The Invisible Man

Year of Release:  2020
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.

Elisabeth Moss and, possibly, The Invisible Man 

Daybreakers

Year: 2009
Directors: Michael Spierig and Peter Spierig
Screenplay: Peter Spierig and Michael Spierig
Starring: Ethan Hawke, Willem Dafoe, Claudia Karvan, Sam Niell, Michael Dorman, Isabel Lucas
Running Time: 98 minutes
Genre: Horror, science-fiction, action

Summary: By 2019 a plague has turned most of Earth's population into vampires. Those who are still human are hunted down for their blood or turned into new vampires. However, the human population has now dwindled to the point that the human race is virtually extinct, which would deprive the vampires of their food source. If a vampire goes for too long without human blood they begin to degenrate into a violent bat-like creature known as a "subsider". Edward Dalton (Hawke), who is sympathetic towards humans, is working towards finding a synthetic blood substitutewhich he hopes will allow vampires and humans to co-exist. However, his greedy boss Charles Bromley (Neill), intends for the synthetic blood to allow the human race just enough time to repopulate before he starts farming them again and selling the real blood for top dollar. After rescuing a group of humans from the police, Edward is contacted by Audrey (Karvan), leader of an undergound group of humans. Through her Edward meets Elvis (Dafoe) a man who accidentally stumbled upon a method for returning vampires to their living human states. The problem is whether the method can be duplicated and whether the vampires will accept it

Opinion: One of the most interesting elements in this blend of vampire horror and science-fiction action movie is it's depiction of a vampire world, complete with blood bags hooked up at the subway station coffee kiosk, windowless houses and shielded "sun-proof" cars, shot in muted colours where dull blues and greys predominate. The performances are good with Ethan Hawke engaging and sympathetic as the "good-guy" vampire and Willem Dafoe adding a lot of fun as the wisecracking Elvis. The action is well handled with a lot of exciting car chases, and plenty of explosive gore, and the whole thing keeps moving nicely.
This is one of those movies where it's best not to think about it too much after you've watched it because there are so many elements and explanations that just don't make much sense, but it will provide a fun hour and a half for action and horror fans.




Meetings of the Crossbow Appreciation Society tended towards the dull: Ethan Hawke, Claudia Karvan, Willem Dafoe and Vince Colosimo in Daybreakers