The Invisible Man (1933)
Composite Score: 82.9
Starring: Claude Rains, Gloria Stuart, William Harrigan, Henry Travers, Una O’Connor, Forrester Harvey, Holmes Herbert, E.E. Clive, Dudley Digges, and Harry Stubbs
Director: James Whale
Writer: R.C. Sherriff
Genres: Horror, Sci-Fi, Thriller
MPAA Rating: Approved
Box Office: $27,105 worldwide
Why should you Watch This Film?
The Invisible Man is the 1933 film adaptation of H.G. Wells’s novel of the same name, directed by James Whale. It features Claude Rains in his first major on-screen role as the Invisible Man, supported by Gloria Stuart as Flora Cranley, his former love interest, William Harrigan as Dr. Arthur Kemp, his rival and associate, and Henry Travers as Dr. Cranley, his mentor and Flora’s father. The film follows the story of Jack Griffin after he has successfully turned himself invisible (and, by unintentional side-effect, mad) as he works toward a reverse invisibility serum that could grant him total control over the power and allow him to establish a reign of terror across the world with his newly crafted capabilities. The film is a masterclass of 1930s horror/sci-fi – delving into questions of scientific ethics and the human need for connection against the backdrop of a campy villain terrorizing a small town.
Why shouldn’t you Watch This Film?
As horror films go, The Invisible Man is remarkably short on scares of any kind. Aside from some aggressive screaming by Gloria Stuart and Una O’Connor, there’s very little indication as to the Invisible Man’s terrifying nature. The film’s visual effects go a long way in unnerving the audience but never so far as to actually induce a sense of fear. As is often true of early horror films, it seeks to creep its audience into a sense of unease that keeps them focused on the screen and thinking about the issues at play. Less discerning fans of more modern horror – slasher, paranormal, “elevated”, or otherwise – might find themselves a bit less than impressed with this film’s inclusion next to films like Hereditary, The Conjuring, Halloween, or 28 Days Later.
So wait, why should you Watch This Film?
The Invisible Man, like so many of the early horror films, serves as an inspiration for the films that come after, both in science fiction and in horror. Its portrayal of Griffin as a once great scientist who flew too close to the sun, bringing about his own downfall, is echoed time and again in both genres, not necessarily in their villains but often in their quest givers or mentors or otherwise. The levity of the Invisible Man in his terrorizing of the town, exemplified in his joviality and the comically exaggerated responses of the townsfolk, has worked its way into many villains in more modern horror – Ghostface, It, and Chucky immediately come to mind. Though it might not chart among the heart-racing horrors of the twenty-first century, its impact on them cannot be diminished.
Additionally, for a film produced in the 1930s, The Invisible Man contains some decently impressive special effects work. Though it is a bit more rudimentary, the poltergeist-ish nature of the Invisible Man plays quite well as he runs through town and home, making things move seemingly of their own volition. For me, though, the most impressive pieces of visual work were in the portrayals of the partially clothed Invisible Man. Though it pales in comparison to more modern techniques, the way that the film is able to portray a partially invisible body, moving mostly naturally remains sufficiently impressive.
Finally, I can’t talk about The Invisible Man without mentioning Claude Rains. For a character whose real face is not seen until the final moments of the film, he carries it from start to finish with his physicality and vocalization as the titular villainous protagonist. His measured movements, which quickly turn violent when his true nature exhibits itself, effectively communicate the character’s psychosis brought on by his serum. His ability to sound both insane and reasonable all while holding the audience’s full attention with only his voice only adds to the physical performance. Portraying a character with no visible mouth, nose, or eyes whose motivations still make sense – in a deranged sort of way – makes Rains’s showing all the more impressive.
An artful portrayal of the titular character from Claude Rains and surprisingly impressive visuals for a 1930s film lend themselves to making The Invisible Man the influential film that it is, with a message of its own about the perils of unbridled scientific discovery, worthy of its spot among the Greatest Films of All Time. The film’s dated sense of horror might leave some fans less than terrified, but its other elements work well together to keep it an impactful film. This film is currently available to stream via the Criterion Collection or to rent on most other streaming platforms if you’d like to check it out.
