Two things you need to wear before seeing this movie at the theaters: 1)Big girl’s pants 2)Adult diapers
And of course being prepared to scare the living daylights out of you! The story plays mind games with us, force us to question the thin line between madness and reality because what you can’t see can truly hurt you!!!
It’s really meaningful as a sex predator is sent to jail and a movie with great representation of #MeToo movement is coming out at the same time. As you can see the main character Cecilia is a victim of the abusive relationship, running away from her husband, always looking at her back and always feeling like being stalked by someone. Now his husband dearest commits suicide and she is finally free! But why she still feels his existence in everywhere. At the hospital, a bandaged man lying on the stretcher looks directly into her eyes and at the night time a hat and trench coat on a stand reminds her of someone. (Yes, they are costumed disguise of the original “Invisible Man” series: great references for Dark Universe!)
Yes: she is so right. Husband is out there to avenge her escape. As like the mad scientist from H.G. Wells’ “Invisible Man”, he turns himself into vengeful spirit, isolating her from the people she cares, following her each step! How can she make people believe in her that she is not crazy! How can she prove there is mad man out there can hurt everyone if she tells the truth!
Leigh Whannel: the first time we met him drugged and chained in a toilet (so many resemblances with regular Taco Bell restrooms) with the guy from Princess Bride and a bloody corpse! Yes, I’m talking about the bloody “Saw” series. He was one of the MCs and creator of the mind bending, twisty, dark installment. Then another horrific installment came out named “Insidious”. And his latest sci-fi thriller “Upgrade” was another brain cell fryer, nail biter, hair splitter, soul crusher story which is one of my all-time favorite action-packed movies.
Now his reunion with amazing DP of “Upgrade”: Stefan Duscio presents us multiple action and chasing scenes including references of “Upgrade” world. But there are not so much scientific explanations at the script to turn its genre into a sci-fi thriller. The main theme the scare something is not really there and paranormal disturbance, unforeseeable powerful existence of something menace stalking you and high tensioned, heart throbbing, fast pacing movements of the scenes are quite satisfyingly capturing your attention from the beginning and making you sit on the edge of your seats!
Only thing I didn’t enjoy was the third act of the movie because of the changing of the main theme of the story about being afraid of unforeseeable things and also the visibility of some actions distort the magical and excessively disturbing structure of the movie. And let’s not forget the plot holes needed to be filled!
But I have to admit: I’m clapping ELIZABETH MOSS! She is the soul of the movie. She carries the story by herself and making us truly empathize with the character. And supporting characters did quite amazing jobs as well from Aldis Hodge (tech geek of Leverage), scary husband we truly hate Oliver Jackson Cohen ( vulnerable brother Luke from Haunting of Hill House) , lawyer brother Michael Dorman (Patriot’s John Tavner) to protective sister Harriet Dyer (Inbetween’s Cassie).
Overall: At the theater the ending received an ovation. Everybody chanted and clapped (including me because when it comes to woman power and revenge stories, I could be really passionate and exciting!)
And I ‘m still expecting a sequel and it must be main reason about the plot holes of the storyline.
Overall: .7. 5 Stars!
Movie details: Our director is from Melbourne and the movie was also shot in New South Wales/Australia.
Budget of the movie is $ 7 million dollars. Its worldwide gross in 3 days: $49.2 million dollars ( Congrats to Blumhouse who turns small budget projects into successful box office hits!)
Arnie Hammer and Alexander Skarsgard were the first choices of the studio for the titular role.
Main Quote from Cecilia Kass: “He said that whether I went, he would find me, walk right up to me, and I wouldn’t be able to see him”