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Plot Summary

Discover the intricate plot of Hollow Man (2000). From unexpected twists to emotional highs and lows, this detailed summary breaks down every moment to give you a deeper understanding of the film’s story.


Scientist Dr. Sebastian Caine (Kevin Bacon) creates a groundbreaking serum capable of rendering a subject invisible; however, he struggles with reversing the process. One late night, while re-calibrating the molecular structure of the irradiated protein that should restore visibility to a test gorilla, he successfully solves the conundrum and eagerly informs his team’s top executives about his achievement.

Though he devotes most of his waking life to this serum, Sebastian finds himself obsessing over his former girlfriend, Dr. Linda McKay (Elisabeth Shue), who happens to be one of his colleagues. Unbeknownst to him, she has begun a relationship with Dr. Matt Kensington (Josh Brolin), another member of their research team. Alongside fellow veterinarians Sarah Kennedy (Kim Dickens) and Carter Abbey (Greg Grunberg), as well as technicians Frank Chase (Joey Slotnick) and Janice Walton (Mary Randle), they manage to make the serum work on the gorilla. Celebrating their success with a fancy dinner, Sebastian delivers a toast, claiming they are “the finest research group in the world.” Yet, for him, this feels bittersweet as the reversion is his team’s final major breakthrough.

Instead of informing the military about the serum’s success, Sebastian chooses to deceive his oversight committee, which includes his former mentor Dr. Howard Kramer (William Devane). He persuades Linda and Matt to join in this deception, and they quickly pivot to human testing, with Sebastian being the subject. After undergoing a painful transformation, he awakens to find that he can see through his eyelids and conducts various self-tests. However, when he tries to revert back to visibility after three days, the outcome fails, leaving him on the brink of death.

Desperate, his colleagues create a crude latex mask for him to wear around the lab, simulating a human form to a certain degree. In time, Matt discovers a potential solution to Sebastian’s visibility issue, but a computer simulation goes awry. As isolation from the lab starts to weigh heavily on Sebastian, his demeanor shifts drastically; he grows increasingly aggressive. Defying orders from Carter, he sneaks back to his apartment, where he gathers books, CDs, and his favorite snack, Twinkies. Temptation soon leads him to spy on his neighbor (Rhona Mitra), culminating in a horrific act of sexual assault.

Meanwhile, Linda discovers Sebastian’s mask and clothing abandoned in the apartment, but finds no trace of him. Upon his return to the lab, she warns Sebastian that if he attempts to leave again, she and Matt will alert Dr. Kramer about their actions. Ignoring their threats, he sets up a device that projects a video loop of his heat signature in his quarters to fool Frank into believing he is still in the lab, allowing him to spy on Linda and Matt. Fueled by rage upon discovering their intimacy, Sebastian shatters their bedroom window.

Angry and agitated, Sebastian returns to the lab, struggling to control his emotions as he grapples with the fact that Linda and Matt are together. His frustration escalates when he is disturbed by an invisible dog’s barking, leading him to kill the animal in a brutal display of violence. The team soon realizes they have been misled by Sebastian’s deception, forcing Linda and Matt to confess their involvement to Dr. Kramer. Upon hearing this, he is disappointed and promptly dismisses them from the project. Before he can notify the military, Sebastian, having tailed Linda and Matt, drowns Dr. Kramer in his own swimming pool.

The following day, once all members of the team are present in the lab, Sebastian sabotages their communication and elevator access, rendering them isolated. Stripped of his clothing and mask, he becomes an invisible predator, hunting down his colleagues. As the team frantically searches for him, the tension escalates into chaos. Janice, lagging behind, becomes a victim as he strangles her with an IV line.

The remaining team members, Linda, Matt, Sarah, Carter, and Frank, quickly realize that they are in grave danger, as Sebastian is intent on killing them. Linda, Sarah, and Frank take refuge in the lab while Matt and Carter gear up with tranquilizer guns to seek him out using thermographic goggles. Matt mistakenly shoots at a steam vent, while disaster strikes as Sebastian seizes Carter, yanking him into the air and causing him critical injuries. In the midst of the violence, Sebastian nearly kills Matt, but Linda manages to pull him to safety.

With Sebastian continuing his rampage, Sarah attempts to tend to Carter’s wounds, but the situation turns deadly. Sebastian corners her in the freezer, and in a cruel twist, renders her unconscious before inflicting further harm. Linda and Matt discover the aftermath, finding Carter critically injured and Sarah dead in the freezer. As the body count rises, Frank gets caught in Sebastian’s wrath, leading to a deadly confrontation.

The stakes heighten as Sebastian locks Linda and Matt in a freezer, turning down the temperature while he prepares to destroy their lab with nitroglycerin. Linda, ever resourceful, uses lab equipment to fashion an electromagnet, risking their lives to escape. As chaos looms, a battle ensues between her and Sebastian, leading to a fierce fight where the consequences of their experiments come to a deadly climax.

Ultimately, in a final confrontation, Linda manages to send Sebastian into the inferno of the exploding lab, a harrowing ending to their dark experiment. Both Linda and Matt emerge from the flames, profoundly changed, as they are whisked away by medics—the echoes of their ordeal forever lingering in their minds.

Timeline

Track the key events of Hollow Man (2000) with a comprehensive timeline. Perfect for understanding the sequence of major plot points, this feature offers clarity on how the story unfolds.


Creation of the Serum

Dr. Sebastian Caine develops a groundbreaking serum that grants invisibility. This achievement is monumental, but he soon realizes the difficulties of reversing the process.

Late Night Laboratory

Successful Gorilla Testing

Sebastian's team celebrates a significant breakthrough in their research when they successfully make a gorilla invisible using the serum. However, this victory is overshadowed for Sebastian due to his unresolved feelings for Dr. Linda McKay.

