![]() The difference between Caine and Griffin in 1933’s The Invisible Man is that Hollow Man takes the extra step in making the audience a viewer, and to an extent a participant, in Caine’s crimes by following his point of view. One can argue that this is set up early on in the film, but that doesn’t make it any more interesting. With this shift, the story becomes more misogynistic, portraying women as objects to be exploited. Problems arise when Verhoeven and the script shift focus to more problematic material: the sexual assault of two characters. We’re in on the fun as, after the phase shift, he talks to, sneaks up on, and pranks the team. In this film, we suspect there’s something off about Caine right from the start, but we’re still with him. While other Invisible Man films have used this style to tell their story, they created and maintained a level of empathy with the audience that isn’t kept consistent in Hollow Man. Making Bacon’s Caine the protagonist was perhaps one of its biggest mistakes. The combination of Verhoeven’s provocative directing style and extreme depiction of just how far Caine is willing to go with his power led to the film’s downfall. Not all of the shots are fantastic, but the various ways Verhoeven has the characters reveal Caine’s presence work as both gimmick and storytelling device.Īs strong as the visual effects and the cast are, the screenplay and the direction of the story descend into a morality hole too problematic to ignore. Every shot with Caine post-phase shift has so much thought put into it in terms of how the lighting interacts with the mask. After the team fails to revert Caine, they pour liquid latex into thin air and it takes the shape of Bacon’s face, giving us a truly unique visual moment. Probably still the best use of his invisibility is the iconic Hollow Man mask creation scene. Be it splashing water or blood on him, or using fire extinguishers, or even the way thermal cameras are used in the shots with an invisible Caine, no other adaptation has come close to convincingly selling the idea of human invisibility the way Hollow Man does. Caine’s transformation is still a wonder to behold. Not only do they hold up after 20 years, they’re innovative enough to have kept the bar high for any Invisible Man adaptation. Hollow Man‘s strongest point is its visual effects. ![]() Elizabeth Shue, Josh Brolin, Greg Grunberg, Kim Dickens, and Joey Slotnick are all wonderful, though unfortunately underutilized, particularly in the film’s last act. The supporting cast were essentially unknowns at the time who would go on to become well-respected actors in their own right. Despite the film’s story problems, Bacon is without question perfectly suited to the role.īacon isn’t the only talent the film has to offer, however. The further the film goes, the more he plays into that sociopathic side and the more you absolutely buy what a monster he has become. His natural charisma is so magnetic his performance effortlessly draws you in before promptly sending everything to hell. Bacon is one of those rare actors that can switch convincingly from warm and inviting to menacing at the drop of a hat. Kevin Bacon shines as the ego-maniacal Sebastian Caine. After a series of bizarre events surrounding the project, the team comes to the horrifying realization that Caine has been sneaking out of the lab, doesn’t want to revert, and will do anything to make sure nobody uncovers the truth about what he has become. The shift to invisibility is a success, but the team soon find themselves unable to shift him back. ![]() Unbeknownst to the Pentagon, Caine volunteers himself for human testing. After years of failed attempts with primates and other animals, Caine and his team finally crack the process. The film follows a team of scientists, led by ego-driven Sebastian Caine (Kevin Bacon), tasked by the Pentagon to phase shift a human out of visibility and back again with no side effects. So, in honor of Hollow Man ’s anniversary, let’s take a look back at how well that gamble holds up 20 years later. It was an ambitious gamble for Sony, even with big name talent and daring visual effects at their disposal. Fortunately, the project attracted the attention of one of the most influential and provocative directors of the time, Paul Verhoeven ( Robocop, Total Recall ), with mega-star Kevin Bacon ( Mystic River, Tremors ) close behind. ![]() Approaching this material again in The Hollow Man was no small feat for Sony Pictures. In 2000, James Whale’s 1933 The Invisible Man adaption was the only successful look into the idea of human invisibility and its potential consequences. While sometimes hit or miss, with the right direction and concept they can reach beyond simple entertainment into something that transcends the genre.
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