The Invisible Man (2020)

***/*****

 I'm just going to overstate the obvious... Elisabeth Moss is one hell of an actress. That opening sequence where she has to carefully escape the well security-protected home of her abusive husband without him waking, including unlocking a special collar on the pet dog and climb over a protective wall as the tech-guarded estate is located on a beach and without exercising extreme caution knowing that any little mistake might prevent her from getting away is quite harrowing, not to mention, we see how violent he is when he smashes the window of her sister's car, blasting profanity and demands to return. The devasting effects of long term abuse, how overwhelmed she is and remains, the inability to overcome the lasting anguish, and all that shit is worn by Moss in every frame. What I wanted and I imagine many others who saw this wanted as well was for Moss to have not only peace of mind, body, and soul but to get control of her life. There is a scene where she's on the floor, just a mess of tears. In an invisible suit (it is established that he was a genius in optics technology), her evil husband, who gets off on isolating her and gaining complete access to her every move, uses his creation to further push friends and family away. We know she badly needs an ally to expose him, but how when he has such a distinct advantage? Is there anything more perfect for a narcissist than having such a suit available and freedom from suspicion due to his staged suicide? Who can she tell? Who would believe her? If her husband drugs her, who would take her seriously? If he slaps a friend's daughter, will the father believe Moss isn't responsible? If he uses Moss' laptop and emails a scathing letter of rebuke to her sister, how can she persuade this away as not her own feelings? Blaming the dead husband won't necessarily work, now will it? How devious and cunning is it that someone with so much brilliance and technological know-how would waste it to just terrify his wife? I think some might critically engage the film with some scrutiny wondering why this guy, no matter how much of a dirtbag he is, would squander such an invention and his life of obvious wealth and privilege just so he could abuse Moss over and over.

My main gripe is a knife kill in a fancy restaurant. It's laughable and unrealistic. The knife just goes to the victim's neck and Moss' hand in a second. It's ridiculous. But it serves to get her locked up and considered responsible for the murder. It's impactful, yes, because of who is killed, someone very close to Moss, a real sense of strength, support, and love. It's how it is staged that I find silly.

And then there's the hospital where he is there in the suit and we must believe he can escape detection, avoid any contact, and move in and out with no one none the wiser. Sure there is another twist thrown in involving the brother, adding a layer of disgust so we can get behind her even more but I just felt Whannel got a bit too cute. That's not to say I didn't dig this movie, though. It was rousing and full of tension. Moss, though, is so impeccable, so emotionally raw, believably anguished and wrought, how could we not want her to get back her freedom wholly? 

How she's able to get out of the hospital, though, is not beyond reproach, and how the husband cuts a swath through security, while a visual effects dynamo, you'd think he was gifted superhuman powers. So plotting is questionable.

The ending does show Moss getting her revenge, eschewing Eldis Hodge's insistence that her husband wasn't the actual tormenter in the suit most of the time, even as the brother was caught assaulting him and his daughter. The supposed kidnapping with the husband found bound behind a wall quite the ruse Moss insists happened. Whatever you might think about the suit, being stabbed with a pen, shot multiple times, and paint dumped, it does seem rather implausible that so much damage could be withstood or the person in it could combat others so well invisible or not. All in all, Moss' face, her countenance, developing relief and ultimately strength is such a fine piece of acting. That whole scene is built to showcase a victimized, traumatized woman outsmarting and conquering the very one who has held away over her life too long and used the very weapon that was so vicious towards her. Victory!

The pregnancy angle sort of had me squirmy, especially in its sheer use as a device to try and manipulate parties. It's a means to an end.