Episode 733 - The Invisible Man (2020)

Hi everyone!

Welcome back for another Matinee Monday. You know, trailers usually go one of two directions for me. I generally try to avoid them to enjoy that pure initial viewing experience. Some trailers I get really sick of, really quick. But the trailer for THE INVISIBLE MAN has been nothing short of exciting, especially after being blown away by 2018’s UPGRADE (Episode #155). If you’re turned off because of the SAW and INSIDIOUS franchises, I assure you that today’s film is not that. It’s something much, much more.

Before the review, we’ll have a promo from the Honey, You Should Watch This podcast. One Movie Spouse and I had the pleasure of guesting on their show recently to discuss ONE CUT OF THE DEAD, which Andrew Campbell reviewed in Episode #625, and which has become one of my favorite films of all time. You can find them on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram @HoneyWatchThis, or check out all their episodes, including ours, at honeyyoushouldwatchthis.podbean.com. Don’t miss a single episode!

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Here we go!

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<< HONEY, YOU SHOULD WATCH THIS PROMO >>

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Today’s movie is THE INVISIBLE MAN (2020), the Dark Universe franchise film written and directed by Leigh Whannell, based on the classic novel by H.G. Wells. Cecilia Kass (Elisabeth Moss) narrowly escapes from an abusive relationship to a multi-millionaire optics engineer named Adrian Griffin (Oliver Jackson-Cohen). After Adrian commits suicide, Cecilia receives some unexpected benefits, which come with some unseen drawbacks. See what I did there? Or rather, didn’t?

No spoilers.

However, definitely content warnings for abusive relationships and sexual assault.

At the top of the episode, I gushed a lot about Whannell’s last film, UPGRADE, which took folks by surprise in 2018. I’m not a huge fan of the SAW franchise, nor did I care for INSIDIOUS, but that particular week there wasn’t much else playing, and I was glad I took the time. In particular, Whannell used a great fixed-point camera trick that made the fights within the film have a realism and focus necessary to use an otherwise played out, high-tech version of body possession. That new take on an old idea was what made his helming of THE INVISIBLE MAN so exciting to me.

My excitement only increased when Moss was announced for the lead, after her incredible work on “Mad Men” and “The Handmaid’s Tale”, along with her underseen role last year in HER SMELL (Episode #650). All of that experience clearly fed into THE INVISIBLE MAN, which focuses on gaslighting in abusive relationships, instead of the other serial-killer and/or misunderstood monster plot lines from before. We were going to get something new, with the right skill set at the helm and in the lead role, and let me tell you, it is excellent!

The trailer gives you all the setup you need to know the basic opening of this film. The film opens with Cecilia’s daring escape, much more difficult than you might expect when someone is an obsessive controlling force. Adrian commits suicide, leaves her money, and then someone begins terrorizing Cecilia at the house she was staying at after her escape, and wherever she seems to go. The terrorism begins like patterns familiar to anyone who has been in an abusive relationship. Little gaslighting events that make Cecilia question her reality, and others to question her sanity. It’s a slow build up, but once it takes off, it really takes off, with two gasp-inducing events sure to shock anyone out of their listlessness.

Once Cecilia knows she’s fighting against an invisible foe, we get to see the real power of Whannell’s direction and camerawork, utilizing a lot of practical and greensuit effects to create gorgeous long-take fight scenes. You get a taste of the hallway fight in the trailer, but there are three other scenes that expertly execute and reformulate the same practical effects of yesteryear for invisibility in cinema. As a long-time classic movie monster fan, seeing this version absolutely delighted me, when it wasn’t shocking me in all the right places.

I don’t want to spoil anything, so let me just end the review by talking a bit about the Dark Universe reboot era. This is the first really great film in this latest era of the Universal Monsters. The first two entries, DRACULA UNTOLD and THE MUMMY, were both derided by critics and fans, leading to the collapse of the shared universe. But luckily that didn’t stop Universal from moving forward with more contemporary versions of the films, and perhaps the standalone model might work better. I can definitely see a shared universe still, perhaps on this smaller, more personable scale of THE INVISIBLE MAN. However, the new scattershot approach to development might not make that possible, although I could definitely see pressure to link the announced THE INVISIBLE WOMAN to Whannell’s excellent entry. Only time will tell.

THE INVISIBLE MAN is an incredible adaptation of both the classic novel by H.G. Wells and the long series of adaptations in multiple media. Leigh Whannell brings his unique take on storytelling, anchored in an impressive performance by Elisabeth Moss, to deliver one of the best adaptations in recent history. Classic movie monster fans, folks who like films exploring abusive relationships, or fans of either Whannell or Moss, will definitely appreciate this film.

Rotten Tomatoes: 90% (CERTIFIED FRESH)

Metacritic: 71 

One Movie Punch: 9.0/10

THE INVISIBLE MAN (2020) is rated R and is currently playing in theaters.