Review of The Invisible Man Returns (1940) by Jeff B — 05 Nov 2014

A highly (special) effective sequel that smartly makes the main character more sympathetic, this Return to the series works even when the acting's wonky. Not so much a direct sequel as a side-quel, this follow-up simply takes the concept and runs with it. Once again, we have an invisible protagonist who descends into murderous rage. Set on repeat, the story fails to offer the same punch. Also, the Wow factor upon seeing the effects for the first time is gone. After seeing the original, after all, your dropped jaw hopefully recoiled back to a closed position. Still, they effects still used to great, uh, effect and the action proves rousing enough to keep moviegoers vested in the leftovers.

In this unrated continuation of the Universal series, the owner of a coal mining operation (Vincent Price), falsely imprisoned for fratricide, takes a drug to make him invisible, despite its side effect: gradual madness.

Part Two boasts an early starring turn by Vincent Price...although boasts is probably the wrong word. As a wrongly imprisoned man using the invisibility serum in trying to clear his name, the actor often too arch as the madness sets in. Still, the SFX team steps up their game from the first film and offer some truly thrilling moments.

Bottom line: See Through Mire.