I have no affinity or nostalgia for the classic Universal monsters. Sure, I love vampires and subsequently Dracula, but not because of the old classic films. My experience with The Mummy started with Brendan Fraiser and I viewed it more like an Indiana Jones film than anything else. Frankenstein? I read Shelly’s book in high school but I’ve never felt anything for the iconic film version. And The Invisible Man, hell I hardly knew he existed.
There were plans by Universal to reinvigorate their monster lineup with a series of new, inter-connected films but sadly (or maybe not so sadly) due to how Tom Cruise’s The Mummy fared at the box office, those plans were scrapped. Instead Universal decided to retool and release individual films based on their creatures and that is how we got a revival of The Invisible Man, written and directed by half the mind behind Saw, Leigh Whannell and starring Elisabeth Moss.
And you know what? The decision to scrap the shared universe may have been for the best because The Invisible Man is actually a damn fine thriller. Moss plays Cecilia, a woman that escapes from an abusive relationship only to have him haunt her from the grave. Of course, he’s not really dead but rather he’s come up with a way to be invisible but because seeing is believing, no one believes her that he is tormenting her, instead chalking it up to her having a mental breakdown.
The encounters Cecilia has with her invisible nightmare are harrowing. We see her being dragged from nowhere, thrown across the room by no one, and even held up by her neck. And they work because we’re given just enough of a glimpse that we know she’s not battling a demonic possession or worse, her sanity. There is one scene that results in her being locked away though that I found was just a bit too absurd. But one ridiculous scene in a two hour film that is otherwise solid is a sin I’ll forgive.
I can’t say this makes me want to go back and seek out the original Invisible Man but I’d gladly see a follow up to this one.
4*
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