Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		3.0
Audio		3.0
Extras		0.0
Overall		3.0

The Invisible Man's Revenge Blu-ray Movie Review

"In this house you've got to believe what you can't see."

Reviewed by Justin Dekker February 1, 2024

1944's 'The Invisible Man's Revenge' returns to Blu-ray as part of the massive 'Universal Classic Monsters Complete 30-Film Collection' which includes all of the timeless monster movies from 1931's 'Dracula' forward. All of the original films from the timeless and unforgettable Dracula, Frankenstein, The Wolfman, The Mummy, Invisible Man, The Creature from the Black Lagoon, and The Phantom of the Opera, are included here on 24 Blu-ray discs. All of the legacy features from the previous collections are included here, giving fans hours of content to pour over once the movies are over. Also included is a 48-page book featuring writing on the classic monsters as well as actors and people behind the scenes that brought them to life.

Robert Griffin (Jon Hall) has escaped from a Capetown asylum and arrived as a stowaway in London. He visits former business partners Sir Jasper Herrick (Lester Mathews) and Lady Irene Herrick (Gayle Sondergaard) who inform him that they were told he died due to his injuries at the end of their expedition to Africa. He quickly demands his share of the money they made on that trip, for it seems he found a diamond field there and wants his piece of that $1 million pie. However, Lord and Lady Herrick lost the money from the diamond field in bad investments and when they tell him they can't pay, he promises to ruin them and take every cent they have. Upon seeing the portrait of their daughter Julie hanging over the fireplace, he reveals he's been in love with her for some time now and adds her into the mix. He'll take all of their money, their estate, and their daughter too. When he passes out after one drink, the two remove him from their property and keep the hand-drawn contract under lock and key. After a botched attempt at blackmail, Griffin is forced out of town where he encounters Dr. Drury (John Carradine) who gives him shelter on a dark and stormy night. It's in this humble dwelling that he meets the doctor's invisible menagerie and a plan forms. He recruits a local drunk to help him, promising him "Money, power, and the chance to hurt people the way they've hurt you".

For as funny and light-hearted as The Invisible Woman was, and as uneven as The Invisible Agent was, The Invisible Man's Revenge opens with, and maintains, a rather grim and dour tone. In the original film, 1933's The Invisible Man, Claude Rains' Dr. Jack Griffin was a sympathetic character. His plight was tragic as audiences saw him driven mad before his ultimate demise. Here, though, Jon Hall's Robert Griffin is unlikeable from the start. He's paranoid and rude, and we quickly learn he's killed three people. While he might have garnered some sympathy when we learn that the Herricks are unable to pay him the money he's owed per the contract, his threatening demeanor and stated intent to ruin them quickly makes whatever goodwill we may have been willing to extend to him vanish as quickly as he does. Throughout the film, his ongoing actions reveal that these despicable deeds are not atypical, rather they come to him so easily that they show him to be a true villain.

The Invisible Man's Revenge visually repeats many of the same type of effects shots we've seen before but brings more convincing partial visibility into the visual mix. Griffin puts flour on his face to make it appear for his unwilling host at breakfast and splashes water on his face to prove his corporal existence to the couple he threatens. We're also afforded the opportunity to watch him fade from view at another meal, as he realizes his plan to become visible again wasn't as long-lasting as he had hoped. Clocking in at a brisk 78 minutes, there isn't much breathing room in the picture by way of set-up or falling action. The film wastes no time winding Griffin up and setting his plan in motion, with his every step speeding him toward his end.

The Invisible Man's Revenge Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Those who have been working through this set will not be surprised by the transfer afforded The Invisible Man's Revenge, as it is very much in keeping with those of other films in the series. Detail levels are sufficiently high enough to examine the various nick-nacks and scientific equipment that litter Doctor Drury's cluttered dwelling. The black-and-white color spectrum presented here may afford deeper blacks, but whites are never quite what I would prefer them to be. While the image is typically sharp, effects shots can sometimes be accompanied by a slight but detectable softening. Other video anomalies are present in these process shots but reflect the limitations of the technology used at the time. Detail can sometimes be lost in the film's darker moments, but these are limited. On the whole, it's a healthy presentation.

The Invisible Man's Revenge Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The Invisible Man's Revenge is given an English DTS Digital Surround 2.0 Mono audio track, just as Invisible Agent was before it. On the whole, voices are handled well, being properly centered and prioritized, but occasional distortion can creep in when women's voices forcefully reach their upper registers with shouts or screams. While this is rare, it is noticeable when it occurs. Transitional and background music is always clear and precise. It's an effective track. English SDH subtitles are also available.

The Invisible Man's Revenge Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

No special features are included for The Invisible Man's Revenge.

The Invisible Man's Revenge Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

If The Invisible Man's Revenge fails to reach the heights of the first three films in the franchise, it's because we never have an ounce of sympathy for Robert Griffin. This Invisible Man is never a tragic character as he was in the first two films, nor is he just flat-out likable as The Invisible Woman was. Here, the Invisible Man is instantly unlikeable, becoming more repulsive as the film goes along, and we long for him to get his due. As a result, it's a shallow affair, but it does have some entertaining effects sequences. While it's not top-tier for the franchise, it does best Invisible Agent; faint praise to be sure. A solid audio and video presentation make this an easy viewing experience for franchise fans.