Complete A-Z list


Invisible Man, The  (DVD)

8/10

Stars: Elisabeth Moss, Oliver Jackson-Cohen, Aldis Hodge, Storm Reid, Michael Dorman, Harriet Dyer

Director: Leigh Whannell

Following The Handmaid's Tale and now this chiller, on video-on-demand from 30 March, Moss must be resigned to the fact that producers see her anguished features as made for suffering. She certainly goes through the ringer here, in this - on the whole thunderingly good but, like its heroine, seriously flawed - story of obsession and revenge, another offshoot from H G Wells' much-imitated original.

There's no credit for the old master here, even though they've kept the surname of his title character. This Griffin (Jackson-Cohen), however, unlike Claude Rains and his successors, is not a good-bad guy, but an out-and-out sadist who controls every move or even word from his terrified wife (Moss).

Escaping one night from their mansion, despite knocking over an ashtray and setting off a car alarm (as you do), Cecilia's told that her vicious spouse has subsequently committed suicide. But, despite being understandably thought batty, she knows he's still alive...and invisible.

Soon he is making life for herself and those near to her a living hell, even resorting to murder.

One has to wonder why Cecilia didn't make earlier use of her discovery of the invisibility suit, or why the eponymous villain doesn't show up in the pouring rain, but this is still a highly serviceable thriller that will keep you hopping to the end.

David Quinlan

Australia/USA 2020. UK Distributor: Universal. Colour by Company 3.
120 minutes. Widescreen. UK certificate: 15.

Guidance ratings (out of 3): Sex/nudity 1, Violence/Horror 2, Drugs 0, Swearing 0.

Review date: 27 Mar 2020