The Invisible Man Review: Cecilia (Elisabeth Moss) has had enough of the abusive relationship with a brilliant and wealthy scientist Adrian (Oliver Jackson-Cohen). One night, she decides to leave him, and escapes with the help of her sister Emily (Harriet Dyer), to live with their childhood friend James (Aldis Hodge) and his teenage daughter Sydney (Storm Reid). But after her sociopath ex is found dead, Cecilia believes an invisible man is hunting her. She feels she’s losing her mind as she starts seeing things that no one else can.
A reboot of ‘The Invisible Man’ film series, based on the sci-fi novel by H. G. Wells, it becomes immediately evident that this version doesn’t choose any short cuts. The first two acts are a slow buildup, allowing us to understand why Cecilia was so afraid of Adrian. The dialogue also reveals details without the need for lengthy exposition or flashbacks. There are no dream sequences, fake-outs, and none of the other cheap narrative tricks most thrillers prefer. The jump scares are well earned, and come out of the blue, exactly how they should be. A lot is happening in plain sight, but rather than showing you where to look, writer and director Leigh Whannell uses intelligent framing to accommodate the person in the room who isn’t there. Or, is he? This question lingers in your mind throughout the film and doesn’t let go until the climax. Whannell is also adept at fight sequences, so when the film does amp up the action, the camerawork and choreography are easy to follow, and add to the suspenseful plot rather than distract from it.
Most of the emotional impact comes from a remarkable performance by Elisabeth Moss who captures Cecilia's trauma as a woman escaping her toxic partner. Naturally, this affects her ability to form healthy relationships with her friends and family, and Moss succeeds in transferring Cecilia’s frustration and anxiety to the audience. The rest of the cast is also effective in their respective roles, but this is Moss’ film through and through. The film also addresses domestic violence and the crippling impact it has on its victims. Adding to the overall atmosphere is a foreboding score by Benjamin Wallfisch. One of the rare psychological horror-thrillers that should come with a trigger warning, ‘The Invisible Man’ subverts many genre tropes to keep you looking over your shoulder well after the credits roll.
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