The Invisible Man (2020): review

Invisibility as psychological violence

Cecilia escapes an abusive relationship. When her former partner is declared dead, a path towards freedom should open. Instead, disturbing incidents accumulate. She believes that he is still behind the threat and has made himself invisible, but struggles to convince those around her. Leigh Whannell brings the familiar idea into the present with considerable force.

Elisabeth Moss carries the fear

I greatly like the performances, especially Elisabeth Moss’s. Her intensity makes me fear for Cecilia. At the same time, the character is not made foolish merely to keep the plot moving. I can understand her decisions. That creates a connection which makes the threat more powerful than a string of arbitrary scares.

Oppressive rather than simply brutal

Whannell is familiar with physically extreme horror, but here focuses primarily on psychological threat. The atmosphere is frightening and oppressive. The film does not need an obviously visible costume for its invisible opponent to convey the menace. The possibility of a danger that nobody else will acknowledge makes this modern version especially effective.

Verdict

The Invisible Man is a highly recommendable horror film with an excellent lead performance. Its tension grows from credibility, helplessness and an oppressive atmosphere. Whannell’s adaptation of the classic idea convinces me because the threat is developed so consistently through Cecilia’s experience. My rating is 8 out of 10.