The Invisible Man has, in my opinion, always been a somewhat overshadowed monster among its Universal Monster movie brethren. When you’re going up against such icons as Frankenstein’s Monster, Dracula and even the Wolfman, it becomes very easy to get overlooked. Leigh Whannell’s 2020 re-imagining of the classic tale is truly something to behold and will likely be celebrated as one of the best films of the year.
2020 Universal Pictures
To begin with, the film is beautifully made. The use of sound is especially impactful and within minutes of opening, it helps create a brilliantly tense and paranoid feel. It also gets used to great effect to provide subtle hints when there are more characters around than we might realise. One particular example is a knife which gets knocked off a counter and out of view, leaving the absence of the expected clatter as the only clue that someone has grabbed it. These moments are so small they might be missed at first but it helps build a sense of wrongness, as well as making for rewatch bonuses.
The feel that is built through the use of sound is echoed through the cinematography as the long panning shots and scenes of seemingly nothing leave the audience desperately scanning the screen for some visual hint of the Invisible Man’s presence. It also gives an incredibly voyeuristic sensation which only serves to heighten the discomfort.
The more action orientated scenes don’t distract from this and, particularly the fight scene, allow for a more physical presence to be felt by the audience. The choreographed sequence works well and the effort put into the scene is commendable. If Whannell’s work on his earlier film Upgrade is anything similar, I definitely need to watch it.
2020 Universal Pictures
The characters are realistically grounded and Elizabeth Moss in particular gives a stunning performance. Her portrayal of the protagonist Cecilia is genuinely moving and while the character is clearly struggling, there is a careful balance of emotion against strength and intelligence. Cecilia is flawed and hurting but she’s also determined and resourceful. There’s a core of steel to her that Moss captures perfectly. The side characters, Sydney and her father James, aren’t left undeveloped either and the relationship between them, as well as with Cecilia, feels very real and manages to capture a sweetness without being overly saccharine.
Even Adrian, the titular Invisible Man, who spends most of the film… well, invisible, gets a layered character told through his actions and the people around him, so that he feels like a much more convincing antagonist than just a random malevolent force. I think the update to his character and the source of his invisibility helps as the invisibility potion of the original story would probably come off as cheesy in this otherwise down to earth film.
2020 Universal Pictures
There is a level of nuance to the film, as while it works as a science fiction horror about an invisible antagonist, it is just as effective as a depiction of gaslighting or PTSD. The way that Adrian systematically cuts off Cecilia’s support, both emotionally and financially gives a clear image of the life she lived under his control. While I’ve never been a victim of domestic abuse, I do have experience with PTSD and in my opinion, The Invisible Man offers one of the best presentations of it I’ve seen. The constant unease and feel of being hunted by an invisible presence out to ruin your life, something that’s tearing you apart and tainting every aspect of your world that no one else can see or understand is a very raw presentation. Had it been carried out by a less talented actress or director it could easily have left it feeling heavy handed or tacky (looking at you 2019’s Black Christmas…).
That’s not to say this movie is entirely without faults. There are some potential plot holes, particularly in slightly later scenes where Adrian gets less subtle with his harassment but they’re sporadic enough to be overlooked. I also feel like it rather wasted Oliver Jackson-Cohen, especially after seeing him in The Haunting of Bly Manor. The few scenes he’s actually present in and able to perform really help to give a few extra shades to Adrian as a character. Despite this, it is a really good horror movie featuring fantastic performances that easily overshadow any negatives and definitely deserves the praise it receives.