THE INVISIBLE MAN, written and directed by Leigh Whannell, is a phenomenal psychological thriller for the Me Too era. From Elisabeth Moss’ sensational performance, to the suspenseful sound design and scares, this film is worth all the hype and will certainly be a horror classic in the years to come. And most importantly… it’s f-ing scary.
Although Cecilia (Elisabeth Moss) was able to escape an abusive relationship with her multi-millionaire, tech genius boyfriend Adrian (Oliver Jackson-Cohen), she still doesn’t feel safe in her new life. She is suffering from PTSD and constantly afraid Adrian is going to come back and harm her. Even after receiving news that Adrian committed suicide, Cecilia can’t shake the feeling that something is wrong and someone is watching her.
This is going to sound weird but THE INVISIBLE MAN is one of the most original thriller/horror films I have seen in a long time. Yes, I know THE INVISIBLE MAN was originally a Universal monster film released in 1933. But Whannell is able to make this film so prescient to modern-day themes… issues that were certainly ignored in the ’30s but are slowly being addressed in the Me Too era. For example: believing women, understanding when you are being gaslighted, and dealing with trauma post-abuse. And it’s not just in Cecilia’s relationship with the invisible man that you see her face abuse. Some moments are more subtle, such as her job interview where the hiring manager makes inappropriate comments bordering on sexual harassment.
It’s hard to believe they were able to pull off THE INVISIBLE MAN with just a $7 million budget because seemingly nothing was spared in the film’s production. The CGI was flawless, the sound design was some of the best I’ve heard, and hell Elisabeth Moss deserves $7 million alone to bring her unparalleled talents to any film.
It’s hard for me to talk about Moss’s performance because it’s just a fact that she is one of the most talented actors working today and is exceptional in every single thing she does. Of course, THE HANDMAID’S TALE is amazing, but each year she also graces the big screen with an award-caliber performance. That said, I honestly think THE INVISIBLE MAN is the best role she’s ever done. From the gut-wrenching opening scene until the credits roll, the entire movie rests on Moss’s shoulders and she beyond delivers with unbridled, raw emotions. And because Moss is such a consistent and reliable presence on-screen, you are on the edge of your seat rooting for Cecilia within the first seconds of seeing her, despite knowing nothing about her.
I was able to see THE INVISIBLE MAN in a Dolby IMAX theater and I would implore you to follow my lead… or at least see it in the loudest theater you can find. The sound design is incredible and so important to building suspense in the movie. It was awesome (and terrifying) to hear the anonymous breathing, creak of the floorboards, and other ambient noise amplified to raise your blood pressure. You may lose years off of your life from the first scene of the movie alone, but believe me… it’s worth it.
My Review: A
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