Movie Review: Universal brings new life to a classic with ‘The Invisible Man’

“The Invisible Man” (2020), written and directed by Leigh Whannell, the latest adaption of H.G. Wells’ novel, follows Cecilia (Elisabeth Moss), a troubled woman whose abusive ex-boyfriend has taken his own life and left her a part of his fortune. She begins to notice weird occurrences that lead her to believe his death is a hoax.

Now I know what you’re thinking, and trust me when I say I was wondering the same thing… Where’s Tom Cruise?

Jokes aside, I have been waiting for Universal Pictures to take the material that made them famous and use it to create modern retellings of their classic horror films. I will say, I know that I am in the minority that enjoys Universal’s 2017 take on “The Mummy,” but I also know as well as anyone else that as cool as it may have been, the direction of Dark Universe is not the direction these characters need to go in.

So, when it was announced that Jason Blum and Blumhouse Productions were going to take a stab at it with “The Invisible Man,” I was quite intrigued. Now, after all the anticipation, walking out of the theatre I was incredibly pleased and hungry for more. Though Blumhouse has been relevant and popular for a while, they still manage to surprise me with what they can produce on such a small budget.

One of the saddest things is for a movie to come out a few weeks after the Oscars and the movie carry a performance that deserves recognition. “US” and Lupita Nyong’o’s performance is a great example of this, and now “The Invisible Man” does the same with Elisabeth Moss’s performance.

Without Moss, I don’t see this film being as effective as it is, putting you in the shoes of Cecilia as she falls into insanity. There were points in this film where I found myself staring at things behind the focus, waiting for something to move or give any indication that someone was in the room with them. From the opening shot, you are on the edge of your seat and it sucks you in.

The combination of Moss’s performance with Whannell’s direction makes you believe that there is a possibility that there is an Invisible Man in every shot of this film. Whannell entrances you with incredibly long takes with long pauses that constantly increase the tension. “The Invisible Man” felt very original and fresh in the way it was executed, making it a super fun ride that I loved from start to finish. Fans will not be disappointed.

Now, there were times where I felt like the performances surrounding Moss did take away from the film and though it didn’t fall into the typical horror tropes, I did find some aspects of the plot to be predictable and simple. It’s an awesome retelling of the beloved classic, but they definitely played it safe. There is no need to stay through the credits in anticipation of what might come next, as there is no after-credit scene.

“The Invisible Man” is rated R (for some strong bloody violence, and language) and releases this Friday, Feb. 28 in IMAX, Dolby Cinema at AMC, and RPX.

Check out the official trailer below: