It seems like here in the recent ten years we’ve only gotten remakes and reboots of popular movies and even television shows. Some are less than decent and very few even come close to the original’s popularity. I was wary when I first heard of this remake but the trailer solidified my faith in this movie even if it’s simply because of Elisabeth Moss. Seriously name something she’s been in that isn’t great, I’ll wait. She’s seen a recent surge in popularity with shows like Hulu’s The Handmaid’s Tale and last year’s Us. I had every confidence that she would succeed in reinventing the movie and I was extremely impressed by not only her performance but the film as a whole.
This movie is Elisabeth Moss’s. And that’s a good thing. Moss is seriously one of the most talented actresses of our generation and I feel blessed to live in a time where she is given roles in horror movies. The actress is able to play a range of emotions in The Invisible Man and is believable and intentional with each line she spouts out. But all of this is not to say that the rest of the cast is any less capable. Both Aldis Hodge and Storm Reid are great in their respective, supporting roles. While they captivate the audience when they’re onscreen they don’t over-shadow the main character which is important to this movie. I cannot get over Elisabeth Moss’s talents in this movie and I can’t say enough good things.
I don’t want to say much because I don’t want to give away anything because you should be running to the movie theaters to see this movie. The plot is slow but deliberate. It does a great job in introducing to this character and her downhill battle with a determined and psychopathic ex. I would be wrong in saying that there were no moments during the movie where it felt slow but the payoff was well worth it. I think it also might be hard for audiences to sympathize with the main character because the movie does not go terribly into depth about who she is and what she wants but I had no issue with that. One complaint I do have with the movie is the ending. I wanted Moss’s character to have a way different outcome but honestly I’m not mad at it because the man got what was coming for him.
One thing that I was excited about was the scary aspect of this movie. I don’t think this is a horror story, per se. But it is most definitely a psychological thrill ride that will have anyone in the audience on the edge of their seats. It does a brilliant job with building up to the horror that unfolds in the second half of the movie. There are some genuinely frightening and heart-stopping scenes in this film that had me holding my breath until I noticed I wasn’t breathing. One aspect of this film that I was worried about was the invisible part but the filmmakers did an immaculate job in explaining how the feat was done.
One last thing I just want to briefly touch on is the film’s score. A score is one of the most important parts of a horror movie, or any movie really, next to its visuals. While the film’s visuals were stunning it was the score that left me breathless. Jarring is one word that comes to mind when I try to explain how it sounds. It adds so much needed atmosphere to the film.
All hail, Elisabeth Moss. and the filmmakers behind The Invisible Man. I do want to say that some aspects of this movie might be triggering to some so be warned. All in all, it’s a breath of fresh air for a remake to be as good as this one was.
Rating: 9/10