The Invisible Man (1933)

The Invisible Man (1933) James Whale is back directing another favorite of mine with the fantastic Claude Rains as Jack Griffin a scientist who wants to make a name for himself with the creation of an invisibility formula, but sadly for him one of the pesky side effects is homicidal mania. In this film we don't get a chance to see Griffin before he becomes invisible so we aren't given a chance to witness him as a non murdering psychopath so at films conclusion we really don't have much sympathy for him when he meets his end, so no pathos generated like with The Wolf Man or Frankenstein's Monster. Now as a Universal Monsters go he certainly does win in the kill count category as most of the classic monster's kills can be counted on one hand while The Invisible Man has well over one hundred deaths to his credit. The fantastic voice of Claude Rains matched with ground breaking visual effects makes this one of the better sci-fi horror films out there. Sadly Whale's continued insistence that Una O'Connor's hysterical screaming is funny prevents this from being a near picture perfect film.

Things I love:
• The first unwrapping of the bandages.
• The wire work for the invisible effects is excellent.
• Griffin kicks over a baby carriage during his first rampage. Harsh.
• “Power, I said! Power to walk into the gold vaults of the nations, into the secrets of kings, into the Holy of Holies; power to make multitudes run squealing in terror at the touch of my little invisible finger. Even the moon's frightened of me, frightened to death!”