The Invisible Man – Movie Reviews by Ry!
The Invisible Man – Horror of the Past: A Disappearing Act … Remade
Horror is a genre that pushes forward imagination to certain extremes. It is a style that blends reality and fantasy, creating a niche experience that reflects upon artistry of the beholder. The fault of this genre is within the repetition of clichés and recognizable visual ques. In recent years, horror films have been on the rise because of blending with other genres. By combining horror elements within drama, romance, societal themes or coming-of-age scenarios, it allows for true storytelling to blossom. A remake of a horror classic, this film captures the essence of the source material through human detail. The Invisible Man is rehashing a simple story, but it is one that showcases how a horror remake can be great if done right.
The story follows Cecilia Kass (Elisabeth Moss), as she escapes an abusive relationship. Having learned her Ex, Adrian Griffin (Oliver Jackson-Cohen) is dead, she presumes it is all a hoax. Strange things begin to happen, which leads Cecilia down a path trying to prove that Adrian has found a way to turn himself invisible. The overall outline uses the foundation of prior retellings of the story. You have a character that, through plot devices, has figured out a way to turn invisible. This ability drives them to certain extremes, leading into the stalker like scenarios. The basics lay the foundation of the relationship between Cecilia and Adrian, her escape and the presumed suicide. Even with predictable introductions and heavy foreshadowing, this story manages to push beyond the clichés through a mixing of strong characterization and realistic thematic detail. The driving factor of the plot is Cecilia’s journey of strength. Having been driven to extremes because of an abusive relationship, there is a level of mental strain that plays into her familial relationships. This creates a dynamic that blends human agony and self-preservation within the fantastical elements of the source material. There usage of horror techniques is blended within a psychological thread of mind games. This obvious detail drives everyone to question the truth, but assume that Cecilia might be going mad. As she begins to lift the curtain behind the mysteries, her personal strength begins to grow. Obstacles of justice are placed to create a raw path of development for Cecilia to go beyond circumstance.
Moss brings out a strong character through scars of consequence. The abusive relationship levels out her own psyche, helping to create levels of attachment for the audience. You have a sense of rooting for her, knowing that the truth is beyond fiction. As the cat-and-mouse game continues, the direction manages to push irony through its own predictability. As the foreshadowed elements become relevant, a red herring is created that allows for obvious clichés to push characters beyond their own archetypes. Instead of going down the victim of circumstance route, the filmmakers maneuver elements of redemption through thriller like scenarios. This creates raw tension through ambiguity, where situations blend genres to push the characters to the extreme. This leads into a third act of high stakes moments and plot twists, creating a momentous confrontation in the climax for Cecilia and Adrian. The Invisible Man is a remake that stands above through strong characters, realistic themes and blending of genres. This film shows that remakes can be great if care is given to detail. If you’re a fan of horror, thrillers or like a genuine journey through the fantastical, this is one for you. It is worth seeing at the theaters, full price.
Full Score – 4 out of 5 (Full Price)