With everything in the UK grinding to a halt and all of us staying at home in the wake of the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, cinema is in a state of limbo. Most films that were due out in the coming months have been postponed to late this summer, or in the case of some of Sony's blockbusters, all the way to next year. Luckily there are plenty of recent cinema releases that are now available to stream at home, and turning to films is the perfect way to pass the time if you happen to be finding yourself bored.
In the 'films to watch in lockdown' series I will be recommending films both old and new that are really worth watching, or re-watching, to take your mind off the current situation and keep the joy of cinema alive.
First up is a film on the new end of the spectrum, Universal's The Invisible Man. Directed by Leigh Whannell, this film takes elements of character and genre from the failed 'Dark Universe' and brings them to the modern day in a way that is utterly thrilling.
This film is extremely tense, and Elizabeth Moss gives a brilliant performance. Her character, Cecilia, changes dramatically from her experiences throughout the film, shifting from a fearful abuse victim to a tough, assertive woman who fights back. We first encounter Cecilia as she leaves her abusive partner Adrian, sneaking out of his mansion in an incredibly suspenseful and memorable opening scene. Soon after moving in with a childhood friend she learns that he has taken his own life and left her part of his fortune. What follows is a series of unsettling occurrences that convince her that Adrian is still alive and has gained the ability to become invisible.
Adrian is made scary without us even seeing the abuse that he inflicted on her. The opening scene by itself is enough to instill fear in us as we see Cecilia sneak away, clearly having meticulously planned her escape. Later in the film she gives her police officer friend some examples of his behaviour, but this isn't needed to prove how sinister he is. In those first fraught minutes Cecilia's fear becomes our own. It's an edge-of-your-seat sort of scene where you're praying for her to get away safely despite not even knowing what the man she's running from has done. Whannell does an incredible job of making us feel Cecilia's fear of her abuser without relying on the spectacle of the abuse itself.
From here the fear is escalated even further. When Cecilia's torment begins we are made hyper aware of the fact that the tormentor is invisible and it is hard not to be constantly on the lookout for evidence of his presence. The paranoia increases along with the suspense as the film makes you feel as on-edge as Cecilia. This is especially conveyed through the spectacular sound design. Since we're aware that the enemy cannot be seen, we instinctively hone in on the slightest sound. Every light footstep, creaking floorboard or rustle of leaves outside builds tension and leaves you overwhelmed with anticipation.
As the sound design is so subtle yet so important to the films' overall effect, I'd recommend making your front room as much like a cinema as possible. Lights down and sound up is the best way to fully experience this film.
Eventually Cecilia takes matters into her own hands, and as the events of the film go on she begins to turn the tables on her invisible assailant. But before this his actions become increasingly shocking and violent. This film is far from predictable. The twists and turns it takes as it hurtles towards an action-packed climax are so unexpected that they will make you audibly gasp. The stakes are incredibly high and we are kept guessing as to how it will end.
This film may not be all that scary to an avid horror fan as it takes a more subtle approach to the genre. But it more than makes up for this with buckets of suspense, unexpected twists and the empathy that we feel for Cecilia. It is a rare thing to even think that the protagonists of a horror film are behaving rationally, let alone to care about them and relate to them on the level that this film encourages. This film is a really interesting take on the horror/thriller, and a wonderful modern rendition of a Universal horror classic.
The Invisible Man is available to rent on Amazon and other video on demand services.