With divorce rates climbing the past few years, it has been interesting to see the culture approach discussion of relationships, particularly when pertaining to their toxicity. According to Google Trends, searches for “toxic relationship” have steadily increased, along with the term “gaslighting” and “post traumatic stress disorder”. Recently, a new film has come out that seems to address these topics, but not necessarily in a blatant way — rather, a more entertaining one.
Author Katherine Howe once remarked, “When I looked at life through the camera, I felt as if I could finally see it.” Film enthusiasts are always actively trying to dig beneath the surface to find the hidden message given by the director. The latest film to catch buzz is the recently released “The Invisible Man”. Based upon the classic horror monster, “The Invisible Man” recreates the story in a modern setting, with the titular character indeed making himself unseen. What has made this film notable with audiences and critics, however, is the primary focus on the victim and the reframing of the Invisible Man as her stalker.
The story focuses on Cecilia, played by Elizabeth Moss, and her turbulent relationship with wealthy scientist Adrian, portrayed by Oliver Jackson-Cohen of Netflix’s “Haunting of Hill House”. After the later supposedly commits suicide, Cecilia attempts to move on, but not without strange happenings beginning to take place. As events progressively get worse, Cecelia’s own mental state comes into question, as well as the unhealthy behaviors that took place in her relationship with Adrian.
Director Leigh Whannell confirmed that a large focus in making the film was on toxic relationships, more specifically gaslighting. Whannell even shared that he did not originally intend for the film to largely address the subject, but that he “felt the movie drifting in [that] direction”.
Ms. Moss also offered her perspective, saying that gaslighting was the giant analogy for “The Invisible Man”, with believing women being another theme. Horror film audiences are, according to Moss, expecting new films to continuously address these ideas and other social issues.
Only being in theaters for the past week, the film has made more than five times its original $9 million budget. Working with Blumhouse Productions, the same studio to produce “Get Out” and “Insidious”, this film was expected to be a box office bomb, but soon found its favor with audiences and critics. Rotten Tomatoes has also given “The Invisible Man” a 92% rating, giving it a “certified fresh” positive spin.
While fiction may be exaggerated, there is obvious inspiration from reality. The shift in horror films going from entertaining to informing is clear, and “The Invisible Man” is only the latest in successful examples of the two merging and stirring more conversation.
