the SuccuWiki!

Invitation to Hell: Difference between revisions

From SuccuWiki - The Wiki of the Succubi
Jump to navigation Jump to search
Line 69: Line 69:
== Critical Review ==
== Critical Review ==


''The following review is from the Amazon.com listing in the External Links below:''


*4 out of 5 stars
*Another old one from Craven
*Reviewed On: October 24, 2008
*Reviewed By: THE MAIN MAN "Wrestleanimaniac"


Review taken from [http://www.horror.com/php/article-647-1.html Horror.com].
Matt Winslow(Robert Urich) takes his family and move to California after landing a high position for a big corporation. They end up meeting a woman named Miss Jones(Susan Lucci) who owns a country club resort. Matt notices the changes in everyone who has joined the club and is very cautious of it. His wife on her own joins the club and Matt soon feels like a stranger in his own home.  
 
Reviewed by By: stacilayne on 12-05-2004
 
Rating: 1.9/5
 
Also known as Clive Barker’s Saint Sinner, this movie was originally produced for the Sci-Fi Channel and has seen a DVD run in the past year. Of course, the studios are famous for releasing several different versions of the same film, hoping to either snag someone who hasn’t seen the movie or to get loyal fans to buy the same movie twice.
This DVD version of Saint Sinner has new commentary by Clive Barker and is unrated, showing scenes that were too racy for TV. Despite the addition of more boobs and blood, Saint Sinner is not any better; to paraphrase its tagline — The Flesh Is Weak — the movie is essentially weak.
It’s got some things going for it. The plot, based on a story by Clive Barker, has an interesting premise: In 1815 a monk named Tomas Alcala (Greg Serano) unintentionally unleashes two demonic female succubi upon an unsuspecting 21st century. Tomas is chosen by God to journey through the centuries and put the kibosh on the demons’ deadly shenanigans (why God would choose him, when he’s the screw-up who caused the whole fiasco in the first place, is not explained).
Meanwhile, the succubi sisters, Munkar (Mary Mara) and Nakir (Rebecca Harrell), are having a good old time, slinking around, sexing it up, and the sucking the life-forces out of anyone who will stand still long enough. Corny special effects and over-the-top dialogue are a big part of these little outings, and the girls run unchecked until Brother Tomas catches up with them.
Tomas finds more than trouble when Detective Rachel Dressler (Gina Ravera) goes after him, making Tomas the prime suspect in the series of gruesome murders the succubi are actually responsible for. Needless to say, Tomas protests his innocence and proves to the cop that supernatural forces are at work — they decide that two heads are better than one (especially one that’s severed) and team up to stop the evil imps.
While Saint Sinner is a fairly weak film when compared with Clive Barker’s usual standard of work, it is somewhat above-average in comparison to more of the Sci-Fi Channel’s original productions. If you like time travel, gratuitous sex and violence, and religious themes, then Saint Sinner might be worth the price of a rental. Buy it only if you’re a fan of Barker and would like to listen to his over-the-movie commentary — he’s always a source of enlightenment and fascination, no matter what he’s talking about.


I actually enjoyed this one. This isn't one of Craven's usual slashers that we know him so well for today. "Invitation to Hell" is a character driven movie that explores the depths of ones desires and deceit. Robert Urich gives a good performance and his wife Patricia(Joanna Cassidy) plays a very good role as the power & wealth motivated wife. Susan Lucci also stands out with her role as the seductive little she devil.


The movie works its horror through the family's dilemma. Simply due to Matt's unacceptance by his own family and his struggle trying to understand what exactly is going on. Gore and pure horror through fright is non existent. And the body count is very low with some cheap deaths, except for one. I recommend this to those looking for something less barbaric. But with a story that is easy to relate to.


== External Links ==
== External Links ==
*Invitation to Hell at the [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0087480/ IMDb].
*Invitation to Hell at the [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0087480/ IMDb].

Revision as of 20:49, 23 December 2008


For other uses of the word Succubus, or movies involving Succubi, see Succubus (disambiguation).


Invitation to Hell is a 1984 made for TV movie.

DVD Box cover of the movie Invitation to Hell.


Overview

  • Title: Invitation to Hell
  • Rating: Unrated
  • Studio: Lions Gate
  • DVD Release Date: August 19, 2003
  • Original Release Date: May 24, 1984
  • Run Time: 96 minutes
  • ASIN: B00009YXGW

Cast

Greg Serano Tomas Alcala
Gina Ravera Det. Rachel Dressler
Mary Mara Munkar
Rebecca Harrell Nakir
William B. Davis Father Michael
Antonio Cupo Brother Gregory
Jay Brazeau Abbot
Simon Wong Wade
Boyan Vukelic Playland Guard
Brian Drummond Officer #1
Peter Bryant Officer #2
Lisa Dahling Officer #3
Kris Pope BrotherRafael
Robin Mossley Clark
Donna Yamamoto Irate Mother
Justine Wong Little Girl
David Thomson Vince
Linda Darlow Sister Stephen
Art Hindle Morgan Rand
Colin Lawrence Steve


Plot Summary

When a family moves to a suburban California neighborhood, everything is going great. The neighbors are nice, the neighborhood is clean, and there is a local health spa close to their house that everyone in the town belongs to. At first they consider joining it until their neighbors and co-workers hassle them constantly for not doing it right away. They start to get a little suspicious towards why they are so interested in them joining, but not the point where they think something is wrong. The wife and kids are up for it, but the dad is skeptical and fears a bit of evil in the spa. Is the dad just a little superstitious or is the spa really a Invitation to Hell?


Critical Review

The following review is from the Amazon.com listing in the External Links below:

  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • Another old one from Craven
  • Reviewed On: October 24, 2008
  • Reviewed By: THE MAIN MAN "Wrestleanimaniac"

Matt Winslow(Robert Urich) takes his family and move to California after landing a high position for a big corporation. They end up meeting a woman named Miss Jones(Susan Lucci) who owns a country club resort. Matt notices the changes in everyone who has joined the club and is very cautious of it. His wife on her own joins the club and Matt soon feels like a stranger in his own home.

I actually enjoyed this one. This isn't one of Craven's usual slashers that we know him so well for today. "Invitation to Hell" is a character driven movie that explores the depths of ones desires and deceit. Robert Urich gives a good performance and his wife Patricia(Joanna Cassidy) plays a very good role as the power & wealth motivated wife. Susan Lucci also stands out with her role as the seductive little she devil.

The movie works its horror through the family's dilemma. Simply due to Matt's unacceptance by his own family and his struggle trying to understand what exactly is going on. Gore and pure horror through fright is non existent. And the body count is very low with some cheap deaths, except for one. I recommend this to those looking for something less barbaric. But with a story that is easy to relate to.

External Links

  • Invitation to Hell at the IMDb.
Retrieved from "http://succubus.net/wiki/index.php?title=Invitation_to_Hell&oldid=3119"