Tense High Desert Thriller Debuts on VOD November 18
Following Limited Theatrical Roadshow Beginning November 6
Joshua Tree, CA (November 3, 2025)—Dark Star Pictures has set release dates for Devin Lawrence’s THE DISINVITED,which will debut on VOD on all North American digital platforms November 18. The VOD release follows a theatrical roadshow that will see the film play San Francisco, Los Angeles, Rochester, and other cities. The film has just debuted its theatrical trailer here.
THE DISINVITED opens in San Francisco, CA on November 6, Rochester, NY on November 11, Los Angeles, CAon November 14, and a benefit screening in West Palm Beach November 17 with more cities and ticketing links to come. On November 13, it will have a ““Bride and Doom,” murderous matrimony-themed” social mediapremiere at the Lumiere Music Hall Beverly Hills.
Lawrence’s darkly comic, gritty, horror-tinged thriller is set against the stark, arid landscapesof high desert redoubt Joshua Tree, CA and the bustling urban backdrop ofLos Angeles, with the narrative artfully bouncingbetween different timelines.
In the film, Carl decides,against his—oranyone else’s—betterjudgment 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.
THE DISINVITED stars Sam Daly (Bel-Air, Bull, Madam Secretary), Dani Reynolds, Ryan Vincent (BLONDE), D.K. Uzoukwu (Clean Slate), Alana Johnston (The UCB Show), Samantha Jean Kwok,and Ronnie Gene Blevins (Tulsa King, Westworld, True Detective).
The film had a robust outing on the festival circuit and claimed the Audience Award for Feature Narrative at Dances with Films Los Angeles in 2024.
Director Devin Lawrance concludes, “This was supposed to be a horror film. Straight horror. Easily identifiable. Quickly categorized. But as the story developed, something stranger emerged: a genre-bending psychological thriller dark comedy that doesn’t fit neatly in one box. The Disinvited is disturbing, funny, relatable, and thrilling…we invite the audience to watch it and let us know whose side they’re on. And who would be their +1. And if the Devil likes cookies.”
THE DISINVITED
Bad Manners Films Presents
A Matthew Mourgides Production
A Film by Devin Lawrence
Running Time: 85 minutes
Language: English
Cameras: ARRI Alexa Mini (Cooke Anamorphic SF), Red Komodo
Aspect Ratio:2.39:1
Audio:5.1 Surround Sound
Director: Devin Lawrence
Writers: Devin Lawrence, Matthew Mourgides
Executive Producers:West Harris, Jordan Langer, Michael Mourgides
Producers:Matthew Mourgides, Sam Daly, Ted Ringeisen
Co-Producers: Chris Schwartz, Joe Lomba
Story byDevin Lawrence
Cast: Sam Daly, Dani Reynolds, Ryan Vincent, D.K. Uzoukwu,
Alana Johnston, Samantha Jean Kwok,Ronnie Gene Blevins
Press materials available here. Advance screeners available for media on request.