[Review] The Invisible Man(2020) {7.5/10}

Written and Directed by Leigh Whannell, the film stars Elisabeth Moss (Cecilia Kass), Aldis Hodge (James Lanier), Storm Reid (Sydney Lanier), Harriet Dyer (Emily Kass), Michael Dorman (Tom Griffin), and Oliver Jackson-Cohen (Adrian Griffin). The film is loosely based on the novel of the same name by H. G. Wells.

The plot follows Cecilia (Elisabeth Moss) who believes she is being stalked and gaslit by her abusive and wealthy boyfriend Adrian (Oliver Jackson-Cohen) even after his apparent suicide, and ultimately deduces that he has acquired the ability to become invisible. However, convincing anyone of that scenario proves difficult, especially when all the evidence of a brutal murder points toward Cecilia.

A Reboot of ‘The Invisible Man’ film series, it becomes immediately evident that this version doesn’t choose any short cuts. The first act is a slow buildup, allowing us to understand why Cecilia was so afraid of Adrian. The jump scares are well earned, and come out of the blue, exactly how they should be. 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 which also affects her ability to form healthy relationships with her friends and family. The film addresses domestic violence and the crippling impact it has on it's victims. Adding to the overall atmosphere is a foreboding score by Benjamin Wallfisch. The Invisible Man retains the idea of the invisible person being murderously psychotic but combines it with paranoia, delivering a tense, clever thriller with touches of both horror and sci-fi.

The Invisible Man is now available on Digital and Blu-ray.