The Invisible Man (1984) User Reviews

Engaging drama.

[Ged-12 · 6/10 · 15 March 2009]

It's been over 40 years since I've read the novel by wells, but as adaptations go this is very faithful, with the Universal 1933 classic being perhaps the only other version that I've reasonably enjoyed. The rest of the Universal series and the many TV movies and series have always, for me, been simple adventures that use the invisibility theme as a means of inventing generally poor story lines.

What I enjoyed about this BBC serial is that the invisibility plays almost second fiddle to the drama as it unfolds. It's only during the later episodes that they are very cleverly, and mostly successfully, inserted into the ensuing drama. Finally let me add that Lila Kaye, as the pub landlady, gives Una O'Connor a good run for her money in the hysterics department.

Splendidly faithful

[paulnewman2001 · 8/10 · 18 April 2005]

The BBC's splendid 1984 adaptation of HG Wells' scientific thriller bears favourable comparison to James Whale's 1933 classic movie, similarly nailing both the book's gripping and occasionally comical tone and the sense of clammy madness seeping from the pores of megalomaniac researcher Griffin.

The remote locale in which the invisible and increasingly unstable Griffin attempts to hide is perfectly chosen and marvellously photographed and Pip Donaghy gives a thoroughly convincing performance, swaying between annoyance at the prying villagers and bursts of alarming mania during which he contemplates a reign of terror achieved via random murder and extortion.

The Beeb always does its period pieces well and here squeezes some excellent production values from the budget; even the special effects still look good, largely through being achieved in subtle and unshowy ways.

Short-lived but scary

[Chase_Witherspoon · 7/10 · 15 July 2013]

Atmospheric, scary little series brings the Invisible Man into the modern era through Donaghy's revision as the scientist who discovers the secret to transparency, then loses the ability to reverse the procedure. The series is devoted to his desperate attempts to identify a cure, before his mind deteriorates. Donaghy spends the series cloaked in a trench-coat, hat and bandaged face, his voice the only clue to his identity.

This series ran on the ABC in Australia in the mid eighties and while the staging was a little claustrophobic by virtue of the theatre like set design, the music was haunting and the tone was always tense and nightmarish. While it only lasted a dozen or so episodes, the ending was both fitting in resolving Donaghy's affliction, and equally, somewhat shocking in deciding his fate. Not the upbeat climax some might expect, yet appropriate of the rather dark mood that prevailed. Brief but memorable and worth a look.

Nice adaptation

[marcelvilaros · 8/10 · 5 January 2018]

Good adaptation from the book, perhaps the most faithful to H.G. Wells.

Dreams do come true

[keith-moyes-656-481491 · 8/10 · 2 April 2010]

I have often dreamt of a series of authentic adaptations of the classic H G Wells SF stories that would be in period and would faithfully reflect the strength of his imagination without flinching at the occasional frailty of his narratives.

Having just seen this BBC serial on DVD, I know it will not be necessary to re-make The Invisible Man, because this version is very much what I have in mind for the whole series. It is remarkably faithful, both to the overall tone of the book and to the smallest details of its story.

The direction and performances are fine and the production values are fully adequate, without being lavish. More importantly, although the special effects may not be the very best, they are certainly good enough. There is nothing in the book that could not be attempted and nothing that was attempted looks risible.

The book essentially breaks down into four Acts. The first sets out the mystery of the stranger who arrives at Ipping and culminates in his exposure as the Invisible Man. The second details his subsequent flight from the village, his meeting with Marvell and his arrival at Kemp's house. The third is his first person narration of how he became invisible. The fourth is his attempt to avenge himself on Kemp and culminates in his eventual demise. With such a clear four part structure, it seems perverse that the story was broken down into 6 episodes in the UK and 3 in America. I fear this is another example of how, in television, the form is too often dictated by the demands of the medium, rather than the demands of the material.

My only quibble with this production is that the version on the DVD looks to have degraded quite noticeably since it was originally recorded. The image seems of low resolution and there is very conspicuous ghosting in a number of scenes. Overall, however, I am well satisfied.

Absolute fidelity to Wells's text is the not the only way to dramatise this book and may not even be the best way, but I am happy to see that it has been attempted and that the result is as satisfactory as this.

Perhaps the BBC might one day have another shot at the Time Machine. If they can solve the much more intractable problems of that story I will go to my grave a happy man.

man with spooky voice

[smileyking1975 · 9/10 · 6 September 2014]

I can still remember when I first saw this. It was 1985 and I was about 10 years old. It played on the A&E network when it was still cultural, before The Big Three got into all the networks and ruined them.

My mom, sister, and I were coming back from Begley's (now Rite-Aid)after getting some Blackcows. I said that we had to hurry and get home because I wanted to see The Invisible Man, which was coming on at 8pm.

I thought Griffin had a spooky voice, but he had to if you couldn't see his face. It was the same thing for any other actor who played either The Invisible Man or the Phantom of the Opera. This show was so obscure that I thought I had dreamed it, but I got it from a collector a few years back, and it was just as I remembered it.

I had seen The Invisible Man with Claude Rains not long before I saw this one. They both have very distinctive and spooky voices. I can still hear them in my dreams sometimes.

Here are some "goofs" I found: When Griffin is standing outside of Kemp's house, the driveway appears to be made of sharp rocks. Wouldn't he be screaming in pain because he's barefoot? Kemp is getting a letter ready to mail to Colonel Adye. When he seals the envelope, he *licks* it! Wouldn't they have still been using sealing wax? Some parts were pretty funny: When Griffin takes Cuss and the reverend's clothes away from them, the reverend "moons" the audience, but just briefly! Mrs. Hall's screaming. She really *did* sound like Una O'Connor! Was this made on a "shoestring" budget? When blood was shown on Griffin's bandage, it looked like Kool-Aid! Poor Griffin was anemic!