Hollow Man 2

Hollow Man 2 is a 2006 American science fiction film directed by Claudio Fäh, featuring Peter Facinelli, Laura Regan, and Christian Slater in leading roles. Serving as a stand-alone sequel to the 2000 film "Hollow Man," the story explores the repercussions of invisibility through the character of Michael Griffin (Slater), a soldier who becomes permanently invisible due to a government experiment gone awry. The film was released direct-to-video on May 23, 2006.

Plot
At a cocktail party hosted by a Washington think tank, scientist Devin Villiers is violently abducted by an unseen force into a bathroom. Under duress, Devin discloses the existence of Maggie Dalton, a fellow scientist who possesses crucial knowledge referred to as the "formula" sought by the invisible assailant. The assailant spares Devin's life with a warning not to divulge the incident, but soon after, Devin attempts to alert others and is fatally attacked.

In response to the escalating threat against Maggie Dalton, Dr. William Reisner, owner of the laboratory involved in the invisibility experiment, hires detectives Frank Turner and Lisa Martinez for her protection. Despite their efforts, the invisible assailant manages to infiltrate Maggie's residence, resulting in Lisa's tragic death. Although military forces are deployed to apprehend the invisible man, their efforts prove futile.

Maggie is subsequently placed under protective custody, but Frank Turner aids in her escape upon discovering plans to transfer her into military custody. Maggie reveals that years earlier, scientists had developed a serum for achieving invisibility, which had severe and ultimately fatal side effects. Following the project's covert resurrection by the military, Michael Griffin volunteered as a test subject. However, the antidote intended to counteract the serum's effects failed, leading to Griffin's presumed demise.

Turner and Maggie seek refuge with Ludlow, a former soldier involved in the program, who discloses that Griffin has been exploited by military authorities to carry out political assassinations. Griffin tracks down Ludlow and eliminates him, but not before Ludlow sacrifices himself to save Turner and Maggie.

In a climactic showdown at a train station, Griffin abducts Maggie's sister, prompting a confrontation with Turner, who employs invisibility to engage Griffin in combat. Turner gains the upper hand, administering a lethal poison to Griffin during the struggle. With Griffin defeated, Maggie and Turner emerge victorious but emotionally scarred from their harrowing ordeal.

Development and Production
Directed by Claudio Fäh, "Hollow Man 2" was developed as a thematic sequel to Paul Verhoeven's "Hollow Man," with the intention of exploring the ethical dilemmas and consequences associated with invisibility. The film introduces new characters and narrative arcs, focusing on the military's pursuit of power through clandestine technological advancements.

The screenplay, written by Joel Soisson and Andrew W. Marlowe, aimed to maintain the core themes of the original film while presenting a standalone story. Christian Slater stars as Michael Griffin, an invisible assassin, with Peter Facinelli and Laura Regan in significant supporting roles.

The production faced challenges in creating convincing special effects on a limited budget, leading to the use of both practical effects and digital techniques to depict invisibility. The collaboration with visual effects experts was crucial in achieving a realistic portrayal, with scenes meticulously choreographed to depict interactions with the invisible character.

The musical score, composed by Marcus Trumpp, was designed to enhance the suspenseful atmosphere of the film, complementing its psychological and ethical themes. Overall, "Hollow Man 2" sought to delve deeper into the moral and ethical implications of invisibility, expanding on the narrative and thematic elements established in the original film.

Release
"Hollow Man 2" was released direct-to-video on May 23, 2006. The DVD included special features such as the "Inside Hollow Man 2" featurette, which provided insights into the visual effects and production process of the movie. The release aimed to offer viewers a deeper exploration of the film's continuation from the original "Hollow Man" and to showcase advancements in visual effects technology.

Reception
"Hollow Man 2" received a mixed response from critics, achieving a 20% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 5 reviews. Despite its direct-to-video release, the film attracted attention for its visual effects advancements and thematic continuity with its predecessor.