10 Best Films Of 2020 (So Far)

2. The Invisible Man

The Invisible Man is a concept that demands inventive filmmaking to make interesting. After all, the dude's invisible, and he's a kind of an inherently silly monster, so an audience's investment in the horror isn't a given (especially following Universal's attempt at revitalising its monster catalogue with the Dark Universe).

Fortunately, as proven by his track record as a horror writer and director of the stunning Upgrade a few years ago, Leigh Whannell has the imagination and skill required to do The Invisible Man justice. In an era of by-the-numbers horror movies, The Invisible Man rarely colours between the lines, constantly shaking up its narrative with huge developments and daring twists.

Through kinetic, gritty camera work and the patience to just linger, the horror has you just as scared of what you can't see as what you can. I concede that might sound a bit cliche, but it's never been more true than here. The presence of the central monster lingers over every frame, and the paranoia of Elizabeth Moss' character is shared with the audience at every step.

The decision to update the villain as a believable domestic abuser grounds the horror as well, and Whannell and co. manage to thread this real-world aspect with the fantasy action without it feeling exploitative or unearned.