The Empath and the Predator

The Invisible Truth About Abuse, Empathy, and the Addictive Cycle of Control

Some films stay with you long after the credits roll—not because of their special effects or clever plot twists but because they whisper truths.

After falling in love and binge-watching The Handmaid's Tale, I had to watch more of the amazing Elisabeth Moss. I stumbled on The Invisible Man and was surprised I’d never seen this movie before. The movie's exploration of abuse was captivating. What I found most intriguing were the dynamics between the empath and the abuser, which took the very invisible nature of abuse and made it a physical reality. 

Brilliant. 

The Empath and the Predator

Survivors often ask themselves, ‘why me?’. 

Cee, the leading character in The Invisible Man, is no different. She questions why, out of all the women the handsome and wealthy bachelor Taylor can have, she is the one he targets and doesn’t set free from his web of control, manipulation, and abuse. 

Two things are clear: Taylor can have any woman he wants, and Cee wants nothing more than to be free of this relationship's madness. Cee is seemingly given that freedom when she receives reports that Taylor has committed suicide and she is to receive an inheritance of five million dollars. 

Every survivor's dream come true, right? 

It seems like too much of a fairy tale to be true, and sadly, it’s not so simple. 

Scene after scene, the scared but determined Cee is attacked, belittled, and made to look like a completely different woman than she is. As you examine her nature, the love she has to give, the fear that is written in every action she takes, and her gentle meekness, you wonder how someone could be so sinister to someone so pure.

There is no relief or sympathy.  She is continuously attacked and put in the vilest situations that threaten to destroy her and everyone around her. 

Taylor doesn’t want just any woman, he wants her. 

He wants her to be his, and he wants her to suffer.

When Cee tries to leave him, he makes this his sole mission in life and succeeds in transforming her life and true nature. 

So why do predators latch on to certain types of women? 

Women who may not be the prettiest or have the highest status but women that they become addicted to nonetheless.

Women who lead with empathy, not ego.

Women who don’t seek status or wealth but simply want to be loved.

Women who are pure-hearted and believe in the connection of love.

Women whose emotions go deep and whose love goes wide… 

For a heart that desires control, these characteristics are a gold mine. There is a purity available to taint and an openness of love that can be dominated, manipulated, and owned.

Anything less is not as fun. 

The true nature of a woman. The beauty of a real woman. A reflection of God and not this world... 

She is not safe. 

She is the first woman an abuser will target and, if possible, make a trophy on his wall of success. These are the women (and men!) who are abused, tricked, lied to, gaslighted, made to be the villains, torn to shreds, and left to pick up the remains of their lives thereafter. 

Predators are skilled at identifying empaths—people who feel deeply, forgive easily, and question themselves before they question others. The empath becomes the ultimate prize because her love feels unearned, real, and sacred. But to attain it, the predator has to lie, to mold himself into her fantasy…

He has to trick her. And so he makes himself seem like something he is not. 

Once she’s hooked, the mask comes off.

But by then, it's too late.

Addiction in Disguise

In The Invisible Man, Cee has fallen out of love with Taylor, but his addiction to her prevails. 

She becomes overwhelmed with fear. 

He becomes overwhelmed with control and revenge. 

The lengths he goes to punish Cee for leaving him are almost unbelievable.

But the reflection of his addiction is not unbelievable at all.

Taylor has a traumatic bond with Cee. An addiction to the highs and lows of their relationship. Charm followed by chaos. Mentally, Cee breaks free, but Taylor cannot. 

He can’t let go of the power and control. 

In return, Cee is unable to let go of the guilt and fear she feels for involving herself in this relationship. 

And so, the cycle continues…

The Invisible Nature of Abuse

The burden of proof for abuse is always left to the survivor. 

Not only must they endure and set themselves free, if they are seeking justice, even just truth within themselves, they must prove the abuse really took place. 

While still challenging, you can more easily point to proof of physical abuse. The psychological abuse that sets the stage for physical abuse to happen and continue is much harder to make sense of. 

Time and time again, Cee warns her family and friends of the truth. She tells them what Taylor is capable of and what he is doing.

She doesn’t say, I think this is happening; she tells them what she knows is happening.

She knew she was being watched, stalked, and manipulated. Still, this was something friends and family members that had known her all her life couldn’t believe. 

They needed proof. 

They believed what was easier to digest instead of what their loved one told them to be true. 

They couldn’t see it clearly, so they couldn’t believe it clearly. 

No matter how prevalent abuse is in our society and world, more often than not, this is the reality. 

Survivors suffer with abuse alone. 

Whether they’re surrounded by loved ones or completely alone, their reality is fundamentally different from those around them—layered, complex, and difficult to grasp unless you’ve stood directly in the line of fire.

Abuse doesn’t usually begin with bruises or broken things. It starts subtly—gaslighting, isolation, manipulation. The abuser becomes invisible to the world but ever-present in the life of those they abuse. 

Taylor is constantly in Cee’s life. He's always in her head, her decisions, and her fears.

When she tries to speak out, no one believes her. To the outside world, he’s charming. Successful. “Nice.” At one point, he’s even made to be the victim! 

And she’s beginning to look like a crazy woman…

This is where The Invisible Man becomes chillingly accurate.

The isolation that abuse causes isn’t just physical—it’s spiritual. It attacks your spirit, sometimes in ways that are irreversible. 

Sure, friends disappear and family members turn away, becoming tired of the drama, but that’s not the worst of it.

As this occurs, something pivotal begins to happen internally.

The survivor begins to question their worth and their own reality. They process the betrayal of their love along with the rejection of their friends and family - during one of the most pivotal times in their lives.

Even if family members are unaware of the situation, this sting is present in the loneliness of their suffering.  

Little is left to build them up. When they free themselves from the relationship, they’re never asked how they were broken down piece by piece. Unless intentionally addressed, this part of the story is rarely explored or put back together. 

This isn’t just fiction. It’s fact.

The science fiction nature of this movie is a metaphor for truth: real abusers do become invisible—not to their victims, but to everyone else. Their actions live in the shadows, cloaked by charm, status, or silence. Their actions cause detrimental realities that permeate their victims' lives and leak out in ways that further deteriorate our families, future relationships, communities and society at large. 

When something like love, the most beautiful and powerful human truth, is turned ugly, twisted, and used to hurt more than it is used for its sole purpose of healing and enjoyment, we have to realize the state of crisis that we as a society are in. 

Love is the answer, not the weapon!

But very rarely is it seen as such.

There is a deep reason for this that must be explored. 

The Invisible Man gives us more than just suspense—it offers insight. Into the minds of survivors. Into the cruelty of control. Into the pain of not being believed. But also into the strength it takes to reclaim your truth—even when no one else sees it. 

I am saddened by who Cee had to become to escape her cycle but empowered by her ability to break free. 

For every survivor who’s been made to feel “crazy,” “too sensitive,” or “dramatic,” know this: You’re not alone. Your story matters. And just because no one else saw it doesn’t mean it wasn’t real.

We stand in solidarity with you.

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I am an author and trauma-recovery expert dedicated to helping survivors of intimate abuse reach new heights through healing, love, and career & financial guidance. Not only can you heal after a toxic relationship, but you can also thrive and live a happy and successful life.

This is your birthright. 

If you are struggling to find your power and could benefit from a helping hand, check out my Self-Mastery Academy or contact me. I would love to help empower your journey.