One of the classic Universal monsters was the Invisible Man. The first film made in 1933 starred Claude Rains in the title role and featured some of the most amazing special effects at the time. If you’ve seen the film the sequence of Rains unwrapping bandages from his face with nothing there behind them is still a fantastic effect. But the film might not have the same appeal in other countries where they’d like their own people to be seen in those roles.
In 1949 this happened in Japan where the film THE INVISIBLE MAN APPEARS was released. A classic example of Japan’s tokusatsu (special effects) cinema made by the Daiei Studios with effects by Eiji Tsuburaya, the film did well in its native Japan. But for one reason or another it was never released outside of that country until now. Arrow Video is releasing the film on blu-ray along with its sequel THE INVISIBLE MAN VS THE HUMAN FLY.
The first film focuses on a group of scientists trying to find a way to make things invisible. The two scientists competing to find this not only have bragging rights in mind but the one who finds out how to achieve invisibility has been promised the hand of the bosses daughter. Each has a different theory on how to achieve it but only one can win.
The first of the two to find a way discovers a formula that makes a serum rendering whoever drinks it invisible. Only having tested it on animals though he finds a side effect, a change to the brain that makes the animals ferocious.
Problems arise when it turns out one of the people funding the research has an ulterior motive. He longs for a rare and priceless necklace and has the doctor kidnapped. When an invisible man steals the necklace the police find a clue that leads them to the research lab. But just who is the invisible man and why would he willingly work for the thief?
The movie has a well thought out story, some great performances and the special effects are up to par with previous efforts. It’s interesting to see this take on the concept of the invisible man and from an historical aspect nice to see that Arrow Video has brought this film to other countries than Japan.
It would be another 8 years before a follow up film was made, THE INVISIBLE MAN VS THE HUMAN FLY. Not actually connected to the previous film this one features a mysterious killer who no one ever sees. The only thing any witness can recall is the sound of a small buzzing. As the police investigate they discover a link between the victims whose bodies are increasing.
A scientist attempts to aid the police when he comes up with a way of making himself invisible. Now he must use his knowledge to find the human fly and capture him before more people die. Once more the effects, the story and the acting are well done here creating an interesting movie worth watching.
Arrow has done a fantastic job of
bringing these films to life once more beginning with hi def transfers of each
film. There are a few extras included but it is the movies themselves that make
this worth watching.
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