Top 10 Scariest Moments From The Invisible Man

After spending a majority of the film at the mercy of her invisible stalker, Cecilia is finally given a slight advantage when his suit starts glitching. It also helps that it’s raining in the parking lot, making it easier to spot any invisible figures. In true horror movie fashion, though, the rain also contributes to the dread, tension, and spooky atmosphere. Even in the rain, the invisible figure proves quite stealthy, getting the drop on the authorities and coming close to overpowering Cecilia as well. The only thing that saves Cecilia is her pregnancy, but our villain has other ways of getting to her. Thinking of Sydney, both Cecilia and the audience are left with sinking feelings in the pits of their stomachs.

Part of what makes this premise so horrifying is that you rarely know when the characters are alone. In virtually any scene, the invisible villain could be standing there, waiting to strike. We’re thus left on guard throughout the majority of the runtime. Nevertheless, the filmmakers still manage to sneak up on us when we least expect it. As Sydney closely consoles a visibly distressed Cecilia, she’s suddenly struck by an unseen force. This happens so quickly that Sydney thinks Cecilia hit her and - for a brief second - the audience questions exactly what just happened too. It’s a scene that doesn’t only surprise you, but gets inside your head.

When an antagonist is invisible, the most subtle gestures can produce the biggest scares. In a scene reminiscent of “Paranormal Activity,” Cecilia is disturbed in the middle of the night when the blankets are pulled off the bed by an unseen entity. As Sydney continues to slumber, the confused Cecilia tries to retrieve the covers, but something - or someone - is seemingly holding them back. The sheets are weighed down by footprints, which creep closer and closer towards her. Honestly, what’s eerier than being face-to-face with a stalker you can’t see? There’s nowhere to run and nowhere to hide, least of all under the covers.

In a heart-pounding climax, James and Sydney are attacked in their home by an invisible man, but not necessarily the Invisible Man. With James barely hanging in there and Sydney in an equally vulnerable position, Cecilia comes to the rescue with a fire extinguisher and a firearm. She takes out the home invader, rendering his suit visible. Just when it seems like the nightmare is over, Cecilia removes the mask to find not Adrian, but his wormy brother Tom. Jinkies! It’s a clever and unexpected fakeout, making us momentarily question if Tom was the true criminal mastermind or a pawn in Adrian’s game. Of course, Cecilia is convinced that the brothers were in cahoots, but how can she prove it now?

When Cecilia is locked up in a mental hospital, the Invisible Man doesn’t make his presence known, but she’s fully aware that he’s in the cell with her. Although Adrian can’t be seen, we definitely sense his haunting presence as his eyes linger on her. With that in mind, an empty corner becomes much scarier than anything our imaginations could possibly conjure. This whole portion of the film has the audience feeling unclean, but Cecilia forces her stalker to make a move upon stepping into the shower. Having smuggled Tom’s pen into her cell, she prepares to stage a fake suicide. Once the invisible enemy intervenes, Cecilia turns the pen into a resourceful weapon. That’s easily one of the smartest plays in horror movie history.

The film’s nail-biting opening is worthy of Hitchcock, wasting no time with needless exposition. Cecilia’s actions say everything as she leaves her husband in the dead of night, carefully sneaking out of bed and gathering her belongings. Although Adrian appears down for the count, we nonetheless feel the tension rising with each step Cecilia takes and every noise she makes. It doesn’t help that the mansion has a dominating presence, especially when Cecilia enters Adrian’s research lab. In the background are four black figures, which turn out to only be dummies, but they certainly add to the chilling sentiment that Cecilia isn’t alone and someone is always watching her. By the time the alarm goes off, the audience is already consumed with goosebumps.

Where a lesser thriller would’ve ended on an action set piece, “The Invisible Man” goes the extra mile with a finale that plays out like a game of chess. As James listens in on them, Cecilia meets Adrian at their old house. While Adrian is on his best behavior, he’s not fooling Cecilia, who says she’ll only give him a second chance if he confesses. In his own playfully sick way, Adrian reveals his true colors to her. Although we fear that Adrian might attack Cecilia throughout this sequence, it’s ultimately the other way around. Stealing a page from her husband’s own playbook, Cecilia slips into an invisible suit she stowed away and serves Adrian his just desserts before dinner is even over. Checkmate, Cecilia!

It’s always satisfying in horror movies when everyone realizes that the so-called “crazy” person was right all along. The authorities learn this the hard way as the invisible suit starts malfunctioning in front of them. This sets the stage for one of the best and most inventive hallway fights in modern cinema. The cinematography in particular is put to impeccable use here, almost making it look as if the action is unfolding from the Invisible Man’s perspective. Even then, we don’t know when or how the villain will strike. The most intense and darkly humorous moment finds one cop confronted by a levitating gun. It appears the Invisible Man might let him go unscathed, which makes it even crueler when he pulls the trigger anyway.

Unable to convince anyone that Adrian is alive, Cecilia calls her supposedly late husband’s cell, which turns out to be closer than she thought. Following the vibrating noise up into the attic, she finds the phone with some highly unsettling photos on it. Just as anxiety-inducing, the phone then receives a text message reading, “Surprise.” Even if you took out the invisible angle, this scene would still feel right at home in a more grounded psychological thriller like “Sleeping with the Enemy” or “Fatal Attraction.” Then again, without the element of invisibility, it wouldn’t be nearly as shocking when Cecilia pours a can of paint out of the attic.

There are rules that almost all horror movies follow. For example, once the monster inevitably attacks, it’ll be when someone is alone in either a suburban or secluded era. So, as Cecilia meets her sister Emily in a crowded restaurant, we naturally assume that they’re both safe. If anything, this is the safest we’ve felt in a while, especially as the sisters begin to reconcile. This makes it all the more jaw-dropping when a levitating knife slits Emily’s throat. With the bloody knife shoved in Cecilia’s hand, the audience finally pieces together Adrian’s master plan. We feel every bit as panicked as Cecilia as she’s restrained by the restaurant staff, lying mere feet away from her deceased sister.