Common Sense Media Review
By Jennifer Green
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Mexican whodunnit has violence, language, and substance use.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
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A Deadly Invitation
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
Agata (Regina Blandón) is invited to her half-sister's mansion on the beach in Los Cabos for a mystery dinner in A DEADLY INVITATION. It turns the host, Olivia (Maribel Verdú), has gathered a group of people together who all have secrets they don't want revealed. She explains over a luxury dinner aboard a yacht why each might want others gone. The guests include soon-to-be ex-husband Carlos (Pedro Damián), yoga instructor Naram (Aarón Díaz) and his girlfriend Sonia (Stephanie Cayo), doctor Figue (José María de Tavira), and famous actor Cary (Manolo Cardona). After a murder on board, they arrive back to Olivia's mansion, where police and house staff await. Agata convinces a junior detective to let her begin investigating the crime.
Is It Any Good?
This Agatha Christie homage with a unique setting and an appealing lead character (named Agatha, no less) looks to capitalize on the success of recent Netflix hits like Glass Onion. But A Deadly Invitation (whose original Spanish title translates to Invitation to a Murder) is diluted by an underdeveloped script. Rather than exploring the characters through interactions or building up the conspiracy behind the titular death, the film piles all its revelations into main character Agatha's explanation of who did it (and why).
Still, the gorgeous cast of suspects, oceanfront setting, and some subtle humor make this an easy watch. Blandón herself is a compelling character, a clever and understated lesbian podcast host, who -- given the chance -- could headline a new series of Mexico-set mysteries, à la Benoit Blanc.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about other mystery films which A Deadly Invitation might remind them of. What tropes, or typical conventions of the genre, did you detect in the film?
Did you have any guesses about the suspect? What tipped you off?
The main character runs an unsolved crimes podcast. Do you listen to podcasts? What's your favorite, and why?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : October 6, 2023
- Cast : Regina Blandón , Maribel Verdu , Pedro Damián
- Director : José Manuel Cravioto
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s) , Latino Movie Actor(s) , Female Movie Writer(s)
- Studio : Netflix
- Genre : Thriller
- Topics : Family Stories ( Siblings ) , Friendship
- Run time : 93 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
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