11) The Invisible Man
The best movie monsters always stem from real anxieties, and The Invisible Man channels that perfectly. Leigh Whannell took the invisible man and used him to explore abusive relationships and gaslighting. This was the last movie I saw in a theater before the pandemic, and I vividly remember yelling “holy shit!” which is always a good sign in a horror movie. Elizabeth Moss gives an emotionally charged performance that made me tremendously worry and concerned for her safety. I mean dear god, she shows just how nightmarish being gaslit is, all building to one of the most rewarding finales I’ve seen all year. The cinematography was also excellent. While it wasn’t stylish, it highlighted how much power the invisible man had in a room, forcing the audience to look for the slightest abnormality. This movie is just intense, at times heartbreaking, and shows how movie monsters can still be legitimately horrifying.
You can read Knockturnal writers Jake King’s complete review here and Kristin Martin’s behind the scenes discussion with Aldis Hodge & Storm Reid here.