Universal Pictures Film Review - The Invisible Man

Bullying, women losing their voices, not being believed and gaslighting are the central themes of Australian writer-director Leigh Whannell's The Invisible Man. Opening with a prologue of Cecilia Kass (Elizabeth  Moss) sneaking quietly out of an expansive isolated home that seems more like a prison. The story jumps ahead two weeks where the still shell shocked Cecilia is seeing her abusive controlling husband Adrian Griffin (Oliver Jackson-Cohen) from whom she escaped around every corner. Cecilia is staying with her good friend cop James Lanier (Aldis Hodge) and his daughter Sydney (Storm Reid) with her sister Emily (Harriet Dyer) who drove her to freedom close by.

Suddenly Emily brings news that at first seems to solve all of Cecilia's problems. Adrian is dead and Cecilia only has to attend a reading of the will at her brother's in law Tom Griffin (Michael Dorman) law firm to receive a windfall. After the reading, Cecilia begins to sense Adrian's presence at James' home. Could he be still alive, has he invented a way using his vast skill and knowledge of optics to be invisible? Was the stipulation that she attend the reading in person simply a ruse for Adrian to find her exact location?

Elisabeth Moss gives a physical emotionally charged performance as Cecilia. She catches on to Adrian's scheme tires to communicate her findings to others but she is not believed. Adrian slowly works to isolate his prey until Cecilia is in an impossible spot but that is where she takes a stand and fights back.

The Invisible Man is a modern take on H.G. Wells' 1897 novel. Its main themes are very timely today speaking to the need to believe the testimonies of victims and a cautionary tale on a slow steady descent towards becomming trapped in a controlling abusive relationship. Strong performances lead by Moss and a memorable supporting turn by Aldis Hodge as Detective James Lanier plus nimble  camera work from Stefan Duscio and Benjamin Wallfisch's driving score make it a tense thriller that's definitely worth the watch.

*** 1/2 Out of 4.

The Invisible Man | Leigh Whannell | U.S.A./Australia | 2020 | 124 Minutes.

Tags: Optics, Abuse, Violence, Control, Security, Escape, Suicide, Inheritance, Hoax, Stalking, Invisilibility, Knife, Murder, Psychiatric Hospital, Ladder, Diazepam.