The Invisible Man (2020)

For me the best horror is analogous to something real. Ghosts are less scary than what they can represent. The idea behind the update of The Invisible Man is brilliant in that it explores a very real world terror by putting it in the guess of a “horror story”.

In this case we are talking about toxic, abusive relationships. The film explores partner violence in a way that is meticulously thorough. It uses its pulpy story to look at the nature of domestic violence from the inside out. And in doing so it creates something more terrifying than a simple “monster” movie.

The idea of someone you can’t see attacking you is frightening sure. But the way a person can gaslight you and cut you off from your supports is truly horrifying. The Invisible Man with its pseudo sci fi conceit breaks this down so cleverly. The reason this form of abuse is so powerful in the real world is how easy it is for perpetrators to be invisible, for them to make it seem no real. Therefore the idea here is the perfect trope for laying it out.

And Moss is perfect here as the survivor. She has the right mix of strength and vulnerability to pull this off and she does some of her best work. Director Whannell, whose work I have only been so so with up til now, also steps up, doing just the right mix to make the story truly work both as thriller and as allegory. I found its story chilling, often my heart was racing, but deeper than that the tale was disturbing, truly, perhaps because I recognized the way this happens in the real world.

For me The Invisible Man hit all the right marks and I would recommend it with a caveat, it might be a bit too close to home for some who have experienced this for real.

The Invisible Man
Starring: Elizabeth Moss, Oliver Jackson-Cohen, Aldis Hodge, Storm Reid
Writer/Director: Leigh Whannell