The Invisible Man
A brilliant chemist’s invisibility breakthrough turns him into a hunted, homicidal phantom whose unseen presence terrorizes a snowy English village.
Overview
A chilling tale of madness and invisibility that will leave you breathless.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Moderate
- eerie
- witty
- macabre
- classic horror night
- halloween viewing
What critics said
Critics broadly regard it as an inventive and highly entertaining horror thriller distinguished by James Whale’s direction, Claude Rains’s vocal performance, witty dialogue, suspense, and pioneering special effects.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Clothing, footprints, moving objects, and the bandage removal scene turn an unseen body into a sustained visual event.
Griffin's invisibility experiment leads from research and secrecy to murder, intimidation, and domination.
Whale balances Griffin's homicidal menace with absurd inn scenes, eccentric reactions, and playful invisible-body gags.
The film belongs to Universal Pictures' formative monster cycle and uses the freedoms and tonal unruliness associated with pre-code Hollywood.
Films like The Invisible Man, and why
Frankenstein
shared pre-code horror atmosphere, mad scientist premise, and iconic universal monsters tradition
The Bride of Frankenstein
shared classic horror spectacle, gothic menace, and ethically dangerous scientific experimentation
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
shared science fiction horror, transformation anxiety, and destructive scientific ambition
The Fly
shared invisible menace, suspenseful pursuit, and morally dangerous experimentation
Movie Details
- Director
- James Whale
- Release Date
- 1933-10-31
- Runtime
- 71 min
- Rating
- 7.5 / 10 (989)
Cast
- Claude Rains
- Gloria Stuart
- William Harrigan
- Henry Travers
- Una O'Connor
- Forrester Harvey
- Holmes Herbert
- E. E. Clive
- Dudley Digges
- Harry Stubbs
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Peacock Premium, IndieFlix, Peacock Premium Plus, IndieFlix Shorts Amazon Channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Invisible Man about?
- A brilliant chemist’s invisibility breakthrough turns him into a hunted, homicidal phantom whose unseen presence terrorizes a snowy English village.
- What is The Invisible Man like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Invisible Man as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is The Invisible Man violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in The Invisible Man as moderate.
- What did critics think of The Invisible Man?
- Critics broadly regard it as an inventive and highly entertaining horror thriller distinguished by James Whale’s direction, Claude Rains’s vocal performance, witty dialogue, suspense, and pioneering special effects.
- Which films are like The Invisible Man?
- Films with a similar feel include Frankenstein, The Bride of Frankenstein, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, and The Fly.
- How long is The Invisible Man?
- The Invisible Man runs 71 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Invisible Man?
- In United States, The Invisible Man streams on Peacock Premium, IndieFlix, Peacock Premium Plus, IndieFlix Shorts Amazon Channel.
