The 2022 Shudder film “Who Invited Them” takes viewers on a tense and twisted journey during a housewarming party gone awry. Written and directed by Duncan Birmingham, the psychological thriller keeps you guessing until the very end about the true motives of the mysterious couple, Tom and Sasha, who refuse to leave Adam and Margo’s home.
As the night progresses, Tom (Timothy Granaderos) and Sasha (Perry Mattfeld) slowly reveal themselves to be unhinged sociopaths toying with their hosts. Their bizarre behavior and probing questions push Adam (Ryan Hansen) and Margo (Melissa Tang) to their limits, testing the strength of their relationship.
What Was Tom and Sasha Dark Backstory?
In a pivotal scene, Tom confides in Adam about the house’s gruesome history – a previous owner murdered his wife and children, leaving only the twin offspring alive. This tragic event seems to explain Tom and Sasha’s twisted fascination with Adam and Margo as a couple.
It’s revealed that Tom and Sasha are indeed those surviving twins, now adults fixated on re-enacting traumatic scenarios with unsuspecting families. Their “game” is to insert themselves into the lives of couples they deem either strong enough to endure psychological torture or too fragile to make it through the night.
Tom admits he and Sasha have taken a liking to Adam and Margo, foreshadowing a more sinister outcome if the pair fails to prove their commitment to each other. This confession adds a harrowing layer to the twins’ intimidation tactics throughout the night, hinting at the potential for deadly consequences.
Did Adam Die? ‘Who Invited Them’ Ending Explained
In a heart-stopping turn of events, Tom shoots Adam after the couple finally musters the courage to stand up to their tormentors and demand they leave. While Adam lies bleeding, Sasha taunts Margo, implying this may have been her last chance to prove her love for her husband.
The film then cuts to a scene of Adam recovering from his wound, living happily with Margo in a new home. However, the ending leaves ambiguity about whether this blissful existence is reality or a dying dream.
In a chilling final moment, the doorbell rings revealing Tom and Sasha have resurfaced, suggesting the cycle of terror is set to begin again. This ominous conclusion poses powerful questions about the psychological impacts of trauma and whether the twins’ torment ever ends.
How ‘Who Invited Them’ Explores Obsession of Status and Relationships
Beneath its slick thriller premise, “Who Invited Them” serves as a biting commentary on societal obsessions with wealth, status, and the fragility of modern relationships.
Tom seduces Adam with the promise of joining his elite circle, playing on male insecurities around status and success. Meanwhile, Sasha exploits Margo’s vulnerabilities as a former musician striving to be the ideal wife and mother.
Their cruel mind games force Adam and Margo to confront uncomfortable truths about their bond and unfulfilled ambitions. The film suggests how easily we compromise ourselves and our values to achieve a sense of belonging and upward mobility.
Birmingham’s script masterfully builds tension through these psychological components, making Tom and Sasha’s unrelenting presence all the more unsettling. Even when the threat of violence emerges, the film keeps viewers questioning how far the couples’ toxic codependency could push them.
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By leaving the ending ambiguous, Birmingham compels us to ponder whether the cycle of fear can ever be broken, or if the human psyche will remain eternally haunted by past horrors. This daring creative choice makes “Who Invited Them” linger in the mind long after the credits roll.
