Director: Leigh Whannell
Screenplay: Leigh Whannell, based on the novel The Invisible Man by H. G. Wells
Starring: Elisabeth Moss, Aldis Hodge, Storm Reid, Harriet Dyer, Michael Dorman, Oliver Jackson-Cohen
Running Time: 124 minutes
Genre: Science-fiction, horror, thriller
Cecilia Kass (Moss) escapes from her abusive, manipulative partner, scientist Adrian Griffin (Jackson-Cohen), and tries to start a new life. When she learns that Griffin has killed himself, she finally feels able to move on. Shortly afterwards, strange things start happening. Cecilia soon becomes convinced that Griffin is not only still alive, but that he has somehow become invisible and is still tormenting her.
This was originally set up as part of Universal Studios' "Dark Universe" strand of inter-connected films based around their beloved classic monsters series. However, after The Mummy (2017) flopped with audiences and critics, the "Dark Universe" was abandoned, and The Invisible Man has been retooled as a separate stand-alone film. If you are a fan of the famous H.G. Wells novel or the 1933 James Whale film, then be warned that this film has little to nothing to do with either, aside form the central premise of a scientist named Griffin who becomes invisible. The focus of the film is on Cecilia and how the invisible Griffin basically gaslights her. It starts slowly, but it is atmospheric, and there are some really good scares, with the camera taking Griffin's point of view and showing Cecilia often in the distance, framed in doorways, windows or hallways. there are some effective, and well-staged action sequences that are pretty exciting. Elisabeth Moss gives a strong performance as the terrorised Cecilia, and she has strong support from Aldis Hodge, as her policeman friend who aids her, and Storm Reid as his teenage daughter. More of a thriller than a straightforward horror film, this is a classy slice of suspense, with some contemporary relevance.
