Here's a movie that owes so much to Alfred Hitchcock's 1948 classic Rope that it even has two characters mention it early on. And while that's not so bad a thing because the premise is a pretty appealing one, the problem with R.S.V.P. is that eventually it starts trying too hard to be "hip" by piling on too much rambling dialogue and flashy camera work that it becomes a pretty tiresome effort.

Successful twenty-something Joel Otto decides to throw a party for his best friend and everyone shows-up to do a little drinking, a little big of the reefer, and to have loads of fun. But it turns out Otto has ulterior motives as he proceeds to try and knock everyone off one-by-one and cover his tracks right under the other guests noses.

With a decent directorial style by writer/producer Mark Anthony Galluzzo, acceptable acting from the cast (apart from Jason Mewes who plays the exact same stoner character he's known for playing in Kevin Smith movies), and some witty banter among the characters this held a lot of promise, but it just doesn't pan out because it doesn't really go anywhere with the material, there's a few logical lapses (the entire "boiling water" moment offers a few scoffs), and the finale tries for one too many twists.

What we're left with is a nod at the Hitchock film that just makes us want to watch that movie. And I found it pretty lame that Galluzzo ends the movie with the two survivors cracking jokes and laughing when eleven(!) of their friends have just died. (Chris Hartley, 11/16/04)

Directed By: Mark Anthony Galluzzo.
Written By: Mark Anthony Galluzzo.

Starring: Glenn Quinn, Rick Otto, Brandi Andres, Jason Mewes.