The Invisible Man Returns Review

Review of The Invisible Man Returns (1940) by screenqueeen: 👍 3.5/5

HOOPTOBER 7.0 DAY 1 30 DAYS REMAIN

After the brief chaotic reign of Dr. Frank Griffin in 1933's INVISIBLE MAN, his brother, Dr. Jack Griffin continues Frank's work on Geoffrey Radcliffe, who's currently jailed on a murder charge that he insists he didn't commit.

Radcliffe's mission to put the real killer in the spotlight gets fuzzier as his escape brings more law enforcement on a manhunt. They employ some well-established tactics that showcase effects more impressive than 1933's installment, like silhouettes in rooms full of smoke and rainfall outside (and from here you can definitely see Whanell's inspiration for highlighting negative space in his INVISIBLE MAN).

Radcliffe's quest for revenge eventually gets muddled by the side effects of the invisibility drug negating his violent & aggressive inhibitions, thus making it harder for Griffin (and the audience rooting for him) to trust him. It's an interesting prospect to make the titular invisible man a more sympathetic figure but the focus here ultimately ignores the question of true human nature that the first zeroed in on so well.