The Invisible is a supernatural thriller about a writer who finds himself trapped between the world of the living and the dead-completely invisible to the living. Nick (Justin Chatwin) has a bright future until he is brutally attacked and left for dead. Now in limbo, his only chance to live again is to figure out the mystery of what happened to him and why, before his time runs out. But how do you solve a murder, when the victim is you? (from MovieWeb.com)

The movie poster for The Invisible boasts of having been written by one of the same writers of the god-like classic Batman Begins. However, The Invisible doesn't even come close, and it seems more of an insult by sticking the comic book hero's movie title on the poster. What this movie does right, however, is stretched and scattered out by a rather boring and slow follow-through with a slightly overdone plot. If anyone has ever seen the sleepy-drama City of Angels, it's kind of the same thing except the lead character isn't an angel, but the film still moves ridiculously slow.

The Invisible has a unique grace about it that definitely distinguishes it as a movie that is trying to be something good. The cinematography, the chosen scenery, and the soundtrack all lead up to elements fighting and pushing to get across the message, albeit subtly, that this is not your average teenage poised movie. And they're right; it's not, which in turn can be viewed as a positive element. The movie treats the teenagers as capable characters rather than lust-sucked brainless individuals existing in the crock of society. The interaction between the young and old world seems to be a tight bond, although some dialog makes it seem slightly robotic. The acting teeters on mediocre and over-bearing. Thankfully, the script ultimately isn't that bad.

As noted before, the movie is slow in pacing. You'd think with words like "horror" and "thriller" crossing the movie synopsis on several different websites, it would, to some degree, exhibit these characteristics. I can tell you that The Invisible is neither a horror nor a thriller. It is more of a muddled drama/dark romance take on a dark subject. There are moments where you seem to be at the edge of your seat, but more often than not, it seems like you are suspended, hanging from the wall in a sleep-like manner waiting for something exciting to happen. While this movie and its writer's other film, Batman Begins, are both dark- this one lacks much of the vibe and excitement that Batman offered. This might turn off some people - or just make them fall asleep.

Because of the film's sluggish pace, which bounds on a slightly rugged and innovative path, there isn't a whole lot of objectionable content. Early in the film, Nick's girlfriend (we assume) kisses him and makes sensuous remarks wanting to have sex with him. Although they begin to kiss, Nick turns away, having more important things to do. In one scene, Anna Newman (the anti-hero) takes off her clothes (no nudity is seen) to take a shower. She is shown in the shower vaguely from a distance, while Nick (in his invisible state) chooses not to look at her, even though she can't seem him. Kudos to Nick, unlike our hero in Disturbia, who just let his mind take him wherever he wanted to go. Nick tries to commit suicide a la Groundhog's Day, fed up with the state he's living in, but just like Bill Murray's troubled character, he cannot. Language is not really a problem, however, when it is usde, it's spoken unusually loud. A few characters undergo gunshot wounds, car wrecks, beatings, and a drug-induced suicide/accident.

All in all, this film is above the norm. It delivers a semi-understandable plot surrounded by individuals who sometimes work together and work against each other. The seriousness of the movie, as well as several thematic features, make it a contender for a, well, more serious audience. Don't come expecting a distorted and sloppy teen flick - it's better than that; but then again, don't expect a "thriller" or a "horror" movie either.

If you have any questions or comments about the film, knock yourself out and go ahead and e-mail me.