Crescent Shadows On-Line Newsletter of the Hudson Valley Pagan Network, Inc.

Since it’s Halloween time, it’s only fitting that I review a horror film. Sadly, I wish I could review a better one. HOLLOWMAN stars Kevin Bacon, as a brilliant but egomaniacal scientist who is trying to develop an invisibility serum for the Pentagon.

Elisabeth Shue and Josh Brolin co-star as Bacon's ex-girlfriend and fellow researcher. Respectively, and the two co-stars have a secret romance that eventually sends Bacon over the edge. In the film, Bacon has had limited success with the drugs effects on animals, but it needs to be tested on humans. The Pentagon is hesitant, so Bacon decides to ignore orders and test the drug on himself - much to the surprise ( and anger ) of his Fellow scientists.

It is at this point that the film goes downhill. In a story such as this, you need to show how a good man turns evil as this new power slowly corrupts him. Bacons’ character starts off as an arrogant, insensitive, power hungry individual who shows very little regard for the people and test animals he works with. He also is a voyeur, who likes to spy on his sexy neighbor as she undresses for bed ( in front of a window, with the curtains pulled back and the lights on, of course ). After these character traits are established, we are supposed to be shocked (shocked!) that once invisible, Bacon goes banannas and does bad things.

First, after the Pentagon discovers what he’s done- they fire him. So later that night he kills his boss in a swimming pool, rapes his sexy neighbor, catches Shue and Brolin knocking boots, and also beats a caged test puppy to death. I may be wrong on the correct timeline of these events, but Bacon does all of them, and he also molests a coworker while she sleeps. Couldn’t forget that. Finally it all comes down to Bacon trapping his remaining staff in the secret laboratory and slowly, one by one, killing them off.

The film does boast some really excellent special effects, which may merit this as an OK movie rental, but the effects alone cannot save the film. Besides the flaws with the plot, you will suffer through some really bad acting and an even worse script. Director Verhoeven has had this problem before. He’s done other epic stinkers such as STARSHIP TROOPERS, and of course, SHOWGIRLS. Other much better films were: ROBOCOP, and TOTAL RECALL.

I must however, stick up for Kevin Bacon. Personally, I think he’s a good actor….this just isn’t one of his good ones. I will recommend STIR OF ECHOES instead. Much better movie. For HOLLOWMAN, I give it ** ( 2 stars ), out of a possible 5 stars. —GREENMAN

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Last Updated: January 30, 2002
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