A Deadly Invitation is a Mexican mystery thriller movie directed by José Manuel Cravioto. It stars Maribel Verdú, Stephanie Cayo, and Manolo Cardona. The film is based on the novel “Invitación a un Asesinato” by best-selling author Carmen Posadas.
The film follows Agatha, a true crime podcast host who is invited to a gathering at her sister’s, Olivia’s, luxurious yacht for a weekend getaway together with a group of her closest friends. The reason for the gathering is unknown to all. As the guests arrive on the yacht, tensions begin to rise culminating in… a murder.
A Quick Review
If you are into Agatha Christie, and however many film and series adaptations of her novels have been produced over time, I recommend this movie.
It follows close to the exact same patterns, and production style as A Knives Out Mystery (2019); a contemporary multi-character murder mystery that pokes fun at every single one of them, except for the most likeable and saintly of them all. The director, José Manuel Cravioto, has managed to render this intriguing whodunnit story rather well, and directed an entertaining number. It is well edited, and counts on a good script and tempo. Although it is not a cinematic masterpiece, it does have its charm.
The characters are amusing, each with their eccentricities and grudges, and are well portrayed by the cast, with that touch of TV film theatricality. The dynamics are sufficiently smooth in their choreography, bringing about the tension required in this genre. All the while, maintaining a biting sense of humor throughout.
With ‘A Deadly Invitation’ you can look forward to a classic murder mystery that allows you to be entertained thanks to its lighthearted tone.
Release Date
October 6, 2023
Where to Watch
Director
The Cast
Stephanie Cristina Cayo Sanguinetti, born on April 8, 1988, is a Peruvian artist who excels in acting, singing, and songwriting.
She rose to prominence as a prominent female protagonist in the popular youth telenovela, Besos robados. In Colombia, she is recognized for her roles in notable productions including La Marca del Deseo, Doña Bella, La Secretaria, and her subsequent leading role in La Hipocondríaca.
María Isabel Verdú Rollán, born on October 2, 1970, is a renowned Spanish actress known as Maribel Verdú. Over the course of her almost four-decade-long career, she has received multiple prestigious awards. These include two Goya Awards for Best Actress, an Ariel Award for Best Actress, the Gold Medal of the Academy of Cinematographic Arts and Sciences of Spain in 2008, and the National Cinematography Award in 2009. Verdú made her acting debut at the age of thirteen in the film Captain Sánchez’s Crime in 1985. She has appeared in various notable films throughout her career, such as Lovers (1991), Belle Époque (1992), Y tu mamá también (2001), Pan’s Labyrinth (2006), The Blind Sunflowers (2008), Tetro (2009), Snow White (2012), and Raymond & Ray (2022). In addition, she has portrayed Nora Allen in the DC Extended Universe film The Flash, marking her second role in a superhero film following Superlópez (2018).