Laboratory

Deception Begins

Instead of reporting their success to the military, Sebastian decides to deceive the oversight committee, persuading Linda and Matt to join this unethical move. They swiftly agree, leading to human trials of the serum.

Laboratory

Sebastian's Transformation

Sebastian volunteers as the subject for human testing, undergoing a painful transformation process. He eventually realizes the danger as he cannot revert back to visibility, putting his life in jeopardy.

Laboratory

Isolation and Masking

As Sebastian becomes invisible, his colleagues create a crude latex mask for him to wear. However, his isolation leads to troubling changes in his behavior as the pressure mounts.

Laboratory

Spying on Neighbors

Overcome by temptation, Sebastian, now invisible, spies on a neighbor which culminates in heinous actions. This marks a point of no return in his moral descent.

Sebastian's Apartment

Confrontation with Linda

Linda discovers Sebastian's mask and clothing left behind in his apartment, realizing the danger he poses. She warns him that they will notify Dr. Kramer if he continues his reckless behavior.

Sebastian's Apartment

Rage over Betrayal

Sebastian's rage is ignited upon learning about Linda's relationship with Matt. He uses technology to deceive his colleagues into thinking he is still present at the lab, all while plotting revenge.

Laboratory

Violence Escalates

As his aggression peaks, Sebastian brutally kills an invisible dog and later goes after his colleagues. His transformation into a violent predator escalates the tension within the team.

Laboratory

Confrontation with Dr. Kramer

After Sebastian's deception is unveiled, Dr. Kramer expresses disappointment towards Linda and Matt. Moments later, Sebastian commits a heinous act by drowning Kramer in his swimming pool.

Dr. Kramer's Swimming Pool

Team Isolation

Sebastian sabotages communications and isolation becomes imminent in the lab. The remaining team members realize they are in extreme danger as Sebastian hunts them down one by one.

Laboratory

Tragedy Strikes

Janice becomes one of Sebastian's victims, killed while trying to escape the chaos surrounding them. The remaining team members soon recognize the true extent of the threat they are facing.

Laboratory

Final Fight for Survival

Linda and Matt naively try to confront Sebastian after he critically injures Carter. This confrontation spirals into a battle of life and death as the lab descends into mayhem.

Laboratory

Culmination of Chaos

As Sebastian locks Linda and Matt in a freezer, tensions escalate to unbearable levels, leading to desperate maneuvers for survival. The entire lab becomes a battleground.

Laboratory

The Lab Explosion

In a final act of defiance, Linda manages to send Sebastian into a fire triggered by the lab’s destruction. The harrowing end results in survival, but both she and Matt are forever changed.

Laboratory

Characters

Meet the characters that bring Hollow Man (2000) to life. Dive into detailed profiles of the cast and their roles, exploring their motivations, relationships, and arcs within the story.


Dr. Sebastian Caine (Kevin Bacon)

Dr. Sebastian Caine is a brilliant yet flawed scientist whose obsession with a ground-breaking invisibility serum leads him down a dark and destructive path. As he struggles with his own emotional demons, his transformation into an invisible predator reveals his inner turmoil and the consequences of unchecked ambition.

👨‍🔬 Scientist 😠 Obsession 🔍 Invisible

Dr. Linda McKay

Dr. Linda McKay is a skilled colleague of Sebastian, embodying both compassion and practicality. As she navigates her complex relationship with him and Dr. Matt Kensington, she becomes a symbol of hope and resilience amid chaos, ultimately taking a stand against Sebastian's violent descent.

👩‍🔬 Researcher ❤️ Love Triangle ⚔️ Survivor

Dr. Matt Kensington

Dr. Matt Kensington is a member of the research team and Linda's new love interest, providing a contrasting force to Sebastian's obsession. His moral integrity and determination to protect his colleagues become pivotal as he confronts the chaos unleashed by Sebastian's actions.

👨‍🔬 Researcher 🛡️ Protector ❌ Conflicted

Setting

Uncover the settings of Hollow Man (2000), from iconic locations to the time period that shapes its world. See how these elements add depth and context to the movie’s narrative.


Time period

The movie takes place in a contemporary setting, likely in the late 1990s. This period is characterized by advancements in scientific research, particularly in genetics and biomedical engineering, which plays a crucial role in the film's plot.

Location

Laboratory, Apartment

The primary setting of the film is a high-tech laboratory where groundbreaking scientific research occurs, particularly focused on invisibility. The apartment provides a more intimate and personal glimpse into Dr. Sebastian Caine's life, showcasing his obsession and resulting psychological decline. Together, these locations illustrate the stark contrast between scientific achievement and personal turmoil.

🏢 Laboratory 🏠 Apartment

Themes

Explore the core themes of Hollow Man (2000). From its commentary on social issues to its emotional undertones, delve into the deeper messages woven into the film’s story.


🧪

Science & Ethics

The film explores the ethical implications of scientific experimentation and the boundaries that researchers may cross in pursuit of groundbreaking discoveries. As Dr. Sebastian Caine becomes increasingly obsessed with his invisibility serum, the narrative questions the moral responsibilities that come with scientific advancements.

😱

Isolation & Madness

Isolation transforms Sebastian from a brilliant scientist into a menacing figure, illustrating how loneliness and despair can lead to madness. As he loses touch with reality, his obsession with revenge and power drives him deeper into a violent path, highlighting how mental deterioration can occur under extreme circumstances.

💔

Betrayal & Revenge

The theme of betrayal runs throughout the film, as Sebastian's personal and professional relationships unravel due to his actions. His feelings of betrayal lead to a tragic desire for revenge against those close to him, demonstrating the destructive nature of jealousy and rage.

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