The Invisible Man continues to receive critical praise for its intricate and complex depiction of a toxic relationship, including the way the abuser frames other people like his brother for his actions. The film presents and analyzes a myriad of ways in which an abusive partner can psychologically manipulate his victim, but it is perhaps this calculated endeavor to spin a web of conspiracy in order to remove his criminal accountability that makes the monstrous Adrian so chilling. It is at first questionable that he truly committed the heinous acts in the movie when it is revealed his brother had the invisible suit, but this ambiguity serves to enunciate just how skillful Adrian is at sowing doubt.
The narrative structure of The Invisible Man serves to place the audience in the role of Cecilia, who struggles to prove that Adrian is the one tormenting her with his invisibility suit. Even though no one else in the movie believes her, the viewer knows that she is the target of Adrian's machinations. However, just like her, the audience needs to figure out how, exactly, the invisible menace thinks in order to deduce what his next plan will be.
This is why the reveal that Adrian's brother, Tom, was also wearing the suit and participating in the schemes comes as a surprise. Cecilia was sure that Adrian was following her the whole time and was the culprit behind the tragedies she suffered, so he remained one step ahead of her and shifted the blame to Tom. It seems like a convoluted plan, but it's an effective way of maintaining his control over Cecilia once it became clear he could not continue to invisibly stalker her forever.
Adrian Framed His Brother As a Way of Gaslighting
The audience may doubt Adrian's culpability during the final minutes of the movie. His story is sound, especially because he sets himself up as the victim of his brother's deeds. However, when he eats dinner with Cecilia, that chilling "surprise" he utters mimics the same threat he whispered earlier in the film, strongly implying that he did, in fact, frame his brother for his crimes. This may not provide enough evidence for a legal court, but it's enough to convince both Cecilia and the audience of Adrian's guilt.
The twist involving the two brothers may have been a point of criticism for some since it calls into question the timing of the suit switch. However, the resulting confusion intentionally muddles the validity of Cecilia's claims while also making the audience question everything that has happened to her. It is Adrian's way of gaslighting his victim, twisting the reality of the events that transpired throughout the film to make himself seem innocent. Furthermore, Adrian's plot ensures that he is able to restart his relationship with Cecilia and proves that his plan was to trap her with him in a life together all along.
Part of the reason why Adrian is such an effective villain is that he is successful in his attempts to bend the truth, even to film viewers. There still remains speculation about when, exactly, Adrian may have transferred the suit over to Tom, but his role in the plot is clear. He is a master at manipulation, using his brother to carry out his dirty work, prove his innocence in the eyes of the law, and ultimately ensure his twisted reunion with his ex-wife. These layered plans are what make The Invisible Man such an effectively intense psychological thriller.