Hollow Man (2000)

Directed by Paul Verhoeven. Starring Elisabeth Shue, Kevin Bacon, Josh Brolin, Kim Dickens, Joey Slotnick, Mary Randle, Greg Grunberg, William Devane. (R)

The driven, egotistic lead scientist (Bacon) of a team on the brink of successfully creating an invisibility serum throws caution to the wind and irresponsibly advances to human testing; naturally, he’s the first test subject. Loosely inspired by H. G. Wells’ “The Invisible Man,” but rather than pursue the more thoughtful and creative avenues inherent in the premise, the filmmakers—apparently equating a God complex with aberrant psychopathic behavior—go pretty much straight to slasher-style stalking and carnage. Almost worth watching just for the astonishing special effects, but the tone turns downright distasteful pretty early on and never recovers, as the vanished loony commits repeated acts of animal abuse, sexual assault, rape and murder. This is supposed to be fun? (It sure ain’t scary.) Followed by a sequel per gimmick only.

32/100