Transcript note: This transcript is based on the original working script. It may contain production notes, draft wording, spelling mistakes or other material that differs from the finished video - these scripts were meant to be spoken, not read.

Hollow Man 2 perhaps commits the biggest crimes in Franchises.

Not in that, it doesn’t need to exist - Which, well - It doesn’t - But in that, it obviously had the right idea.

It somehow feels that there is a better, more well made movie, hiding beneath the surface.

It just didn't have the soul, or the budget, to pull it off.

Let's take a look at what makes Hollowman 2 a Franchise, Flogged.

[Intro]

It’s a typical direct to video sequel - Different cast, different characters - Just the idea, or theme of “the invisible man” to link them.

The first film, while not a critical success - Did find an audience who appreciated it, particularly for the special effects work.

It starred the likes of Kevin Bacon, Elisabeth Shue and Josh Brolin and centered around an already narcissistic scientist, who found the secret formula to turn himself invisible who then gets seduced by the power and abuses it.

The first film was loud, it was mean, and it had the specific brand of high gloss nastiness that only the likes of Paul Verhoeven can deliver.

Calling it deep would be a stretch, but it did show us, in excruciating bone and muscle kind of detail, what happens when you give a super jerk a super power.

It was at its core, a slasher movie with a $100 million VFX budget.

And, it showed.

The second one?

Yeah - Not so much.

It had zero interest in science, or psychology for that matter. It's in no way an expansion on the premise, and despite the title - Barely a continuation, bar the whole Reisner Institute thing.

Which is a little surprising considering it's actually based on the first version of the original Hollowman film.

It's actually impressive it manages to be this disconnected.

This time around we're dropped into the story when the invisible has already been done.

The Hollowman this time is a Delta Force Soldier no less, he goes by the name of Michael Griffin, played by Christian Slater.

But, barely - More on that in a bit.

He volunteered to become the test subject for a new invisible man project, there were risks involved but he'd been promised he'd be well looked after… And then…. Well he hasn't.

Turns out one of the risks was death, he was promised regular injections to stop that happening and he never got them - So, now he's angry about it all.

And - Fair enough.

He sets about looking for one of the original Doctor's to help him get his injections, people don't want him to get his injection - And, well that's it.

If he wasn't invisible then it'd be nothing you hasn't seen before, and I guess because he is invisible you still can't see it.

Ha.

Sorry - I'll stop now.

But, seriously - it just boils down to another military conspiracy where a soldier is done wrong and he sets off about helping himself to some vengeance.

Acting?

Well… Melodrama at its finest for the most part.

Christian Slater is the biggest name here - Not that you get to see him that much, and that isn't a pun or a joke - You get to physically see him for maybe 10 minutes - The rest of the time he's invisible and it could be anyone behind the voice.

And, not even his voice sometimes - At one point he has a pivotal conversation with the Scientist he's trying to get help from and you only hear her side of the conversation.

You can't help but wonder how much time the film's biggest star actually appeared on set.

Seriously - it wouldn't surprise me to learn he did most of his work for the film in a voice over booth between better jobs.

I'm not sure if he was getting paid by the word here, or…

I mean. I like Christian Slater, he's been in some of my favourite films, and… This?

Yeah. Not so much.

Laura Regan plays the Scientist of interest, she does a decent enough job as does Peter Fancinelli who's trying to protect her but they're both ultimately one note performances.

By the time we get to the end of the film it's all quite predictable, you'll have guessed what's going to happen long before you get to see it.

I won't ruin it, but take that as permission not to engage your brain if you ever do watch it.

I wish I could say the effects saved the day or something, but. They really don't.

The effects are where the budget gap really shows.

They use practical stuff, which I respect in theory, but it's often laughable in execution.

The lowest moment?

When Griffin transforms, they literally reuse footage from the first film. Not a homage. Not a stylistic callback.

Just... footage from a better movie, dropped in because they couldn't afford their own.

If you get the chance to watch the making of the documentary, Christian Slater is dressed in his green screen outfit, the idea was to make him invisible but they didn't have the budget.

(at least they admit it)

[sigh]

​And that’s why I’m being hard on it - At some point they must have realised they didn't really have the money to do the film, or even the concept justice.

And, they did it anyway.

​In the first film, Sebastian Caine was terrifying because he was a narcissist who lost his final tether to humanity.

​In this one, Michael Griffin is just a disgruntled employee.

​There’s no progression.

No escalation of the concept.

It’s just a game of cat and mouse where the cat is a mediocre script and the mouse is the audience’s patience.

Hollowman 2 is a perfect example of “just because you can, doesn’t mean you should”

Making a sequel to Hollowman was always going to be a strange one, it was a one and done - It was never setting itself up to be anything else.

It knew that - The audiences knew that.

This isn’t a movie, it’s a property being exercised - The cinematic equivalent of a placeholder image.

​So, Hollow Man 2.

​

Unseen.

​

Unnecessary.

​

And entirely transparent.

​

Anyways…