Now THIS is how you relaunch your Classic Monster films, Universal Studios. After the big budget Tom Cruise stinker "The Mummy", this lean, taut & thrilling modern take on THE INVISIBLE MAN is a pleasant surprise.
Elizabeth Moss is terrific as Cecilia Kass, girlfriend to mega-wealthy and abusive tech genius Adrian Griffin.
Adrian (Oliver Jackson-Cohen of "The Haunting of Hill House") lives in a stunning ocean side complex that may as well be a prison for Cecilia. Her breakout from her domestic captivity serves as a brilliant, dialogue-free opening sequence.
With crashing ocean waves and Benjamin Wallfisch's (It) menacing music underscoring every step of her careful exit, it's a great start to a great thriller.
CeCi is terrified to leave her brother-in-law's house, even after she finds out that Adrian has committed suicide.
But soon, she is sensing someone in her bedroom at night. She hears someone walking through the dark, front doors open and knives mysteriously move.
Writer/Director Leigh Whannell (Insidious, Upgrade) is a master of suspense & scares and he keeps them coming, escalating them throughout a very fast 2+ hours.
If you've seen the previews, you know that Adrian is clearly not dead, but still controlling CeCi and every aspect of her life.
But CeCi's no wallflower. Moss crafts a great, modern character who's forced to battle for every inch of her freedom.
Aldis Hodge (Hidden Figures) is great as her brother-in-law, a police detective who wants to believe her. Storm Reid is also good as his daughter Sydney, who stays close to CeCi but soon finds out that's a very dangerous place to be.
Special kudos to Michael Dorman (Gordo Stevens of Apple+TV's brilliant "For All Mankind") as Adrian's brother, lawyer and keeper of his estate. It's a hell of a lot of fun trying to figure him out. It's a very good performance that kept me intrigued.
In any thriller, you want the bad guy to get what's due them. Whannell delivers a final 45 minutes that almost makes you stand up and cheer it's so perfectly executed.
The effects team is excellent and the film looks like its budget was ten times it's actual $7 million.
Fast, suspenseful, scary and fun, THE INVISIBLE MAN delivers a classic story, perfectly tweaked to today.
Like Universal's R-rated remake of "The Wolfman" with Benecio del Toro, it's a clever, bloody thrill ride built for adults.
The restaurant scene with Ceci and her sister Emily (Harriet Dyer) drew loud gasps from the audience I saw it with at the Alamo Drafthouse. I'm pretty sure my jaw was too dropped to gasp. Hold on to your chair and enjoy the ride.
THE INVISIBLE MAN gets an A.
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