November 21, 2020 – I may not have seen every invisible man remake and sequel there is, but of all the ones I have seen this is the best, even better than the original 1933 classic starring Claude Rains (which nevertheless was a technological marvel for its day).

This latest incarnation of the story, which dates back to the 1897 H.G. Welles novel, first serialized in a magazine, brings it right up to date. This story abandons the original chemical invisibility idea. This time it has a technological, which is at least theoretically possible. It is also focused on the crime of spousal abuse. Rather than an effects-driven action film, this is more of a harrowing psychological story of survival.

Elizabeth Moss (“The Kitchen”) turns in a powerful performance as Cecilia Kass, the abused wife of a genius in the field of optics. Her husband, Adrian Griffin (played by Oliver Jackson-Cohen of “The Raven”) is a manipulative, controlling psychopath. As the film opens, Cecilia is escaping from her house at night, waling to the main road where her sister, Emily (played by Harriet Dyer of “Killing Ground”) picks her up just in time.

She ends up hiding in a house owned by a friend, police detective James Lanier (Aldis Hodge of “Hidden Figures”) along with Lanier's young daughter, Sydney (Storm Reid of “A Wrinkle in Time”). One day, Emily shows up at Lanier's home and tells Cecilia that her husband is dead, so she can now be unafraid to go outside.

Strange things begin happening, however, and Cecelia begins to suspect that her husband is not really dead after all. Her sister and her friends think that Cecelia is imagining things. Cecelia becomes more and more isolated and afraid. She is framed for murder and made to look guilty of hitting a child. Her friends disown her. Only her sister is willing to meet with her and listen to her incredible story.

In the end, people die and it becomes an all out battle, one on one, between her and the invisible man. Writer-director Leigh Whannell does a great job ratcheting up the tension in this film. He finds very effective ways of creating suspense from the fact that you literally can't see where the next attack is coming from.

This is a very entertaining and suspenseful movie. This is not the kind of film I usually like, but this particular horror/slasher film is truly exceptional in its power and depth. It has something to say about women in abusive relationships, and that they should be afforded more credibility than they often are. This film rates a B+.

Click here for links to places to buy or rent this movie in digital formats, or to buy the soundtrack, posters, books, even used videos, games, electronics and lots of other stuff. I suggest you shop at least two of these places before buying anything. Prices seem to vary continuously. For more information on this film, click on this link to The Internet Movie Database. Type in the name of the movie in the search box and press enter. You will be able to find background information on the film, the actors, and links to much more information.

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