Kevin Bacon "Hated" Making This 25%-Rated Horror Flick: "It Was Horrible"

Kevin Bacon is one of the most recognizable and versatile actors of his generation. Throughout his career, he has portrayed dozens of characters.

However, one movie stands out to him not as a creative pinnacle but as the most physically and mentally grueling experience.

Kevin Bacon Revealed His Most Physically Demanding Role Was in Paul Verhoeven's 'Hollow Man'

That movie is Paul Verhoeven's 2000 sci-fi horror Hollow Man. Bacon calls it the hardest work of his life, even though his character is invisible for most of the movie.

In an interview with Pop Entertainment, Bacon described the filming process as a nightmare:

“All roles are hard in different ways. Some are physical. Actually, the hardest role physically I did was Hollow Man, and I was invisible in the movie. But it was incredibly physically taxing, and it got delayed.”

Bacon also said:

“I had to wear this thing for like, probably, I don't know, six or eight months, and it was horrible. I hated it. I hated it. I can't tell you how much I hated wearing this thing. It had to be glued to my face.”

What Is 'Hollow Man' About?

A group of scientists working in a secret laboratory develop invisibility technology. The brilliant yet vain project manager, Sebastian Caine, discovers the formula for reverse transformation and decides to test it on himself.

The experiment is successful, but after achieving invisibility, Caine realizes he has crossed the line between morality and the law. His mind deteriorates, and he begins spying on women and seeking revenge on his colleagues. Ultimately, he turns into a brutal killer.

'Hollow Man' Was a Box Office Success but a Critical Failure

Hollow Man wasn't exactly a financial failure. With a budget of $95 million, the movie grossed $190 million at the box office – a respectable result for an R-rated sci-fi/horror hybrid.

However, critics gave the film a lukewarm reception. The main problem was the questionable execution of its concept.

Verhoeven, known for his uncompromising approach, was seen as having compromised too much with Hollywood conventions, which detracted from the movie's edge.

The director himself was dissatisfied with Hollow Man, calling the experience difficult and unrewarding, and ultimately deciding against working in Hollywood again.

What Did Critics & Viewers Think of 'Hollow Man'?

• Hollow Man has 25% from critics and 28% from viewers on Rotten Tomatoes.

• On IMDb, the movie has a score of 5.9/10.

• On Letterboxd, Hollow Man scored 2.8/5.0.

Where to Watch 'Hollow Man'?

Hollow Man is available to buy or rent on Amazon Prime Video.