Review: THE INVISIBLE MAN (2020)

In recent years, Universal Pictures has attempted to relaunch its slate of classic monster movies for modern times. Dracula Untold had mixed results, while 2017’s The Mummy was a failure that killed plans for a “Dark Universe.” Since then, Universal has shifted to creating standalone, director-driven films based on its monsters. The first movie is The Invisible Man, a modern take on the classic story.

2020’s The Invisible Man stars Cecilia Kass (Elisabeth Moss), who escapes from her abusive partner and later learns of his alleged suicide. Afterwards, Kass believes that she’s being stalked by her partner, who has apparently taken on an invisible form. This is an intriguing premise that grounds the reboot in a modern setting immediately. The question is, how is its execution?

In an era of modern horror films, The Invisible Man stands out. It’s scary, effective, and never loses sight of what it intends to do. While The Mummy was an action blockbuster wannabe, The Invisible Man embraces its horror roots. Its small budget and vision from director Leigh Whannell really work in its favor. This is a filmmaking style that Universal should absolutely pursue for future films, especially with how big horror movies are nowadays.

But The Invisible Man isn’t just scary because of its blood and jumpscares. Its scariness works because of how real the story is. To a certain extent, this is a story that can absolutely happen in the real world. It doesn’t shy away from its depiction of domestic abuse, specifically the impact it has on the victim. This concept grounds what would alternatively be an otherworldly sci-fi horror tale.

The Invisible Man also boasts great acting, particularly from Elisabeth Moss. She carries the movie; in fact, there are multiple scenes where it’s just her in the room acting. Aldis Hodge and Storm Reid play a father and daughter, providing some needed (but not overbearing) lighthearted moments. The rest of the cast, such as Oliver Jackson-Cohen and Michael Dorman, is good too.

Everywhere else, The Invisible Man is rock-solid. The cinematography, the score, the sound editing. This is a very strong movie all around. It’s hard to nitpick any major flaws. I personally wouldn’t have minded more from the supporting cast, but it’s fine. The movie’s main focus is Cecilia Kass vs. the Invisible Man, and on that front, it excels.

In summary, I definitely recommend The Invisible Man. It takes a Universal classic and transforms it into a grounded modern horror thriller. The studio has finally found a winning formula for this franchise, and hopefully, future films will take note. But even aside from its Universal connections, The Invisible Man is just a great horror movie. In a defining era for the genre, this is a title that should stand the test of time.