Quick Rating:  ****

It's a testament to the ingenuity of James Whale and his team that the special effects of this film stand up (almost) even 70+ years after it's release.  And while these effects are outstanding for their time, it is the quality of the story and the direction, and Claude Rains voice that make this an excellent movie.

A bandaged stranger stops at a local inn for a room.  The local drunks all have their theories on the man - criminal, disfigured, outcast.  It turns out he's a scientist, and needs to be left alone to finish his experiments.  He does not get the peace and quiet he desires, and goes mad with rage.  And as you can probably guess, he's invisible under those bandages.  It proves quite difficult to stop a madman that you cannot see.

There are some great lines in this movie, delivered perfectly by Rains (and others):

"We'll start with a few murders.  Big men, little men - just to show that we make no distinction."

"Even dirt between my fingernails can give me away."

"There's breathing in my barn!"


There's some horror in this movie, some suspence, some mystery, and some comedy.  Besides the over-the-top yelling of the innkeeper's wife, the police and bar patrons all add a splash of humor when dealing with the bizarre occurrance of an invisible man.  Whale also adds some black humor, with Rains' talk of murder, and with the screaming woman being chased by pants!  I particularly enjoyed Rains' mention of how it was difficult to walk down stairs - "We've grown accustomed to watching our feet on each step."

A quality movie all around.  A must see for special effects fans, horror fans, and classic movie fans.



 



 
 

Quality: 8.0  Visuals: 9.5  Intensity: 7.5
OVERALL RATING: 8.3