HOLLOW MAN II

Christian Slater as "Griffin"

HOLLOW MAN II (2006). Director: Claudio Fah. Direct to Video. 

The invisibility experiments first detailed in Hollow Man with Kevin Bacon have been continued with a new subject: soldier Michael Griffin (Christian Slater of Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country). He was assigned to kill off political enemies, but his mind has deteriorated and he feels he has been betrayed by his superiors (which, of course, he has). Cop Frank Turner (Peter Facinelli) teams up with scientist Maggie Dalton (Laura Regan of Dead Silence) to try to get the best of their invisible adversary, who wants to force Maggie to come up with a formula to save his life. But Griffin is not going to make it easy for them ... 

Laura Regan and Peter Facinelli

Hollow Man II has a significantly smaller budget than the first film, so you won't find those magnificent special effects shots. The acting is good, although Slater seems a bit too subdued. Sarah Deakins makes an impression as Facinelli's partner, Lisa, and there is good work from William MacDonald as the ill-fated Colonel Gavin Bishop. Towards the end of the film, which has a degree of suspense and excitement, we learn that there are other invisible men out there, and they are not in a healthy condition. Paul Verhoeven, director of the first film, is executive producer. The film gives a nod to H. G. Wells' novel "The Invisible Man" by naming the fellow Griffin as in the book. 

Verdict: Below the level of the first film, but acceptable Grade B thriller. **1/2. 

DEAD SILENCE

Donnie Wahlberg with dummy

DEAD SILENCE (2007). Director: James Wan. 

Jamie Ashen (Ryan Kwanten) and his wife, Lisa (Laura Regan), receive a box containing a ventriloquist's dummy. Not much later, Lisa is horribly murdered, and Jamie -- at least as far as Detective Lipston (Donnie Wahlberg) is concerned -- is the chief suspect. But Jamie thinks he might get answers if he goes back home to the town of Ravens Fair where there is a local legend about an evil and dead ventriloquist named Mary Shaw. Then more killings, similar to Lisa's death, begin to occur ... 

Ryan Kwanten

When I first saw the dummy in this movie I was afraid Dead Silence was going to be just a knock-off of Child's Play/Chucky, but fortunately that isn't the case, as this has a completely different storyline (albeit dolls do play a significant role). Dead Silence isn't perfect, but it is a slick, classy horror-thriller with first-rate cinematography (John R. Leonetti) and an exciting, sinister score (Charlie Clouser). 

Whatcha lookin' at? 

With all the actors waiting tables in Hollywood, I'm surprised the producers chose Ryan Kwanten as the lead because, in this at least, he can best be described as mediocre -- he's just not much of an actor. Donnie Wahlberg is better as the detective, even if his role of a world-weary, cynical cop is beyond a cliche these days. The best work probably comes from Michael Fairman as the local undertaker, although there is also good work from Joan Heney as his terrified sister, Bob Gunten as Jamie's father, and Amber Valletta as his step-mother, Ella. Judith Roberts certainly makes an impression as Mary Shaw. James Wan also directed the first Saw movie as well as Aquaman and the surprisingly awful The Conjuring. 

Verdict: Despite flaws, this is one of the better 21st century horror flicks. ***.