MORAL OF THE MOVIE

The looming threat of being in an abusive relationship can come at you completely unexpectedly even if you were looking straight at it (just like an invisible man). Not only that, but this movie also simulates the fear that many women feel on a daily basis of being abused in any way, shape, or form by a man that could be a complete stranger, acquaintance, or even a supposed loved one. Unfortunately, we live in times in which domestic abuse and gender violence are rather prevalent, so it’s fully necessary to understand where victims come from, to believe them, and to be there for them when they face their demons.

WHO I THINK WOULD MOST ENJOY THIS MOVIE

Just about anyone who likes the thrill of a suspenseful movie will love this movie. On top of that, if you are intrigued by a movie that combines the suspense of A Quiet Place (2018) with the commentary of Get Out (2017), then you’re in for a real (trick or) treat with this film.

ADDITIONAL NOTES/COMMENTARY

First and foremost, HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!! This was the spooky movie that I chose for tonight’s halloween festivities, so I hope you like this review of one of my favorite spooky movies in recent memory. Incidentally, The Invisible Man (2020) was actually the last movie that I saw in theaters before this pandemic started to run its course, so that may have something to do with my deep love for it. Without going into spoilers, the movie has some literal jaw-drop moments. I say literal because my jaw actually dropped in several scenes that you’ll recognize once you’ve seen them. It goes without saying that a movie is doing something (if not a lot of things) right when it gets such a genuine reaction out of its viewers. I can’t review this movie without talking about its amazing cinematography and direction, which is a large reason of why the film gets such big reactions from its viewers. If you’ve seen the spectacle that is the cinematography of Whannell’s previous film, Upgrade (2018), then you know what amazing things he and his frequent cinematographer, Stefan Duscio, can do with a camera. If Upgrade (2018) was a proof-of-concept, then The Invisible Man (2020) is the final product at full-force. The way that the camera just lingers at an empty space in which The Invisible Man may or may not be standing/sitting completely enhances the suspense while being perfectly in sync with the plot’s context. It’s unlike anything I’ve ever seen in another suspense movie. This approach makes the audience second-guess everything they see, which puts them in the very same shoes that the protagonist, Cecilia, is in. This makes for an incredibly immersive and extremely suspenseful cinematic experience. Moreover, the film’s use of silence and lack of background score further increase the suspenseful elements in a way that traditional suspenseful music wouldn’t necessarily achieve in this film like it does in other scary movies. All in all, everything about the movie immerses the viewer into the protagonist’s experience of sheer fear and suspense from this abusive relationship and literal nightmare of a person. The film as a whole is an incredible cinematic experience but it also showcases very pertinent issues in a profoundly deep manner. The superficial monster in this scary movie might be the fictitious invisible man, but the real monster is all too real: gender violence and domestic abuse. By putting the viewers in the perspective of a victim of domestic abuse, we get a fraction of what real victims experience worldwide. The film presents a lot of what victims of abuse tend to experience outside of physical violence such as gaslighting, stalking, emotional sabotage, and not being believed. Films tend to be particularly effective in generating empathy for people and experiences that you were not aware of before watching. Hopefully, The Invisible Man (2020) is as powerfully impacting of a watch as it is entertaining for you. It was for me. Overall, The Invisible Man (2020) is an incredibly thrilling cinematic experience that makes the most of its technical aspects (cinematography and sound design/editing) to provide a thoroughly entertaining watch with a profoundly empathetic message for victims of domestic abuse.