HOLLOW MAN (2000)

Directed By: Paul Verhoeven
Written By: Andrew W. Marlowe
Story By: Gary Scott Thompson & Andrew W. Marlowe
Cinematography By: Jost Vacano
Editor: Mark Goldblatt & Ron Vignone

Cast: Kevin Bacon, Josh Brolin, Elisabeth Shue, Kim Dickens, Rhona Mitra, Greg Grunberg, William Devane, Joey Slotnick



Scientists discover how to make people invisible, but their test subject becomes an insane killer who stalks them.

This film is a interesting failure. It is a special Effects film that is supposed to be a blockbuster popcorn film. Though most of the film is set in very few closed off locations that have more in common with indie films then big studio releases.

While Paul Verhoeven manages to shoot beautifully, but still bring in a Raunch factor of scenes that are not necessary and feel weird even being in the film. Misplaced even. As reprehensible as they are at times liven up the film in a bad way.

For a special effects movie the effects are good but the film is very closed off because most of it and the action takes place in one location, The Lab, Which if you expected that would be fine, but for a big budget blockbuster you expect more. Now these disappointments in the film work for understanding as lead character his slow decent into madness. Stuck in the same place having to see his ex with a new man who is also a close friend. No real contact with the outside world so that once he gets a chance out along with his new ability he takes full advantage of it and lets it corrupt him.

So in a way it’s a interesting psychological thriller or at least tries to add a new dimension to what could have been a basic popcorn premise. Now did he have to be a pervert. I guess that was a choice Playing on all those fantasy teenage desires of boys and what they would do if they had the power. The film could have done away with his molesting of female colleagues and raping a woman which thankfully is not shown but hinted at. That I guess is the audiences decent into his madness. Director Paul Verhoeven is not exactly known for his restraint.

Turning an already exploitive moment into one of true terror and horror, Making a film that seems more of a big budget special effects horror film. Making it more subversive, making it sexual then it needed to be, but also in that decision adding in an intimate level and how it's betrayed. That gives the film a reality of horror in the middle of a science fiction fantasy, that seems out of place, but makes it much more dark and even original.if only for a bit.

It allows us to see why Verhoeven might have picked this project. Not necessarily just for a paycheck, adding his sensability and using it as a chance to make the project more his own. It includes healthy doses of sexuality and nudity. So as the film might be tame in seeing flesh then in his other films. The ideas and acts that are more disturbing and shocking than any special effect could.
          
It’s also a strange cast as I guess at the time they all had clout. Now this cast would never get by a studio or would be a good straight to home video/Indie movie cast. The film was originally supposed to star Jennifer Lopez in the Elisabeth Shue role. Once she dropped out that should have been a hint to everyone else.

It was also written By Andrew W. Marlowe who was a hot screenwriter at the time his other scripts AIR FORCE ONE and END OF DAYS Were in production at the same time that this film was made.

I can’t blame Kevin Bacon for taking the role, It’s a lead in a big budget summer film working with a gifted director. He couldn’t have known what the results would be.

You have to hand it to Verhoeven. This is the fourth film that he has made that has ended up spawning a franchise. Though it is his first film that was initially rated R when viewed by the MPAA. His other films were initially rated X or NC-17.

This is a film you can wait for on cable. I would advise wait for television, but as raunchy as it is I don’t know when it would be mostly likely to appear. If it did they would have to cut a lot of it and all the stuff they would cut is what is actually interesting about this film.

GRADE: D