The Invisible Man is the newest horror success courtesy of Blumhouse, but there’s still the question of just how much violence and scares are featured in the update to the Universal Monster classic.
There have been some serious struggles for the modern takes on Universal’s classic monsters to connect with audiences, but Leigh Whannell’s update to The Invisible Man appears to have finally broken the curse. Whannell’s film presents an emotional and relevant take on H.G. Wells’ famous work and the director figures out how to make an old fashioned monster scary again. Whannell’s previous efforts, like his contribution to the Saw and Insidious franchises or his previous film, Upgrade, highlight what the director is capable of but The Invisible Man could be his most thoughtful work yet.
Elisabeth Moss and Oliver Jackson-Cohen star in Whannell’s version of The Invisible Man, which frames its narrative around an unflinching look at domestic abuse. This update to The Invisible Man takes some interesting liberties with the source material, but all of them pay off and contribute to the immensely atmospheric horror film. Leigh Whannell’s film is a triumph when it comes to its story, performances, and effects, but most importantly it’s also just straight up scary.
How Scary Is The Invisible Man?
Viewers who are looking for a deeply frightening experience will not be disappointed with The Invisible Man. What’s even more exciting here is that the film effectively balances different types of horror. Previous takes on the material gave a tendency to focus purely on the effects. They definitely contribute to the horror here, but this is more about dread and anxiety. In that sense the film is nearly constantly frightening since Adrian Griffin is a threat even before he’s invisible.
On top of the mood, there are a number of jump scares, which feel earned and make the most out of the invisible concept. There’s a very real terror that comes out of the idea of a vengeful, abusive ex-lover who can seamlessly hide. As much as The Invisible Man is a “monster movie” and tells a supernatural story, there’s just as much fear that comes from the human factor of jealousy, revenge, and obsession. Topics like gaslighting, suicide, and spousal abuse all make The Invisible Man a more uncomfortable experience.
How Violent Is The Invisible Man?
The Invisible Man is rated R, which means that it doesn’t need to hold back when it comes to its violence, but it’s a film that does more with psychological and emotional trauma than physical violence. Make no mistake, there are still some particularly messy murders in this film. When death happens, it’s a bloody affair, but at the same time The Invisible Man isn’t gratuitous on the matter, nor does Whannell channel too much of his Saw sensibilities. One sequence does see brutal executions and rather extended violence. There are also a handful of incidents that make grisly use of knives, including two brutal throat slits, but the movie still shows restraint, even when it goes crazy. The Invisible Man is more of an atmospheric ride and it creeps its audience out with its tense mood more than brutal gore, but it’s not absent of it either.
The Rest Of The Invisible Man’s Rating: Strong Bloody Violence & Language
The Invisible Man is rated R, but it doesn’t push that rating very far when it comes to the film’s other dimensions. There’s swearing in the movie, but it’s hardly excessive or anything that draws attention. While this movie also heavily explores the exploitation and subjugation of women, it doesn’t dip into nudity as a way to prove this point. As a result, The Invisible Man doesn’t feature too many surprises when it comes to its violence or more mature themes, but when they happen they’re brutal and raw. It helps give the horror within The Invisible Man a certain level of sophistication that hopefully any sort of sequel won’t abandon.
