THE INVISIBLE MAN (2020) Movie Review (Minor Spoilers)

" The Invisible Man" becomes a proper thriller with director Leigh Whannell whose cinematography is nothing short of astounding. He brings the paranoia, fear, and rage of an abuse victim to life. You will find yourself scanning the screen for minor movements just as she does.

What Whannell also brings to life are the terrorizing feelings of loneliness and helplessness a victim of narcissistic abuse experiences every day. Never have I seen a film more accurate to the plight of an abuse victim to a narcissistic abuser and their unbelievable need for control.

This is no simple metaphor for the lasting effects of abuse or being haunted by the past. What Cecilia endures is very real. The CONTROL is real.

Thus, is the relationship between Cecilia Kass and her sociopathic boyfriend Adrian Griffin. Only she truly knows what he is behind closed doors, and the story illustrates her struggles to reveal the Griffin brothers for the monsters they are. Only then can she secure her freedom.

Abuser Adrian in his covert form wears the shape of a human, but his colors are inhuman. He is black as sin and covered with all-seeing eyes. Always watching. Always waiting for the perfect moment to infiltrate her life, even after she escapes him.

Meanwhile, Cecilia struggles to recover alone. Her sister and their cop friend are physically there for her. They don't believe her claims that Adrain is after her; they don't hear her cries for help. They fail her when she needs them most.

No one believes her cries for help, because no one can see what she sees. They see no threat, no danger. They see nothing. They can only see what is in front of them. They don't see any deeper. Only those who have seen evil first hand can know what to look for.

Whether the abuser is dead or not, the abuse lives on in the people who assist the abuser, who don't support the victim, and who are hurt trying. All she needs is someone to believe her, to see her suffering, but no one comes. They cannot see because they don't understand.

Cecilia can sense him everywhere, because his control is everywhere. She KNOWS down in her core the abuse lives on. Regardless of what others think or see. He makes her appear crazy, but he never makes her feel crazy.

The only person on whom Cecilia can rely is herself. She embarks on a battle for her life, but first, she needs validation. She hunts for the truth. To show the world that Adrean is EXACTLY who she says he is. Through validation, she can be free.

The #1 mistake of an abuser is underestimating the intelligence of their victim. It is a victim's #1 asset. Not people. Not money. Not walls and a roof. Cecilia must learn that her chance to beat this sociopathic genius is a battle of wits.

The only way to make them understand is to expose the darkness within. The black, all-seeing form that lies beneath the non-threatening cloak. Abusers can't hide forever. Sooner or later, they show their true, black colors. When they do, all we can hope is that the rest of the world is paying attention. That is our hope for survival.