Cecilia Kass (Elisabeth Moss) has struggled through an abusive relationship for some time now. She has faced physical, emotional and sexual abuse at the hands of her boyfriend, Adrian Griffin (Oliver Jackson-Cohen), but has finally decided that enough is enough. Not long after she runs away, with the hope of starting fresh, Adrian commits suicide, leaving millions of dollars to Cecilia. The Invisible Man depicts Cecilia’s life after Adrian’s passing. However, when Cecilia becomes suspicious that the death is actually a hoax, she does her best to convince everyone around her that something abnormal is afoot, and that a man, unable to be seen by the naked eye, is tormenting her.
Ominous music explodes in viewers’ faces as the opening credits march across the screen. As the music grows louder and more aggressive, waves crash and trickle down a series of words, playing on the theme of invisibility. Not a moment passes that does not have audiences expecting something horrible to happen, and the anxiety that accompanies that feeling nearly cripples audiences. They feel a sense of helplessness that radiates through them as the story goes further and deeper down the rabbit hole. That helplessness is what drives Leigh Whannell’s The Invisible Man. Keeping audiences fearful of what is going to happen next, more so than any other film I’ve seen to date, is a brilliant tactic which ensures that they remain focused throughout the entirety of the film.
Viewers are compelled to remain focused throughout the duration of The Invisible Man. Viewers know that something is going to happen, but it’s only a matter of what and when. As audiences have no choice but to examine every inch of the screen for indicators of what might happen next, they inch to the edge of their seats, and imagine the worst possible thing that might happen.
The Invisible Man is a horror film made by horror fans for horror fans. Whannel, best known for his roles in the Saw series, is a horror mastermind that has, for nearly twenty years now, helped to bring some truly nightmarish stories to life. His most recent investment, The Invisible Man, takes a form similar to his past endeavors, a psychological thriller. It was quickly realized that one of the most terrifying things in the world is an enemy that you can’t see. That possibility becomes a reality early on in The Invisible Man and antagonizes viewers with horrifyingly sinister moments of vulnerability. As this intense vulnerability overcomes viewers, they have no choice but to succumb to the terror that is repeatedly thrown at them. The inability to see what was going to happen next keeps viewers on their toes and fully enthralled by what Whannell brings to the table.
Moss is another important part of keeping audiences engaged and entertained throughout The Invisible Man. Moss, while not technically not alone through the most intense scenes of the film, is tasked with filling the space on her own. A juxtaposition of close ups and long shots force her to be precise in her attempts to emotionally drive Cecilia forward, but sophisticated enough to manage the empty space on the screen. She finds ways to, while “alone,” make viewers feel her presence throughout each shot. Her gusto, in addition to the phenomenal direction from Whannell, captures the attention of viewers and intensifies nearly every moment in the film.
What adds to the intensity of the film is the fact that Whannell makes it clear that no one, no matter how big their role in the film, is safe. It is understood that anyone’s life can be taken at any time throughout The Invisible Man. This understanding adds an additional level of suspense and horror that hangs over viewers throughout the film’s entirety and entices them even more than they already are.
Whannell strikes gold with The Invisible Man. A combination of thrilling music, uncomfortable lighting, beautifully chosen camera angles and superb acting, his psychological thriller comes to life and finds great success. I’ve only come across a few horror films that have genuinely instilled fear in me; The Invisible Man is one of those films. Knowing that the unknown was just around the corner, unsure of what form that might eventually take, I, in many instances, became anxious and uncomfortable, unable to escape from the flood of fright that consumed me. The Invisible Man is the best horror film I’ve seen in a long time.
Written & Directed by Leigh Whannell. Starring Elisabeth Moss, Oliver Jackson-Cohen, Harriet Dyer, Aldis Hodge, Storm Reid, etc.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/10
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