Hollow Man (2000) - Synopsis

Hollow Man (2000)

The thought of human invisibility has intrigued man for centuries. Repeated in oral tradition and literature since ancient times, the fascinating subject is now being explored by the acclaimed motion picture director Paul Verhoeven in a provocative new suspense thriller, "Hollow Man."

In the latest gripping film entertainment to spring from the fertile mind of Verhoeven (Basic Instinct (1992) Starship Troopers (1997) Total Recall (1990) RoboCop (1987)), highly gifted scientist Sebastian Caine (Kevin Bacon) develops a serum that induces complete invisibility. His remarkable transformation results in unimaginable power that seems to suffocate his sense of morality and leads to a furious and frightening conclusion.

"It is amazing what you can do," says Caine, "when you don't have to look at yourself in the mirror anymore."

The unusual drama spotlights this brilliant, arrogant but charismatic scientist, who heads a top secret U. S. government research project to unlock the secret of invisibility. When the formula works successfully on animals, an ecstatic Caine recklessly disobeys Pentagon orders and experiments on himself.

Unfortunately, the dangerous gamble goes terribly wrong when the procedure cannot be reversed. Caine, the 'hollow man,' and his chief lieutenants Linda McKay (Elisabeth Shue) and Matthew Kensington (Josh Brolin), frantically attempt to counteract the effect. But the invisible Caine, fueled by latent megalomaniac tendencies, quickly becomes intoxicated with his newfound power. The secret laboratory becomes a house divided as the scientists realize their suddenly omnipotent leader perceives them as a threat to his very existence.

Columbia Pictures' "Hollow Man" is a Douglas Wick Production of A Paul Verhoeven Film. It is directed by Verhoeven from a story by Gary Scott Thompson and Andrew W. Marlowe and a screenplay by Marlowe. The ambitious, innovative project is produced by Douglas Wick and Alan Marshall. Starring as the three key scientists in the clandestine government experiment are Academy Award® nominee Elisabeth Shue, Kevin Bacon and Josh Brolin. Kim Dickens, Greg Grunberg, Joey Siotnick, Mary Randle and veteran actor William Devane also star.

The brilliant creative team includes director of photography Jost Vacano, A.S.C., production designer Allan Cameron, editor Mark Goldblatt, A.C.E., senior visual effects supervisor Scott E. Anderson, costume designer Ellen Mirojnick and composer Jerry Goldsmith.

The screenplay, and Paul Verhoeven, demanded extraordinary visual effects worthy of the new millennium. The challenge required the services of two premiere digital production companies: Sony Pictures Imageworks (under the supervision of Scott E. Anderson) and The Tippett Studio (providing a team headed by Craig Hayes), which previously shared an Academy Award® nomination for Verhoeven's Starship Troopers (1997) Also deeply involved in creating movie magic were Alec Gillis and Tom Woodruff Jr. of Amalgamated Dynamics, Inc., designers and creators of the prosthetic and mask effects.