The Invisible Man, a psychological thriller by Leigh Whannell, is about Cecilia Kass, a troubled woman going through an abusive relationship who decides it is time she gets away from her domineering husband, Adrian Griffin. At Film Comments, we examine this wily movie in greater detail in The Invisible Man film review.
After escaping from her controlling partner, Cecilia takes refuge with a close friend, James Lanier (Aldis Hodge) and his daughter, Sydney (Storm Reid). However, things soon spiral out of hand when Cecilia learns of Adrian’s unexpected suicide through her sister Emily (Harriet Dyer).
Cecilia cannot believe that someone as dominating as Adrian can take his own life. It soon becomes clear to Cecilia that Adrian is not dead and that he is about to make her life a living hell. What follows is a gripping story unraveling itself in the second half through a couple of credible plot twists.
Elizabeth Moss as the flustered yet determined Cecilia does most of the weightlifting in the film. She does commendably straddling the fine line between not going overboard to appear comical rather than engaging. Oliver Jackson-Cohen, Harriet Dyer, and Aldis Hodge ably support Moss. In particular, Michael Dorman as Adrian’s brother Tom is the one to watch out for as he delivers a nuanced performance that is pivotal to the narrative’s unfolding.
The first hour draws the audience into the story through clever character development. The audience learns about Cecilia’s life and the few friends she has. Only so much information is given to keep you invested in the story. Where The Invisible Man scores most of its points though is after the intermission when it really takes off. The screenplay gets more dramatic and the story picks up the pace. There are a couple of plot twists that take you by surprise, as, for the most part, The Invisible Man keeps you guessing. The narrative never gets overly convoluted to distract you from the story.
Whannell’s direction is astute and his writing sharp, as he manages to hold the viewer’s attention right till the end. Assisted by nifty cinematography and a smart background score, The Invisible Man delivers the goods.
Most moviegoers wanting to watch a gripping psychological thriller will find The Invisible Man to their taste. It should be particularly rewarding for the fans of Elizabeth Moss and Leigh Whannell. While Moss is generally on top of her game here, Whannell manages to channelize her potential rather well.
The Invisible Man film review rates The Invisible Man 
(3.5 / 5)
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