Universal Pictures
I grew up loving the Universal Classic Monsters. I loved watching films like Dracula, Frankenstein, The Wolf Man, and The Invisible Man. I spent a lot of my childhood watching the Brenden Fraser Mummy films, so I do admire the original monster films and some of the reboots Universal has offered. In 2017 Universal wanted to do a Dark Universe but failed with The Mummy starring Tom Cruise and that idea was scrapped. One of the projects that I wanted them to work on was The Invisible Man starring Johnny Depp. Blumhouse got involved with the project and disregarded that idea. The Invisible Man was released back in February, but with the Coronavirus going around and theaters shutting down, The Invisible Man hit VOD this weekend, which is something new, and I wanted to check it out again!
Currently, The Invisible Man is my favorite film of 2020. I easily could see this film being in my top ten list at the end of the year. I haven’t seen a film that felt so intense in a long time. Leigh Whannell directs and has only directed two previous films, Insidious Chapter 3 and Upgrade. He has starred in various horror films like Saw. Whannell creates such intense scenes right as the movie starts. The first few scenes in the movie tell us a lot about Elisabeth Moss’ character without giving us any dialogue. The film sets up its tone instantly and never steers away from that. The tone is consistently dark and suspenseful, and it delivers. This is the type of film that puts you on the edge of your seat. The idea of a man being invisible opens so many possibilities. I found it crazy that something you couldn’t see was scarier than most horror films that came out last year. The moments when Cecilia is being stalked by her invisible, abusive ex-boyfriend mess with your mind because you are looking around the screen looking for any clues to where Adrian might be. The film often becomes quiet and even the faintest sound might give away his position. I always felt uneasy when watching the film and second guessing what may happen next.
Universal Pictures
Moss is fantastic in her role. She captures what it feels like to be terrified of someone and always looking over your shoulder. I was feeling everything she was feeling and since no one believes her about her ex-boyfriend, it leaves you frustrated since you know she isn’t lying. The film develops Moss’ character well by setting her up as someone who was taken advantage of in the beginning and didn’t have a voice in her relationship. She turns into someone who is fierce and able to defend herself.
There were plenty of times that this film caught me by surprise. This all goes back to the fact that you don’t know where Adrian is. Many times, I was caught off guard and those moments were chilling. The film utilized the technique of invisibility well even with a smaller budget when compared to other horror films. The score that accompanies the moments of Cecilia and Adrian creates an atmosphere that matches the story and tone of the film.
The Invisible Man was truly a haunting film. I hate what is going on in the world right now with the Coronavirus, but I was happy to see The Invisible Man at home sooner than expected. I can’t wait to see what Blumhouse does next with some of the Universal Classic Monsters. [Editor’s note: Blumhouse is scheduled to tackle Dracula next.] If the right cast and director get onboard, they could create tense and chilling horror films for years to come!
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