Available at Amazon.com
Director
David S. Goyer
Cast
Justin Chatwin ………. Nick Powell
Margarita Levieva ………. Annie Newton
Marcia Gay Harden ………. Diane Powell
The Movie
Nick Powell (Justin Chatwin) is having a pretty good life for the most part. An honor student, he has a terrific mother (Marcia Gay Harden) and is about to head off to college to pursue a career in law. A funny thing happens, though, when his good friend sells him out to pay off a debt to the high school degenerates. Left for dead, his spirit wanders the Earth looking for the answers. Left on his own, with no one able to figure out where he’s disappeared to, Nick’s soul is left to solve the mystery behind his own passing.
If it seems too brilliant to be an original concept, that’s because it is. The Invisible is a remake of the Danish film Den Osynlige, but even so it’s a breath of fresh air if only because of how it crosses genres. It’s a noir piece crossed with the sort of psychological horror film that’s hard to pull off. What it’s interesting is the script itself, something nearly wholly original
Seeing Nick as he shadows the entirety of the investigation into his disappearance is fascinating on so many levels. The film is a tight police procedural, moving logically along the list of suspects, but having the soul of the victim seeing everything from the sort vantage point usually only the viewer gets to see. It lends a different perspective to the proceedings; we get to see the process unravel in a wholly unique manner.
It’s also interesting to see how the aspect of handling Nick’s interactions. He’s presented as being able to interact in the world as he sees fit, but as soon as he’s done it returns back to how it was before. It’s a different way of looking at things, as usually Hollywood makes a spirit able to walk through things or able to influence the world around it without anyone noticing. This is something quite unique and different, working on a number of levels.
A/V QUALITY CONTROL
Presented in Dolby Digital 5.1 surround with a widescreen presentation in 2.35:1 aspect ratio, the film has a terrific presentation on DVD. The film’s soundtrack tends to be a bit overwhelming at points, over-ruling the dialogue, but overall it’s a good transfer.
The Extras
Music Videos for “The Kill” by 30 Seconds to Mars (actor Jared Leto’s band) and “Taking Back Control” by Sparta are included.
Deleted Scenes are included, complete with commentary from Goyer and writer Christine Roum.
Sneak Peeks of releases of Wild Hogs, Lost, Ratatouille, Becoming Jane, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End and the second National Treasure film are included.
Commentaries for the film include writer Mick Davis on one track and Goyer with Roum on the other.
