Directed by: Leigh Whannell

Rated: R

Runtime: 2:05

Review by: Livi Edmonson

Post staging his suicide, a controlling experimental scientist uses his power to become invisible and stalk his ex-girlfriend (Elizabeth Moss) who ran away to get away from him. Haunted by his invisible presence, Cecilia decides to take matters into her own hands and fight back, despite everyone else not believing her.

The story has been told before via first film and the 1897 novel, “Invisible Man,” but never in such a contemporary, haunting concept. Although horror thrillers are personally not my favorite genre, I still try my best to make it to the theater to those films deemed “good” horror movies. However, it is films like this one that I regret making it out to the theater to see — because I am a scaredy-cat, of course. 

This film is thrilling to say the very least. But if an invisible man appearing out of nowhere to slit someone’s throat or choke them does not scare you, then I am not sure what does. Although “Invisible Man” is only somewhat gory, it still will give you an anxiety attack, hence why audience members beside me were screaming in the theater. 

Actors Aldis Hodge and Storm Reid give great, intriguing supporting performances to be noted. Elisabeth Moss, a terrific actress best known for her role in “The Handmaid’s Tale,” gives a strong performance, though not powerful enough to keep the audience intrigued throughout the film’s slightly slower pace. The score was as haunting as it could be and easily the greatest element of the film. However, if it was not for this score, everything about the film would have been slow. There were too many frightening moments of blankness that added to the overall suspense of the flick, but not in a good way. For me to fully appreciate a horror movie, it needs to have a great plot, pace, and leading character, and this film did not make the cut in any of these categories for me.

“The Invisible Man” is a great film, but falls short when it comes to being a groundbreaking addition to the horror genre. Not that every contemporary horror film needs some sort of social criticism, but it does help when it comes to being memorable. Although the concept of the film is frightening enough to lure people into the theater, this story has been done before, and will not be remembered as anything more than a Friday night fright night feature. I give it a 4 out of 10, despite other critical praise surrounding it.