Twists, turns and jump scares make The Invisible Man a must watch for the horror enthusiast…
We start off as every horror should, a dark and mysterious setting to set the mood. We are then introduced to our main character Cecilia (Elizabeth Moss), seen in bed next to her boyfriend, but it is clear from the start this is no normal couple when we learn Adrian is abusive, and Cecilia decides to run away and make a new start. Soon after, Adrian supposedly commits suicide; without revealing too much, it’s from this point that everything starts to go wrong for Cecilia as unusual and disturbing things begin to happen in her life, making it appear she is going insane.
As someone who isn’t normally a fan of horrors, I found this film impressive in how it combines numerous elements to become a thrilling experience. The jump scares within The Invisible Man definitely leave you on the edge of your seat, in part down to its background music, which plays well into the horror genre by creating an eerie, uncomfortable feeling throughout. Periodically, all of a sudden, it picks up the pace and tempo and reminds us that something bad is about to unfold.
Perhaps the most significant positive of this film is Elizabeth Moss herself in her role as Cecilia. She plays a crucial and convincing part as she is completely terrified of her ex-lover Adrian, even following his apparent death. We can see the abuse he gave her simply by the way she acts in her surroundings and the visible fear within her demeanor. For example, in certain scenes, such as when Cecilia is too scared to even do a simple task such as getting the mail, close-ups and mid-shots reveal the terror and dread she is feeling because she is convinced Adrian is going to come back for her.
What director Leigh Whannel does well is touch upon the consequences of abusive relationships and how it is a often viewed as a taboo subject that perhaps people tend to brush under the carpet. This is why Cecilia is presented as going insane after Adrian’s death, because he has shaped the way she thinks through psychological abuse. The Invisible Man‘s depiction of these terrors are worthy of the horror genre, as well as its carefully-picked cast that exhibits their roles well and makes the film a more thrilling experience to watch.
Ultimately, The Invisible Man is essential viewing not just for the horror enthusiast but for someone who perhaps isn’t familiar with horrors – such as myself – but is interested in finding a film that can leave you on the edge of your seat.
By Katie Green
Feature image credit: Universal Pictures