The Uninvited is about a young woman who is released from a mental institution and returns to a home different from what she remembers. Her father has remarried soon after her mother died, and the young woman is convinced that his hot new wife has sinister intentions and a murderous past. The Uninvited is strong on gothic atmosphere and has a Bronte feel.
If you watch South Korean movies and have seen A Tale of Two Sisters, don’t bother watching The Uninvited. The Uninvited is a remake with a few twists on the South Korean horror classic. South Korean movies are generally better than the average American or British film so any remake will pale in comparison. In addition, even though The Uninvited was in theaters years before Sucker Punch, if you are a fan of Emily Browning, the star of both films, and already saw Sucker Punch, you will guess the surprise ending of The Uninvited even without seeing the South Korean original film.
I decided to watch The Uninvited because I dig Elizabeth Banks. Banks has range, and The Uninvited hinges on her pleasant menacing presence, and Browning’s innocent pose. The Uninvited has a stellar cast and adds a credible layer to the plot that worked for me in The Usual Suspects fashion. The Uninvited effectiveness hinges on issues of class and gender norms. If you don’t judge appearances based on those standards, you will probably guess who is responsible for the homicidal shenanigans in The Uninvited.
The Uninvited is a strong atmospheric tale of suspense, but not nearly as amazing as its predecessor, A Tale of Two Sisters. If you hate subtitles and are a fan of the cast, then give The Uninvited a chance.