By Madison Silva
From Blumhouse Productions comes “The Invisible Man,” a science-fiction/thriller starring Elizabeth Moss and directed by Leigh Whannell. “The Invisible Man” is adapted from a novel of the same name by H.G. Wells and centers around Cecelia Kass (Elizabeth Moss) and her escape from her abusive ex-partner, Adrian Griffin (Oliver Jackson-Cohen).
The movie opens with Cecelia fleeing her Stinson Beach home, in the middle of the night with Adrian asleep in their bed. Escaping her abuser, Cecelia takes refuge with a friend in San Francisco. Experiencing severe PTSD, Cecelia is having trouble believing that she is truly safe as she settles into her new life. That is until her sister delivers the news that Adrian is dead. Just as she finally begins to feel safe, Cecelia senses a strange presence in the house, like someone is watching her. She begins to suspect that Adrian is not dead after all, but alive and with her, although she cannot see him.
“The Invisible Man” presents a familiar narrative to its viewers: a woman asking for people to believe her, and being met with the belief that she’s crazy. Cecelia is traumatized after freeing herself from her abusive relationship, showing the audience the kind of emotional harm she has endured and how it doesn’t just stop when the relationship ends. Although the movie is strictly science-fiction, it showed the reality of abuse and its continuous psychological effects.
Moss gives a stunning performance portraying a woman on the brink of insanity. Audiences will be able to experience what it’s like to be in the mind of someone who was being tortured, even making one feel as if they are the prey themselves. Moss’s portrayal of Cecelia felt personal and, at times, all too real. Throughout the film, audiences will watch Cecelia being stripped of her power again and again, but at the same time, finding the power and strength within herself more than ever before. It’s clear that Moss was made for thrillers, never disappointing in her performances. Her role of Cecelia, however, will stay with audiences, long after they’ve left the theater.
Moss was surrounded by an incredibly talented cast who amplified the tension throughout the 125-minute runtime. Key players included Harriet Dyer as Cecelia’s sister, Emily, and Aldis Hodge as James, Cecelia’s best friend. Dyer and Hodge’s performances were remarkable, adding elements of pure horror and, at moments, even laughter.
“The Invisible Man” will have audiences clutching their armrests throughout, as Blumhouse has delivered one of the best—and thrilling—movies of 2020.
“The Invisible Man” is now playing in theaters.