Everything GREAT About The Invisible Man! (2020)

The score reminds me of Annihilation, I don't mind one bit. You know the part I'm talking about. Well now, these are Invisible Man style opening credits. Invisible until the water crashes on them, and it's a little bit of foreshadowing for the end of Act 2, though not nearly as explicit as it is here. Other than crashing waves and some atmospheric sound effects here and there, the first real sound we hear is the whirring of the suit, which is the main horror sound effect, I guess you would call it, of the movie. And speaking of silence, obviously there's no question what this movie is about, and our writer-director treats us like adults. This entire prologue is an outstanding way to open a film centered around domestic abuse and gaslighting. It's primarily silent, it's dark, and without any dialogue other than... we can tell exactly what's going on. Just an unwanted hand on her waist symbolizing his control over her, even while she's sleeping. Elizabeth Moss' performance tells the terror Adrian inspires without him even being awake. Also, knowing that she has access to his lab sets up why she isn't surprised when it seems like she's being stalked by an invisible man later on. Also, this house is insanely beautiful and it would be wrong to not wind floor-to-ceiling glass in every exterior room overlooking the ocean? This monster has taste, what can I say? That hurt my blood. And I enjoy that the Bois doesn't come back until she broke the barrier of sound, as it were. Even before it's set up that there's someone there we're not seeing, we get our first pan to an empty hallway and then back to Cecilia. It's the language of the film, even when there's nothing to see. Lee Wannell and Stefan Duccio, his DP on This and Upgrade, add something new to cinematography every time they work together. Another realistic motif is that C can often tell when she's being watched, and this time, even when it's a doggo. And an effectively dark and ominous score from Benjamin Walfish. Cool, cool, now when I listen to the trees at night, I'm going to be convinced Adrian is watching me. Not the last time Emily will notice something before C, or us. Ha, just got that, because C can't see it. I guess Grease has been taking new Cobra Kai students all along. Ah, like the piece of cursed Aztec treasure in the One Ring. Once the prize enters the world, everyone comes for it. You know what I'm talking about. That's the furthest you've gone since you've been here. As far as I'm concerned, you just walked on the moon. Encouragement. The article said tape, a marker, or a cover, and you went right for nail polish? Eh, safety first, I guess. He wanted to have a baby. I took birth control without him knowing it. That can only go on for so long. Guess the fruit wasn't, uh, blessed? You are physically close to him. He's in that urn over there. Sneaky, sneaky, creepy, creepy. Now we don't have anything at all to celebrate with. The one scene where Moss is allowed to smile, and smiling in this context is a win. And our second camera technique, the old peering out from behind a corner point of view. And again, we can just barely hear the whirring of the suit. Our first verifiable sign of him. Of course, he wants a knife with her fingerprints on it, and yet it's subtle enough that I have to guess buttloads of people missed it completely, or even thought maybe she just put the knife on the edge of the counter and it fell off. Same goes for the slight heat increase on the stove. You could easily convince yourself you left it up too high. Or maybe he's gaslighting her. No, don't use water! That's a fire safety lesson. Another long uncut take ramps up the tension, and even within the one-er, the camera pushes C off to one side as if there's something else we should be focusing on. And doing it all in-camera adds the feeling that he's creeping around behind her the entire time. Creeptastic! That's also an awful thing to have at the bottom of your bed, but a reference to the original. So you might be asking, why is he just messing with her like a basic PSL-loving poltergeist? It's simple. He wants her to feel and sound crazy, and normally antagonists in these kinds of thrillers would be happy with the latter, but he's the special gaslighting kind, so he wants her to question her own reality. And now the seed has been planted in our brains. He probably didn't question it until this point, but now we wonder if we can trust what we've been seeing. Also, Aldous Hodge's workout routine. Extra points for not even having to take his shirt off. So any reason you worked in Paris in particular? Is that where all the beautiful women in the world have to go as a rule? Flirting? During a job interview? Yike. Next you're gonna show her your gun arm? I slept in a broom closet, literally. I started this firm in a supply closet, literally. So we both know the value of closet space? Yeah. She does, it's where she hides her go-bag. At Ruler, we approach architecture on a human level. Which is odd, considering Fisk really isn't a fan of humans. Love a good passing out Snorricam shot. And fun fact, it was done manually without the rig by the camera operator falling to the ground with her. I know, everyone likes to talk about the 1933 version of this story, but if you want a guy wrapped up in bandages pretending to not be invisible, Chevy Chase's Memoirs of an Invisible Man is the ticket. You know, I just realized that the promotional poster, yes, the very one I used for this thumbnail, unless