THIS REVIEW MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS
Written (story/screenplay)/directed by Leigh Whannell and starring Elisabeth Moss, The Invisible Man tells a tale of a woman who escapes an abusive relation and after the abusive ex dies and leaves her a small fortune, inexplicable events lead her to conclude he is alive, invisible, continuing to attempt to control her, stalking her, seeking revenge and looking to punish her, because she escaped and won’t come back to his maniacal, invisible ass. Since no one can’t see him, she’s having a helluva time convincing everyone that she is not crazy.
This movie could have been magic. At times, it is pretty smart – not brilliant, but smart – in the way that it sets up the story of what is going on and what has happened in the past. There is much suspense, some humor and not too many “jump scares.”
Then at other times The Invisible Man is totally cliché and predictable. And some of the humor occurs in odd places, as in, you will laugh at how stupid some events are, look, feel (at least I did). It is in this way that The Invisible Man loses focus and becomes inconsistent in quality.
Oh, and are we still going into the basement and/or attic and lingering about as we do so? And how do you propose one picks up the largest knife in the kitchen to fight someone they cannot even see and expect to be victorious? I’ve got a tip for you all. The largest knife is the one you have least control over unless you are quite skilled in the use of knives as weaponry or have a giant pair of hands. Pick up something smaller and more manageable for precision and efficiency. You’re welcome. And don’t ever ask me how I know that. I just do.
Inconsistencies aside, Elisabeth Moss is the truth. This woman can act. She commits to every single role she takes on, even when she has to wrestle on the floor with an invisible man and look silly as hell doing so.
The Invisible Man is well shot and the set design is lovely.
Concerning the writing and the story, I believe had more of the abusive relationship been shown instead of talked about, the relationship between the audience and the characters would have been much stronger. We would want to cheer for Moss’s character much more strongly and understand the depths of this guy’s obsession/manipulation/sickness much more clearly and hated him all-the-more for it. The audience is led to believe Moss’s account instead of forming their own opinion based on what they themselves witness. This method would have helped pull folks into the story by making a connection with the characters.
Honestly, there were a couple of times I closed my eyes and forced them back open, just short of falling asleep – which is never good. But The Invisible Man kept me entertained and interested, for the most part, throughout, with the pace picking up at the end.
The Invisible Man earned 7 bloops out of 10. It is a good movie worth seeing, despite its uneven pace and tepid impact which could have easily been so much stronger. Moss’s performance alone makes it a good movie that is worth seeing and gives The Invisible Man a bump up from what I would have otherwise given 6 bloops.
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Bloops:
1 = worst ever, avoid at all cost
2 = very bad, forget about it!
3 = poor movie, not recommended
4 = not good, even for free – NO!
5 = so-so, worth it if you don’t have to pay
6 = not bad, could have been better
7 = good movie, worth seeing
8 = great movie, don’t miss it!
9 = excellent movie, a must see!
10 = a masterpiece, go see it now!
Past Reviews
Harriet
Parasite
Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood
The Last Black Man in San Francisco
Shaft
Rocketman
Shazam
Dumbo
Us
Scotty and the Secret History of Hollywood
The Wife
If Beale Street Could Talk
What Men Want
Eighth Grade Vice Roma
Mary Queen of Scots Widows The Favourite
Green Book Halloween Nobody’s Fool
Bohemian Rhapsody Beautiful Boy The Hate U Give
First Man Assassination Nation The Oath
A Star is Born The House with a Clock in Its Walls A Simple Favor
The Predator BlackkKlansman Support the Girls
Peppermint Christopher Robin Crazy Rich Asians
The Happytime Murders RBG Won’t You Be My Neighbor
Sorry to Bother You
You Were Never Really Here
Rampage A Quiet Place Ready Player One
A Wrinkle in Time Lady Bird I, Tonya
The Florida Project Black Panther Molly’s Game
The Post Phantom Thread Den of Thieves
All the Money in the World Coco The Greatest Showman
The Disaster Artist Call Me By Your Name
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
The Shape of Water Marshall The Man Who Invented Christmas
Victoria and Abdul Thor: Ragnarok Kingsman: The Golden Circle
Mother! It Good Time
Atomic Blonde Dunkirk Girls Trip
Spider-Man: Homecoming The Big Sick Baby Driver
All Eyez on Me It Comes at Night The Wedding Plan
Wonder Woman Everything, everything King Arthur: Legend of the Sword
Raw Kong: Skull Island Logan
The Girl with All the Gifts A Cure for Wellness Get Out
Hidden Figures Fences Moonlight
Hell or High Water Loving La La Land
Lion Manchester by the Sea Arrival
Hacksaw Ridge Nocturnal Animals Captain Fantastic
Elle Jackie I Am Not Your Negro
The Lobster