Directed by: Leigh Whannell
Release date: February 28th, 2020
Rating: 9/10
The Invisible Man, starring Elizabeth Moss, is director Leigh Whannel’s third film and his follow up to 2018’s Upgrade. This film centers on the abusive relationship between Cecilia (Moss) and her boyfriend Adrian (Jackson-Cohen) who, after faking his own death and finding a way to become invisible, torments her and her friends and family.
This film finds a way to be truly terrifying without using excessive blood and gore or supernatural elements. The true terror lies within the fact that people like Adrian exist everywhere. Whannel focuses on the ways that an abuser can get inside the mind of their victim and control what they think, do, or say. Of course it makes it all the more frightening when you can’t even see him coming.
The camerawork is used in such a way that we feel we can actually see the Invisible Man even when there’s nothing there. The camera moves down a hallway like it’s following somebody that isn’t there or shifts focus to an empty space and, even though you know nothing is there, you still find yourself straining your eyes to see if you can make out even the slightest outline of a man.
While this is a film filled to the brim with tension, it’s not without action by any means. The action sequences are done very well and are also very violent. I said this movie finds a way to be scary without excessive blood and gore, that doesn’t mean there’s none. People beaten, have their throats cut, and shot multiple times throughout the movie. While entertaining, it isn’t mindless violence either. The violence in the movie really shows how violent an abuser can become, even when they seem harmless, and how far they will go to remain in control of their victims.
This movie finds many ways to bring it to the next level. From the intricate, yet followable, story, to the message about abusive relationships. One of the things this film does extremely well is its score. The music in this movie is perfect, or rather I should say the sound. While the score is incredibly eerie and perfectly fits the vibe of this invisible stalker/abuser that can be right in front of you without knowing, the lack of sound also plays a big part in the atmosphere as well. There are sequences where there isn’t a sound being made except for the quiet ambient sounds of creaking doors and people walking that really adds a sense of tension that even the creepiest music wouldn’t make. You can tell that everything about this movie has been meticulously thought out.
The Invisible Man is a fantastic horror film. The performances are great, the atmosphere is creepy, and the story is interesting. If you’re a fan of Whannel, horror, or thrillers, this film checks all the boxes. Putting a new spin on a classic story, The Invisible Man is well worth your time.