I changed it, doesn't really make sense since Adrian's hand would be gloved, so the handprint doesn't make any sense. But another long take, this time the moment the doctor says diazepam, the pill bottle appears in the sink, even though it wasn't there at the beginning of the take. So the handprint was just symbolic, he was in there. And appropriate that the doctor's voice trails off, since the pill bottle would make her go into fight or flight mode. It's either cancer or pregnant, those are the two primary things doctors want to tell you in person. Although, not even. I can imagine that being a voicemail where she's like, we need to talk. Is this just Quarbrain talking? He said that I could never leave him, that wherever I went, he would find me. That he would walk right up to me, and I wouldn't be able to see him. This line both technically adds validity to what we're seeing, especially since she's not more surprised, but it's also such a perfect line to get into someone's head that we question her reality. Only thing more brilliant than inventing something that makes you invisible is not inventing it, but making you think he did. He is a world leader in the field of optics. I know that he could do this. But like was said up earlier, she's been waiting on this. She knows what his work is, and after he tells her she wouldn't be able to see him, this action makes sense. I love that we get a smart protagonist that is never really surprised about the possibility. My brother controlled me long before he met you, Cecilia. I was relieved when I heard that he was dead. Given the outcome, I completely believe that. So I think the email is probably true. I'll be honest, the fact that Emily gets so mad and doesn't believe her sister bugs me the first time, but we know their relationship is strained. You can tell right from their first interaction, and Cee has been acting strange. It's also highly likely that Cee confessed all of this to Adrian, meaning at least parts of it are legitimately true. And what we know about Cee is that she fell for a hyper-controlling, abusive man. It stands to reason that if she had a past trauma from a sister who judged her and put her down, it makes it all the more likely that she'd fall for Adrian. Really, I just think Emily sucks, but the main reason comes later. I stumbled onto a review that was super mad Sidney thought Cee hit her. But just to be clear, she glanced down just as Cee was getting up, and Cee is within striking distance. It's like a four by six rug, and they're both on the narrow side of it. Believing that the invisible man hit her actually would be way more of a stretch. Cool shot that helps re-establish geography for the big fight scene coming. Broken light bulbs feathered out with a suit jacket work best, but hey, whatever you got. Creeptacular! I'd just like to point out that James has two chef's knives. I mean, it's a good thing since one just disappeared. Adrian really seems to like hexagons. That sound design is totally unnecessary, but hot dang is it unsettling that he was that close to her. Creepsational! So this scene was partially shot with a green suited stunt actor, partially has a digital background recreation in shot, and partially shot with a robot armed camera. Every part of it is awesome and feels real and I love it. It makes you question how much is CG, but keeps you fully immersed. Now that it's daytime in this glass house, it's even more apparent how deliberate it is. From Cecilia feeling like she had no privacy in her own home, to Adrian not fearing anyone peering in because he's got stealth camo. It's a pretty smart puppy. Apologies to the trypophobes, but this suit is dope and seems like a totally believable piece of tech. She still knows the value of closet space. Now the score has become totally industrial or technological and distorting and clipping like an aberration. I honestly thought this was a hint that it was Tom in the suit, but I guess my dog would bark at me if I was invisible. Either way, I love that the dog can sense whoever it is without seeing them. Dogs know. They always know. You might be wondering why he just let her go. Well, it's because he's still got a whole lot of plan to execute in order to fully control her. Something about this slow center frame push-in should alert us to the importance of this scene. Do you know how this place works? I'm assuming you order food, then you eat it. Now we're getting to the truth in that email. There's no reason to treat people in the service industry this way. And I need you to believe what I'm about to tell you. She will. Just wait. There's the second time Emily notices something off screen. It's hard to see, but there is an indentation on Cecilia's sleeve where Adrian is holding her arm up. And surprise really is the best way to describe this. It's so out of nowhere. Public places are the respite. You can relax, feel safe. So it even helps lend credence to C's mental break. The amount of trauma she's gone through in the past few days would make most people shut down without what just happened. And now, this last burst of adrenaline she got when she found the suit, last bit of hope has been stolen at the same exact time her sister is murdered in front of her. I think she's allowed an out-of-body experience where she disassociates from reality. And again, the handheld camera makes us feel like we're either seeing through Adrian's eyes or following over his shoulder. Yeah, that checks out. Just in case it's not clear, this was Adrian's plan