When I first saw the preview for The Invisible Man, a re-imagining of the Universal Pictures classic based on the novel by H.G. Wells, I thought it looked dumb as hell. A woman being held down in a mental institution while screaming "HE'S RIGHT THERE!!" seemed to be ripe for mockery. But then the reviews started coming in saying that the film, directed by Leigh Whannell and starring the always wonderful Elisabeth Moss, is a smart take on something many, many people have suffered through: intimate partner violence. In fact, The Invisible Man reminds me a lot of the excellent 1944 film Gaslight, which is where the term "gaslighting"--making someone doubt their own experiences and believe they are crazy--came from.
Well, I saw The Invisible Man and was not disappointed. It's one of the smartest, most twisty, most empowering horror/thrillers I've seen in a while. It is exciting, shocking, and satisfying.
Moss plays Cecilia Kass, a woman in an abusive relationship with a wealthy optics scientist, Adrian Griffin (Oliver Jackson-Cohen, best known for playing Luke Crain in The Haunting of Hill House). The opening sequence shows Cecilia quietly and strategically escaping Adrian's mansion which is tricked out with cameras and alarms. Two weeks later, while living with her good cop friend, James (Aldis Hodge), and his college-bound daughter, Sydney (Storm Reid), Cecilia receives a letter informing her that Adrian has committed suicide and left his fortune to her (contingent that she remain mentally competent and not engage in criminal activity, which becomes very relevant in the latter half of the film).
But Cecilia's relief doesn't last long. Almost immediately after she finds out Adrian is dead, she begins to feel a presence watching her and notice things out of place. Of course, since we know the title of the film is The Invisible Man, we are wise to what's up. But as Cecilia gathers more and more undeniable evidence that Adrian is not dead at all, just invisible, her friends and sister start distancing themselves from her. Her sister, Emily (Harriet Dyer), receives an email from Cecilia stating that she hates her and wishes she were dead. Of course, Emily doesn't believe Cecilia when she tearfully tells her she didn't write that email. James takes Sydney away after Sydney believes Cecilia slapped her...although we the audience know it couldn't have happened: yes, Sydney was slapped, but Cecilia never raised her hand.
It all goes absolutely bonkers from there. Cecilia realizes she needs to fight back to prove that Adrian is stalking her--but it is maddeningly difficult for her to do so since Adrian is still much physically stronger than her and everyone believes she is insane.
Like any textbook narcissistic sociopath, Adrian is unable to remain fully in control of the situation when Cecilia truly begins fighting back and by the end of the film there are plenty of witnesses to the invisible man. However, there are a number of plot twists and turns to keep the momentum going, even when a psych ward full of doctors and guards experience the wrath of the invisible man himself. The film isn't over until Cecilia realizes she has to beat Adrian at his own game.
In addition to just being a great thriller, The Invisible Man is a film about how abusers isolate their victims and make not only the victim, but the victim's loved ones, doubt the victim's version of the story. Have you ever been in a situation where someone was abused by their partner, or raped, or even just treated poorly by another person and mutual friends can't believe it because "he's always been so nice to me!" Yup, that's a tactic of abusers--they don't victimize everyone because then their jig would be up. They strategically choose their victims and then charm other people so that when their victim tells others about what's going on, mutual friends and family feel comfortable taking the side of the abusive person. I personally know a narcissist and have seen this very dynamic play out with them. Thankfully, this person is no longer in my life. And if you know someone like this, know that you are not alone and there are people who will believe you.
The National Domestic Abuse Hotline is 1-800-799-7233 and the website is https://www.thehotline.org
The Invisible Man is an excellent, entertaining film and it also sheds light on gaslighting and intimate partner violence. Go see it and talk about it with your friends. You never know who might need help and open up to you as a result.
Grade: A
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