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The invisible man first reviews: A rare superb remake anchored by an outstanding elis
Following a misstep with an attempted cinematic universe, the Universal Classic Monsters brand is on the rebound with a new, “Hitchcockian” version of The Invisible Man. According to the first reviews of the horror remake, going smaller in budget and more topical in its story was the best decision. Well, aside from casting Elisabeth Moss in the lead as the woman being terrorized by the titular foe, an abusive ex-husband with the power to be unseeable — even the few negative-leaning takes on the movie celebrate her performance. Is it also scary enough? Will its effects wow you? Do its currently relevant themes resonate? We break it all down below.
Here’s what critics are saying about The Invisible Man:
IS IT A WORTHY REMAKE?
The Invisible Man demands to be seen, because this is the right way to reboot a horror movie.
– William Bibbiani, The Wrap
It’s everything a remake should be, and then some… One of the best things you will see this year.
– Doug Jamieson, The Jam Report
The Invisible Man is respectful to the classic Universal monster movie with which it shares its name, but this is no reverential retread.
– Philip De Semlyen, Time Out
The Invisible Man is a superb genre effort that absolutely deserves to be seen.
– Anthony O’Connor, FilmInk
This new The Invisible Man is no fun.
– Armond White, National Review
DOES IT HONOR H.G. WELLS’ ORIGINAL STORY?
A truly arresting, up-to-the-moment take on old material that makes it feel as fresh and new as if it had been conceived today.
– Huw Fullerton, Radio Times
The new version has so little to do with H.G. Wells’ original story that Wells doesn’t seem to be credited. Anywhere. At all. Not even a “Special Thank You.” Maybe he turned invisible too.
– William Bibbiani, The Wrap
If Blumhouse had integrity, it would have honored H. G. Wells’ thesis that mankind’s inherent narcissism implicates us all.
– Armond White, National Review
WHAT DOES IT DO FOR THE UNIVERSAL CLASSIC MONSTERS BRAND?
Does the legacy proud… We finally have a Universal Monster to be scared of again.
– Norman Gidney, HorrorBuzz
[It’s] a successful restart to Universal’s attempts to bring its classic monsters into the modern era.
– Ian Sandwell, Digital Spy
Where Universal’s monsters are concerned, let’s hope we see more of its like.
– Kevin Harley, Total Film
If they wind up all being as exceptional as Leigh Whannell’s The Invisible Man, we have many years of fantastic horror cinema ahead of us.
– Eric Eisenberg, Cinema Blend
WHAT WILL IT REMIND US OF?
The Invisible Man delivers Hitchcock levels of tension, suspense and outright terror.
– Edward Douglas, The Weekend Warrior
There’s something Hitchcockian about the way this The Invisible Man plays out.
– John Nugent, Empire Magazine
[Cecilia’s] moments of lucidity and positive intent become increasingly dominated by degrees of disorientation and general out-of-it-ness in ways that remind of some Hitchcock heroines, notably Ingrid Bergman in Notorious.
– Todd McCarthy, Hollywood Reporter
The Hitchcock glamour and attention to detail are there… I am a huge Hitchcock fan which I think added to my enjoyment of this movie.
– Grace Randolph, Beyond the Trailer
IS IT SCARY?
It puts you right on edge from the get-go and sets up the prospect of how the ordinary can be terrifying.
– Ian Sandwell, Digital Spy
The idea of Elisabeth Moss stalking around a dark attic with a flashlight may not seem particularly scary, but trust me – in Whannell’s hands, it is.
– Chris Evangelista, Slashfilm
I got so scared, a couple of times I had to look away from the screen, which was hilariously ironic, because of course this is a movie about an invisible man — there’s nothing to see up there.
– Grace Randolph, Beyond the Trailer
Shots of nothing portend everything. This subtle approach is incredibly effective, and a reminder of how horror doesn’t always have to be frantic to raise dread.
– John Nugent, Empire Magazine
The Invisible Man lacks for truly terrifying moments. The film plays more like a thriller than a horror.
– Jude Dry, IndieWire
The debate will rage over whether to call this a horror movie.
– Doug Jamieson, The Jam Report
EITHER WAY, IS IT INTENSE?