from the beginning. The email he sent to Emily now creates a solid motive for C to kill her sister. I can't tell you. Absolutely spot on how insane all of this sounds and how insane she's acting. And Juanel has us constantly guessing. Is there a smudge on that window? What's that line? Where are you? Did you know that you were pregnant? Peggy. When are you gonna get it together and start tracking these types of things? Love the idea that that's the sound inside C's head right now. You're just the jellyfish version of him. Everything but the spine. Cnidereology burn. Thanks to my buddy TierZoo for that one. I fully believe that Elizabeth Moss has been having a rough go of it and I commend her for going all in. Ah, the perfect pens for Adrian and Tom. Of course they'd have custom $1,500 fountain pens for signing contracts. And that works out for C. There you are. Tricky, tricky resourcefulness. Okay, so first the way this hallway fight is filmed. One long take following Adrian. And if I have to defend these terrible-der-jobs cops, I think it's hard to comprehend how important seeing your assailant is when defending yourself. Like they'd be better off with blind security guards at this point who wouldn't rely on sight. Even this guy, he doesn't have time to react because he never sees the hand going towards his taser. Although this guy's reaction seems bonkers. Lay down. He's right there. Lay down. But if I see people flying through the air and getting slammed on the ground, honestly my first guess is witchcraft, not technology. I'm not saying it's illogical, just that in the moment I'd be terrified and start weighing ducks and crap. Beautiful beard win for this boy though. I found your cut in that wipe and I'm totally cool with it because the previous half of the long take was shot with the robot, right? Now we're in handheld but you can't tell that there's a cut. And even with the hidden cuts, we're still technically going on this long take. Even switched focus characters. Creeparvelous. I'll be honest, the way they played up the storm coming in and the rain, I thought for sure it would play a bigger part. But I do enjoy that it's understated. Even in the rain, he's hard to make out. Jigsaw puppet. Harry, are you okay? He's fine, he's fine, I promise. You know, that's extremely considerate. They gave up the he'll have to call you back joke that 17 million movies have done and the trauma and abuse victim did a realistic thing in reassuring a man's wife that her husband is alive. Normalized telling people on the other end of phone calls after stealing cars that their significant other is safe. And that makes this a cliche dodge. Aldous did all his own stunts and faked the punches to his face, which is amazingly believable. Oh my gosh, James is voodoo the quarterback. Ingenuity. My only real question is, how is Tom not a McPoyle? No relief on her face at all since seeing Tom makes her realize that Adrian is still alive. Let me help you. Yeah, but as long as Adrian's around, you can't help me. Unless you're willing to be a witness to his suicide. And that'll do it. It's not just Cecilia in danger, which pushes her over the edge of this plan. I started obsessing over what you'd be in the mood for. Hence, we have the OCD buffet of sushi, steak and pasta. The way Adrian is acting right now brings me right back to C's exposition dump about their relationship. He controlled what I wore and what I eat and eventually what I thought. I wanted to get us some simple takeout. This is a reboot. We know that his control escalated, meaning he eased her into it. So of course he's going to start out slow again, and the fact that it seems odd to the audience that he's being so nice, but C sees right through it as another perfect exploration of abusive relationships. I know I didn't treat you the way you should have been treated. I'll have steak. Mmm, good choice. Sushi and pasta don't require knives. I know that you feel like you're going insane sometimes. Ooh, how absolutely dare you, sir. That shouldn't come as a surprise. I mean, partially that's his winking acknowledgement, like it's almost his legitimate way of saying you're not crazy, which is ultimately the most awful manipulation of them all, just a sliver of truth to get her back. We've seen her at this mirror before, which means she's in the master bedroom, and we know that's where the master closet is. Aha, finally a little camera torture for Adrian. It's kind of like Chekhov's empty frame. But that gun goes off quickly. Look, we saw him pick her up with one arm while wearing the suit. The only logical explanation is that the suit also has some strength enhancement. There is me, Celestial Drive. Did Adrian name his road since he thinks he's a god? Surprise. Inside joke murder burn, which is cutesy for the movie, but a little dark when you remember he said that after slicing her sister's throat. Surprise. But again, she's mean to waitstaff, so you know. Do you guys need more time with the drink? Yes, lots more time. And she's got the pup in case anyone was worried. Wearing some sort of suit that you shot to pieces. If it did work, it doesn't now. A little cold to play him like that, but he made a point of explaining the evidence and how flimsy it all was because who would even believe that suit was real even if they saw it? Well... You heard it, right? She did not. Let the bastards grind her down, and if there was ever a piece of music that epitomized that, here it is. A little Jack Shepardism going on here. The movie opens