"What you can't see can hurt you." This is the tagline for Universal Pictures and Blumhouse's latest horror film, a modern reboot of "The Invisible Man", and it fits all too well. In this tense thriller, we follow Cecilia (Elizabeth Moss), a traumatized victim of domestic abuse who has managed to escape her husband Adrian, a successful scientist skilled in optics technology. After receiving word that Adrian has committed suicide, Cecilia begins recovery and starts anew. However, after a series of mysterious and increasingly dangerous events put her and her friends in danger, she begins to wonder if her manipulative husband is truly dead or if he is out to kill her. Or...is it all in her head?
Director Leigh Whannell (known for writing the "Saw" and "Insidious" films, and for his directorial debut, 2018's "Upgrade") delivers a fresh and invigorating reboot of the classic horror film, taking the source material and adding new twists and plenty of surprises. Elizabeth Moss ("The Handmaid's Tale", "Us") effortlessly powers the film with an emotional and captivating lead performance as Cecilia, whose story acts as a powerful, relevant symbol of awareness of the many victims of abuse in today's society and their own stories.
Whannell builds so much unbearable suspense and tension, and he has the audience completely in his grip. The smooth, masterful camerawork plays with the mind and makes us feel even more connected to Cecilia's character, zeroing in often on nothing at all, such as an empty room or a random object, making us feel like there is indeed a terrifying presence with us. The sound design and score from Benjamin Wallfisch is brooding and haunting, adding a whole new layer of shocking intensity and terror to the film. "The Invisible Man" greatly benefits from its excellent script and direction, and from its unexpected and brilliantly crafted scares, thrills and twists. It's honestly my favorite film this year so far, and I would highly recommend it. Don't let this great movie pass you by unseen, go check it out in theatres today! Just be sure to turn the lights back on when you get home.
Rating: 4.5/5
Comments