31 More Days of Horror: The Invisible Man (1933)

Some movies transcend their genre to become classics. The Invisible Man is one of them. Though its age is deceptive, this B&W film continues to thrill thanks to phenomenal source work from H.G. Wells.

An experiment gone awry causes scientist Jack Griffin (Claude Rains) to become invisible. Desperate for a cure, he tries to hide out in the small village of Ipping. Between the drugs side effects and the nosy locals, his invisible hand is forced and he flips out.

It’s the performance by Claude Rains that ultimately makes this movie the force it is. His maniacal laughter, his voice dripping with distain, his slow turn to insanity is crazy good. "We'll start with a reign of terror. Murders of little men and murders of big men - just to show that we make no distinction."

Surprising most viewers, I think, is the film’s special effects. Rest assured they are quite solid. Griffin is most creepy when bandaged, but his transition to and from invisibility is top-notch. You never actually see Rains until the very end—it’s his vocal performance that causes the shivers.

The Invisible Man is a perfect balance of horror and fun. The film’s resident shrieker is certainly a put-off, but the dialogue—the film’s true star—is darkly vicious, but often darkly humorous as well. Please don’t let the film’s age dissuade you from watching it any time of the year.