The Invisible Man Almost Shows Us a Very Good Movie
The Invisible Man is Universal Pictures and Blumhouse’s reboot of the 1933 film of the same name based on the H.G. Wells novel. This new iteration is pretty far removed from either and before anyone asks no, it’s not part of the “Dark Universe” Universal tried to kick start with 2017’s The Mummy. This film is a standalone according to writer/director Leigh Whannell, as much as a “reboot” can be, even though Dark Universe is credited as a production company and its only other credit is The Mummy.
Our story starts with Cecillia (Elisabeth Moss) leaving her partner. She has her go bag ready and her sister’s car ready to pick her up. Adrian, her partner and an optics expert gives chase, punching through the car’s window and grabbing Cecilia by the throat. Cecilia and her sister are able to get away — but then the real horror of the film begins. Cecilia is terrified that Adrian will come after her like he always promised to so even getting the mail becomes a frightening ordeal.
A short time later however, we find out that Adrian killed himself and has left Cecilia a large monthly allowance. Pretty sweet, right? Once she accepts this allowance, however things get kinda weird. Suddenly, things start happening. The heat is turned up on an unattended breakfast skillet and causes a fire. Knives fall off of tables. Things keep intensifying until people are getting hurt. Cecilia is convinced Adrian isn’t dead but has figured out how to become invisible. The rest of the world doesn’t believe her.
This movie has excellent ideas and it almost gets to them. This film gets bogged down in a lot of modern horror clichés, which was disappointing. There were many predictable moments and even more predictable (and loud!) jump scares that didn’t add much and cheapened the overall vibe of the film. The star of the film is absolutely the vibe, however. The slow burn psychological horror of the first two acts is well executed and gut clenching.
Watching Cecilia’s already strained relationships start to fray is the best part of the film. Establishing her as (justifiably) very nervous and paranoid from the beginning makes her friends and family not believing her feel realistic, and does the same for some of their chafing fatigue at her insistence. While this film has a lot of good elements it needs a 15 minute shave at least and some more sound mixing. (This may have just been the Dolby theatre but the difference in volume between the music, dialogue, scares and sounds were almost impossible to comfortably sit through).
I would feel remiss if I didn’t talk about the casting of this film. Moss carries this thing and she powerfully portrays a woman whose world has fallen apart over and over again and people don’t believe her anymore. The many types of hurt Cecilia feels through this movie all come across as unique and authentic. Storm Reid (of Wrinkle In Time) is also a standout as Sydney — the teenage daughter of a single father (Aldis Hodge, also excellent) who wants more than anything to go to fashion school and is reckoning with Cecilia’s presence in their house. The scene where she asks Cecilia if a girls night would help is a masterful moment of a teenage girl trying to help a friend having issues she doesn’t quite understand herself.
As a reboot of the 1933 Claude Rains movie it fails on a fundamental level — it has nothing in common with it. The fact that they both have invisible men is more of a weird coincidence than it is a commonality. So if you’re excited to see a retelling of Wells’ classic this ain’t it. I almost find the branding as THE invisible man to the film’s detriment because it’s a completely different film, story and concept.
It stands alone but falls into some of the Blumhouse horror clichés and your mileage may vary on that. Honestly, I thought it was headed in the right direction and there’s a great message about female empowerment in there I think? I wish it put just a little more stock in its message.
Also keep an eye out for some cool Easter Eggs relating to more of Whannell’s movies. (Ed. Note: Go watch Upgrade as soon as you can.)
I give The Invisible Man (Universal Pictures and Blumhouse Productions; R; 2hrs 4mins) 3 out of 5.
