The Invisible Man
I Always Feel Like Somebody's Watching Me...
The Invisible Man
Genre: Thriller / Horror
Release Date: February 28, 2020
Running Time: 124 minutes
Rated: R
Behind the Scenes
Directed by Leigh Whannell
Written by Leigh Whannell
Cinematography by Stefan Duscio
Produced by Blumhouse Productions
In Front of the Camera
Elisabeth Moss (THE HANDMAID’S TALE, HER SMELL, US)
Oliver Jackson-Cohen (THE HAUNTING OF HILL HOUSE)
Aldis Hodge (BRIAN BANKS, HIDDEN FIGURES)
Storm Reid (A WRINKLE IN TIME)
What’s It About?
“Trapped in a violent, controlling relationship with a wealthy and brilliant scientist, Cecilia Kass (Elisabeth Moss) escapes in the dead of night and disappears into hiding, aided by her sister (Harriet Dyer, NBC's THE INBETWEEN), their childhood friend (Aldis Hodge, STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON) and his teenage daughter (Storm Reid, HBO's EUPHORIA). But when Cecilia's abusive ex (Oliver Jackson-Cohen, Netflix's THE HAUNTING OF HILL HOUSE) commits suicide and leaves her a generous portion of his vast fortune, Cecilia suspects his death was a hoax. As a series of eerie coincidences turns lethal, threatening the lives of those she loves, Cecilia's sanity begins to unravel as she desperately tries to prove that she is being hunted by someone nobody can see.” — Universal Pictures
Why You Should Check It Out
As the prey of an unseen abuser, Cecilia becomes increasingly paranoid and her life begins to unravel. Friends and family see her as hysterical or unwell, insisting that it's all in her head. It's a timely narrative about women being victimized by men — enduring physical, emotional, and psychological torment and not being believed. Writer/director Leigh Whannell builds a sophisticated psychological thriller on the foundation of these fears & anxieties, weaving them throughout thematically. The result is a bold, fresh take on the iconic character: an innovative, filmmaker-driven approach that recontextualizes a classic story and makes it relevant again for modern audiences.
In addition to the film's sleek, modern production design (by Alex Holmes), the perfect marriage of in-camera practical and visual effects (SFX supervisor Dan Oliver, VFX supervisor Jonathan Dearing), nerve-jangling sound design (sound mixer Will Files, sound designer P.K. Hooker), and a haunting score by composer Benjamin Wallfisch, THE INVISIBLE MAN has an incredible performance at its core. Two-time Golden Globe winner Elisabeth Moss is on another level here, delivering what might be her best work to date. Embodying fear, grief, madness, rage — showing strength and vulnerability at the same time — Moss creates an empathetic, relatable heroine that grounds the movie's premise in reality.
THE INVISIBLE MAN isn’t an uninspired attempt at establishing a cinematic universe like 2017’s THE MUMMY — or 2014’s DRACULA UNTOLD for that matter. This is a thoughtful horror-thriller from a filmmaker who is passionate about the genre and has something to say with his adaptation. I can’t wait to see what Whannel does next; if he does, in fact, direct the remake of John Carpenter’s ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK, which he’s currently attached to, we’re going to be in for a treat.
THE INVISIBLE MAN is currently in theaters. Read my full review at First Showing. For more recent horror recommendations, check out my Top 25 Horror Films of 2019 at Letterboxd.
You May Also Like…
If you like this, you may also enjoy:
UPGRADE (Amazon Prime Video)
DOCTOR SLEEP (DIRECTOR’S CUT) (Amazon Prime Video)
GERALD’S GAME (Netflix)
The Invisible Man by H. G. Wells (Illustrated Paperback)
The Lady from the Black Lagoon: Hollywood Monsters and the Lost Legacy of Milicent Patrick (Hardcover)
Slices:
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Trailer
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