with C opening her eyes and closes with her closing them. I enjoyed this movie quite a bit. My biggest question walking away is, what was Adrian's plan if Tom didn't die and C came back to him? I mean, there's almost no limit to what money can buy, and people will believe the dumbest things these days, so yeah, never mind. There's also the moment when Tom gives her the other option and reveals that Adrian is alive, and I thought, okay, so we're supposed to believe Adrian is actually dead and Tom is behind it all. Not by the text in the film, but because they're finally admitting Adrian is alive, the truth must be something different. And then I thought if the suit can make you invisible, why not make you look like someone else? So like, Adrian faked his death and pretended to be his brother. I'm not saying they needed anything more complicated than they did, but this is what happens when you're the guy who wrote Saw. I do think there were a million options, and they went with one of the safest. In hindsight, I appreciate that because it would have detracted from the point of the story. One of the biggest strengths I gave this movie, the way Lee trusts his audience, is also something that might turn some viewers off. It's hard to care about Cecilia or Adrian or anyone because there's so little backstory and only minimal character building for anyone other than C. This movie reminds me of Sleeping with the Enemy a lot, and in that movie, the entire first act is why Julia Roberts' hubby needs to be escaped. Lee mentioned that the studio pushed him to make the prologue a showcase of Adrian's abuse, but he decided that anything he could show us would pale in comparison to the theater of our minds, which is often true. And it also helps throw C's credibility into question. This shot was in the trailer, so an unreliable narrator would be the only explanation. The number of people I've seen genuinely question the reality we're shown is evidence of that. There's an odd ambiguity about the ending that can almost make you feel like you're being gaslighted. Can you prove that Adrian was actually behind it all? Is the surprise enough for you to say, yeah, kill him? Or is that just a totally coincidental and relatively common saying? Heck, we don't know. Maybe it was their inside joke and Tom knew that, so he used it against Cecilia to convince her it was Adrian. Why else would Adrian not be worried about this missing suit? I don't believe any of that. Adrian is the mastermind abuser and I fully believe Cecilia's story. Part of this story's strength is the missing pieces, specifically because this story is about a woman who is being abused but can do nothing to prove it. And the number of, what if Adrian really was innocent takes I've read are kind of the point. Abusive situations are rarely cut and dry and even when they are, we still get doubters as if we can't comprehend what we're seeing. If you lay out the facts the way the world sees them, it's easy to believe that Tom was the mastermind because that was Adrian's goal. But we see this story from Cecilia's perspective. Why in the world would Tom mess with her at all? How does convincing her that Adrian is alive help him? Why fake your bro's suicide rather than just murder him? He's Adrian's lawyer. No reason to will her money. No reason to care about her pregnancy. None of it makes any sense. Yet some jumped at the idea, grasping at straws to say that she was wrong and Adrian was the victim. There's a reason hashtag believe women exists and it's that it's this easy to make us question something we saw with our own eyes because Adrian didn't give a big long monologue about how he's the real bad guy. I understand that there is a certain film language in these types of movies and we've come to expect some form of closure. Lee used that against us deliberately, even with the way he uses the camera. So no, Tom wasn't behind it all. Adrian is the master manipulator. He would rather die gaslighting her one last time rather than let her know she wasn't crazy. And I believe that part wholeheartedly. Abusers don't stop just because their life is ending. But this is an abuse survivor fantasy story where Cecilia gets to take back the power the same way it was stolen. Her dispassionate expression at Adrian's death in monotone. Surprise. Gets her the last laugh. The sad, more common reality is probably closer to this. It's interesting. I thought this was a pretty well-crafted story about a real thing that happens. The gaslighting. Less the invisible suit. I didn't expect to find a lot of this is anti-man, actually. And boy, was I... Yeah, not all that surprised. Look, if you watch The Invisible Man and walk away thinking it's about how all men are bad, you might want to look into why you feel that. That's not what's happening here. I mean, even the usually terrible medical professionals in the mental health hospitals were pretty nice. Anyway, I'm curious how or if this story will tie into Elizabeth Banks' Invisible Woman. My guess is that they'll have nothing to do with each other. Any sequel to this movie, especially one not written by Wannell, will just muddy this very standalone narrative. Either way, I'm glad that studios are learning again that not everything needs to be the MCU. Next week, a long-awaited sequel that is hard to show a teaser frame for without giving it away. Except for this next phase, of course. Excuse me. Let my superiority over your kind be the last thought that crosses through your mind before machines chew it up.