Fearing the Unseen

The latest update of the classic H.G. Wells story is a spine-tingling, slow burning thriller that perfectly introduces "The Invisible Man" to a new audience

Universal Pictures has twice tried and failed to bring together a shared world featuring its cache of iconic monsters. 2014's "Dracula Untold" was intended to be the launching pad, but any possible connections were downplayed after its release. Conversely, 2017's "The Mummy" played its entire hand up front and made it clear a franchise was planned before hitting theaters. Perhaps big-budget setbacks were a blessing in disguise, as this stripped-down offering from horror veteran Leigh Whannell is the best reboot of a classic property they've had in years.

Elizabeth Moss stars as Cecilia Kass, a woman who's just freed herself from an abusive relationship, or so she thinks. Her ex, Adrian Griffin (Oliver Jackson-Cohen) is a brilliant, but unhinged tech magnate who controlled every aspect of her life. After fleeing from him in the dead of night, she later learns of his apparent suicide. However, bizarre occurrences lead her to believe he's still terrorizing her except no one can see him. Is she going insane or has Adrian found a way to her haunt her from beyond the grave? While it's a monster movie at its core, the scariest aspects are real-life traumas. It examines how psychologically damaging domestic abuse can be, the dangers of gaslighting and the terrors of being stalked.

Tension is packed into every frame and Moss gives a fantastic, nuanced performance. So much time is spent with her alone, her eyes frantically darting about in search of her unseen adversary. Surrounded by a solid cast featuring Aldis Hodge, Storm Reid, Harriet Dyer and Michael Dorman, Moss owns the screen as she tries to vanquish her tormentor. Through the use of masterful camera work and excellent sound design, the movie builds a claustrophobic sense of paranoia that makes viewers feel as anxious as the protagonist. Casual horror fans expecting cheap jump scares or a film more akin to a slasher may be disappointed. There are a few well-earned jump scares and while the violence is brutal, its placement is meticulous. The movie isn't perfect, as there are convenient gaps in logic to keep the plot moving, but its deceptively slick production values (it only cost around $9 million dollars) and science fiction-tinged frights make this chiller a must-see. B+