In Greek mythology, the princess Cassandra was gifted with prophesy. When she rejected the god Apollo, however, he placed a curse on her, such that no one would believe her visions of the future. This is the predicament Cecilia (Elizabeth Moss) finds herself in after she escapes her abusive boyfriend, a wealthy optics scientist. No one believes her when she begins to suspect he is stalking her.
Other than the title and the idea of invisibility, this film has nothing to do with either the 1933 film or the 1897 H.G. Wells novel of the same name. Rather than focusing on the science fiction, this movie is primarily a story about escaping from an abuser. Adrian has resorted to all the usual tricks of an abusive lover, isolating Cecilia from loved ones and gas-lighting her. Cecilia, fortunately, retains enough inner strength to stand up for herself.
Elizabeth Moss delivers all of this with an absolutely gripping performance. This is an actress who is not afraid to “go there.” She appears in every scene, and she carries the film admirably. Credit must also go to Australian writer/director Leigh Whannell. Whannell is known for writing the “Saw” and “Insidious” movies, and he now appears poised to make a name for himself as a director. With patient story-telling and clever camera work, he has crafted as tightly-wound a thriller as I've seen since “Gone Girl.” You've got to see it!
4 stars out of 5
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