Leigh Whannell, who created some incredible unique action sequences in his last movie, Upgrade, goes whole hog when it comes to the Invisible Man attack sequences.
– Eric Eisenberg, Cinema Blend
The writer-director well knows how to pace and space his revelations and jolts, how much to show and how much to withhold.
– Todd McCarthy, Hollywood Reporter
The big action spectacles, when we get there, feel worth the wait, as the filmmakers know when to ramp up the dazzling “invisible man” effects and when to pull them back.
– Angie Han, Mashable
HOW ARE THE EFFECTS?
The visual effects are flawless.
– Eric Eisenberg, Cinema Blend
They could easily create any invisible effect with modern technology, but Whannell knows that less is more.
– Fred Topel, Showbiz CheatSheet
The special effects work can look somewhat hokey.
– Doug Jamieson, The Jam Report
IS IT A MORE CHARACTER-DRIVEN EFFORT?
Moss, Hodge Reid and Kass are all open, inviting actors who earn our investment in their emotions and dilemmas.
– Todd McCarthy, Hollywood Reporter
With steady character work banking our investment, Whannell tightens the screws to scare.
– Kevin Harley, Total Film
HOW IS ELISABETH MOSS?
She delivers one of the best performances of her career.
– Eric Eisenberg, Cinema Blend
It’s a captivating and empathetic performance that’s easily her best mainstream cinematic effort to date.
– Doug Jamieson, The Jam Report
She is absolutely magnificent, so haunting to watch.
– Sharronda Williams, Pay or Wait
Elisabeth Moss is absolutely mesmerizing… The movie is a great showcase for what she’s capable of as an actor.
– Edward Douglas, The Weekend Warrior
That it works quite as well as it does is down in no small part to Moss herself, who commits to the role with a ferocious intensity.
– Robbie Collin, Daily Telegraph
Moss is the key to making all the scary-movie filmmaking work… She is terrific.
– Brian Truitt, USA Today
It’s all the more impressive as she’s often acting against nothing.
– Ian Sandwell, Digital Spy
Watching her fight for her life against the title monster is a feat of physical acting, not to mention a devilishly effective visual effect.
– William Bibbiani, The Wrap
Casting Moss in the lead was easily the best investment the producers made.
– Norman Gidney, HorrorBuzz
ANYTHING ELSE DESERVE RECOGNITION?
Let’s give a shout out to the sound designers, taken for granted so often, and then proven utterly essential when filmmakers have little else to hang their hats on.
– Simon Miraudo, Student Edge
I really love the positive images of the black family… and I just wanted to give a shout out to them for that.
– Sharronda Williams, Pay or Wait
DOES THE MOVIE WORK WITH ITS HEAVY THEMES?
It does an admirable job of taking us back to a time when a horror film could actually mean something.
– Owen Gleiberman, Variety
This film does a great job of talking about domestic violence, survivors of domestic violence, what life looks like if they’re lucky enough to get out of that situation.
– Sharronda Williams, Pay or Wait
There is a universal and uncomfortably real impact to the horrors on show here. Which, inevitably, will make it a tough watch for some.
– John Nugent, Empire Magazine
Women will find an extra level of horror and truth to this movie.
– Grace Randolph, Beyond the Trailer
The analogy of the woman no one believes is all too relevant today, but it’s a cliche we’ve seen before and in far better films.
– Jude Dry, IndieWire
While Whannell wants to say something, what he actually has to say doesn’t amount to all that much.
– Benjamin Lee, Guardian
ARE THERE ANY MAJOR PROBLEMS?
Like much of the film, the final scene opts for shock value over something more drawn out and it ends with a whimper rather than a roar.
– Benjamin Lee, Guardian
The film’s demand that we pay close attention for any sign of the invisible man proves a double-edged sword. Just as his aggressions become harder and harder to ignore, so too do the film’s narrative blemishes.
– Angie Han, Mashable
COULD THIS BE THE START OF A NEW HORROR FRANCHISE?
It’s not clear where a sequel to this would lead, but if Moss is on board the filmmakers will already be ahead of the game.
– Todd McCarthy, Hollywood Reporter
The Invisible Man is in theaters on February 28.
