THE DISINVITED
Devin Lawrence‘s Dances with Films audience award winner for Best Feature, THE DISINVITED, follows Carl and ex-friends and fiancée as they navigate a wedding weekend in Joshua Tree, as Carl’s past and present collide. 
The plot is disorienting. Filled with time hops and something else supernatural, Carl finds himself both haunted by the past and stalked by some harassing force. Repeated aggressive and toxic interactions from strangers and others in Carl’s sphere throw the viewer’s understanding of the truth into utter chaos. 
Carl’s exes are beyond livid that he has inserted himself into the festivities. As the plot thickens, Lawrence and co-writer Matthew Mourgides insinuate that we are missing large pieces of the puzzle as the former fiend group offers an alternative version of what we have witnessed thus far with their dialogue. This off-kilter effect gets an assist from Lawrence’s editing. 
Sam Daly owns this film. His emotional swings are simultaneously relatable and unhinged. Daly is riveting. THE DISINVITED mashes up relationship drama and psychological horror in a mind-bending way. The final third is wild as hell. Jacob Fatoorechi and Jaco Caraco‘s classically string-heavy score is a perfect match. You must pay attention to every frame, and do yourself a favor: watch the credits. Even better, watch it again.
The Disinvited Trailer:
THE DISINVITED – Limited release in theatres today!
Coming to Digital EVERYWHERE Nov 18, 2025
Written & Directed by Devin Lawrence
Starring – Sam Daly Ronnie Gene Blevins, Dani Reynolds, Ryan Vincent D.K. Uzoukwu, Alana Johnston, Samantha Jean Kwok Synopsis – Against his–or anyone else’s–better judgment, Carl decides to crash an event where he is no longer welcome, setting off a day filled with betrayal, violence, heartache, and exes who should never get back together. When Carl discovers he isn’t the only unwanted guest in the desert, he is forced to decide whether to save himself or risk everything for those who have wronged him.
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