DVD Review: The Invoking

By Brad Henderson

Making a film is hard no matter what subject matter or genre you tackle, but some genres are harder than others. When it comes down to it, I believe most people would rather watch a bad horror film rather than a bad drama or comedy because watching a bad horror film is just easier on certain levels.

Indie horror is something hard to pull off for many reasons. The story and acting have to be solid or you will just bore your audience. If you have special effects in the film—either CGI or practical—they also have to look solid or you have a problem. I’m pleased to say that The Invoking is an indie horror film that gets things right.

During The Invoking‘s festival run it was known as Sader Ridge, a title that was obviously changed during distribution. The Invoking is a good title because it is different and fresh and it made me want to watch it, but after watching it the title should have been Sader Ridge. After seeing the film, I think it just fits better and makes a little more sense.

The Invoking tells a story that revolves around Sam (Trin Miller, who is great, by the way). She inherits a house from family members that have recently passed away. On her trip to the house, she brings some of her friends so they can spend some time with her while she gets everything sorted out. The story then dives into the mind of Sam. As the movie unfolds, Sam finds out the truth behind her childhood.

Don’t let the box art fool you on this one. It looks like it is going to be a run-of-the-mill ghost story, but you will be pleased to find out that it’s not. That’s not a dig against ghost stories or anything. I love them but it is nice to see something different for a change.

The Invoking is beautifully crafted and remarkably shot. This is the first feature from director Jeremy Berg who also served as the cinematographer on this film. This guy and his team have some real talent and I expect big things from them in the future. Hopefully there will better ADR (additional dialogue recording) on their next flick (haha). There are a few scenes where the ADR isn’t very good but it doesn’t ruin the film at all. These guys are on a shoestring budget and worked with the best they had, so a little bad ADR isn’t the end of the world.

I was very pleased with the final product and I hope that the word on The Invoking gets spread amongst the horror community. Although there are many indie horror flicks that need to be seen, The Invoking needs to be bumped up on your list.

The Invoking will be released on DVD on February 18 via Image Entertainment.