After years of experimentation, brilliant but arrogant scientist Sebastian Caine has discovered a way to make matter invisible. Determined to achieve the ultimate breakthrough, Caine pushes his team to move to the next phase – using himself as the subject. The test is a success, but when the process can’t be reversed, Caine seems doomed to a future without flesh.
For thoughts on Hollow Man, please check out our discussion on The Video Attic:
[youtube https://youtu.be/aPEnqs3FnYU?si=EfDr_bxx1QzuDeVe&t=4518]
Video Quality
Hollow Man comes to Blu-Ray again courtesy of Mill Creek Entertainment, but with a title that has been released more than a few times on the format, it feels like a missed opportunity that we are not getting a 4K UHD Blu-Ray release. This particularly hurts considering the title originates from Sony, the major studio pacing far ahead in the 4K UHD space. This latest Blu-Ray release recycles the same older master that has been floating around forever. The film was previously released by Mill Creek in 2013 following an earlier release by Sony themselves in 2007. This is the kind of visual spectacle that would impress in 4K UHD, so we will keep our fingers crossed for a future change in direction.
The colors have a decent presence that shows up to play in the lighting, production design, and elements of clothing. Skin tones appear to be somewhat natural, but the presentation offers up some lackluster black levels. The disc experiences fleeting bouts of crush, but it is not as overwhelming as some. This release does not stumble quite as much in terms of compression artifacts and macroblocking. There are issues at the forefront, just not quite as unsightly as other discs. The image retains some film grain which reveals texture in crucial aspects of the photography. The CGI can seem a bit dated, but you cannot fault the disc for that. Mill Creek Entertainment has provided a Blu-Ray disc that keeps this one in print, but we are begging for it to receive a 4K UHD Blu-Ray release.
Audio Quality
Mill Creek provides this one with a lossless DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio track that is one of the star aspects of the disc. This track does a nice job of expanding the soundscape of this narrative to deliver some chilling work in the surround channels. Environmental effects play a vital role in the viewing experience, and this track comes alive as it needs to with proper placement. Dialogue emanates clearly without being overshadowed by any of the other sounds. The third act of the feature especially has fun indulging in some of the low-end effects that make the finale extra effective. Mill Creek Entertainment has stepped up to the plate when it comes to the audio. There are optional English SDH subtitles provided.
Special Features
Mill Creek Entertainment has provided Hollow Man with an optional sleek new SteelBook available exclusively at Wal-Mart that is very nice in person. The front artwork is an obscured look at the bandaged face with the title and tagline, and the rear features a picture of Sebastian all wrapped up in his medical wraps. The interior sports a still of the sprinkler confrontation. Video of the SteelBook can be found above.
- Full Transparency – Scoring Hollow Man: A new 19-minute interview with biographer Jeff Bond in which he discusses this late-in-life effort from the legendary Jerry Goldsmith, his collaborations with Paul Verhoeven, the quality of the music, the themes of the feature, and more.
Final Thoughts
Hollow Man is an extremely scuzzy yet effective thriller from the madman Paul Verhoeven. Numerous instances show the baser instincts of man that kick in when the idea that there will be repercussions is eliminated. Kevin Bacon is a magnificent creep alongside a strong ensemble that elevates the movie. With such a visionary filmmaker behind the camera, all of the technical elements are first-rate, especially the incredible Jerry Goldsmith score. You might want to take a shower when you are done with this one, but it is an engaging watch. Mill Creek has released a Blu-Ray sporting a passable A/V presentation and a fine new supplemental feature to go along with the new SteelBook packaging. This needs a format upgrade, but this works for now until something better comes along.
Hollow Man is currently available to purchase on Blu-Ray SteelBook exclusively at Wal-Mart.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Mill Creek Entertainment has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.
