The Invisible Man
The film follows Cecilia, who receives the news of her abusive ex-boyfriend's suicide. She begins to re-build her life for the better. However, her sense of reality is put into question when she begins to suspect her deceased lover is not actually dead.
Despite its modest budget of $7.0M, The Invisible Man became a massive hit, earning $144.5M worldwide—a remarkable 1964% return. The film's innovative storytelling engaged audiences, proving that strong storytelling can transcend budget limitations.
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
The Invisible Man (2020) reveals precise narrative design, characteristic of Leigh Whannell's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 2 hours and 4 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 6.8, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Cecilia lies awake in bed next to Adrian, her abusive partner, in his high-tech oceanfront mansion. The sterile, prison-like atmosphere establishes her trapped existence and the control he exerts over her life.. Notably, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 15 minutes when Cecilia learns that Adrian has supposedly committed suicide and left her $5 million. Rather than bringing relief, this news disturbs her—she cannot believe Adrian would simply let her go, disrupting her hope for a fresh start.. At 12% through the film, this Disruption aligns precisely with traditional story structure. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 30 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This illustrates the protagonist's commitment to Cecilia discovers the attic has been disturbed and finds evidence someone has been in the house. She commits to investigating Adrian's death, breaking into his laboratory and discovering his work on optics invisibility technology. She now knows the truth: he faked his death., moving from reaction to action.
At 61 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 49% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Significantly, this crucial beat At a restaurant, Emily is brutally murdered—her throat slashed by the invisible Adrian while Cecilia holds the knife he placed in her hand. This false defeat destroys Cecilia's credibility completely; she's arrested for murder and loses everything. The stakes become life and death., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 92 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, The invisible man attacks James' house, critically wounding James and holding Sydney hostage. Cecilia realizes Adrian will destroy everyone she loves. She shoots at him but hits Sydney instead—or so it seems—believing she has killed the girl she considers a daughter., illustrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 98 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 79% of the runtime. Cecilia makes the decision to go to Adrian's house alone, transforming from victim to hunter. She realizes that to defeat a man who controls perception and narrative, she must beat him at his own game—using invisibility and deception against him., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
The Invisible Man's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs structural analysis methodology used to understand storytelling architecture. By mapping The Invisible Man against these established plot points, we can identify how Leigh Whannell utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish The Invisible Man within the drama genre.
Leigh Whannell's Structural Approach
Among the 3 Leigh Whannell films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 6.9, demonstrating varied approaches to story architecture. The Invisible Man takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Leigh Whannell filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional drama films include After Thomas, South Pacific and Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights. For more Leigh Whannell analyses, see Upgrade, Insidious: Chapter 3.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Cecilia lies awake in bed next to Adrian, her abusive partner, in his high-tech oceanfront mansion. The sterile, prison-like atmosphere establishes her trapped existence and the control he exerts over her life.
Theme
James tells Cecilia that Adrian "will haunt you if you let him." This foreshadows the film's central theme: the invisible nature of abuse and the struggle to be believed when the perpetrator controls the narrative.
Worldbuilding
Cecilia executes her carefully planned escape from Adrian's compound, hiding at James and Sydney's home. She struggles with PTSD and agoraphobia, unable to leave the house. Adrian's brother Tom delivers news of Adrian's apparent suicide and a $5 million inheritance.
Disruption
Cecilia learns that Adrian has supposedly committed suicide and left her $5 million. Rather than bringing relief, this news disturbs her—she cannot believe Adrian would simply let her go, disrupting her hope for a fresh start.
Resistance
Cecilia tries to rebuild her life, venturing outside for the first time and reconnecting with her sister Emily. Strange occurrences begin—objects moving, footsteps, the sensation of being watched. She debates whether Adrian is truly dead or if she's losing her mind.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Cecilia discovers the attic has been disturbed and finds evidence someone has been in the house. She commits to investigating Adrian's death, breaking into his laboratory and discovering his work on optics invisibility technology. She now knows the truth: he faked his death.
Mirror World
Cecilia confides in James, who represents belief, protection, and the possibility of healthy love. Their relationship embodies the theme—he wants to believe her but struggles as evidence mounts against her, mirroring society's failure to believe abuse victims.
Premise
Cecilia is terrorized by the invisible Adrian. He drugs her, sends cruel emails from her account to Emily, sabotages her job interview, and gaslights everyone around her. She desperately tries to prove his existence while her support system crumbles. The horror escalates as she becomes increasingly isolated.
Midpoint
At a restaurant, Emily is brutally murdered—her throat slashed by the invisible Adrian while Cecilia holds the knife he placed in her hand. This false defeat destroys Cecilia's credibility completely; she's arrested for murder and loses everything. The stakes become life and death.
Opposition
Cecilia is committed to a psychiatric facility, pregnant with Adrian's child. Tom visits, revealing Adrian is alive and offering her "freedom" if she returns to him. She refuses. Adrian continues his attacks, killing guards to reach her. She fights back, temporarily exposing him with paint, but he escapes.
Collapse
The invisible man attacks James' house, critically wounding James and holding Sydney hostage. Cecilia realizes Adrian will destroy everyone she loves. She shoots at him but hits Sydney instead—or so it seems—believing she has killed the girl she considers a daughter.
Crisis
Cecilia processes the horror of what's happened—James is down, Sydney is shot, and Adrian remains in control. She must confront the reality that running and hiding will never work. The only way to end this is to face Adrian directly on her own terms.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Cecilia makes the decision to go to Adrian's house alone, transforming from victim to hunter. She realizes that to defeat a man who controls perception and narrative, she must beat him at his own game—using invisibility and deception against him.
Synthesis
Cecilia goes to Adrian's home for a final confrontation. She discovers Tom was wearing a second invisibility suit—Adrian had framed his own brother. At dinner, she excuses herself, and Adrian is found with his throat slashed. Cecilia returns to find him "dead." The security footage shows Adrian killing himself.
Transformation
Cecilia walks out of Adrian's mansion carrying the invisibility suit, finally free. Unlike the opening where she fled in terror, she now leaves with agency and power. She has become invisible herself—to the system that failed her—and taken control of her own narrative.