Invisible is one thing.

Invincible is another thing altogether.

As long as the mad scientist in Paul Verhoeven's Hollow Man commits unspeakable acts because he is invisible, the film makes sense as a modern take on The Invisible Man.

When the scientist, visible or invisible, seems impervious to bludgeoning, electrocution, piercing and charring, the film loses credibility on any level other than as a teen slasher movie.

Hollow Man starts out with a shocking little sequence that involves a rat and an unseen presence. It's a great little primer for what is to follow.

Sebastian Caine (Kevin Bacon) is a brilliant scientist working for the U.S. government.

He and his team have successfully developed a serum that makes its host invisible.

There's only one problem. Caine can't bring his subjects back into view.

Again, there is an incredible sequence as the scientists attempt to reverse a gorilla's invisibility.

The special-effects are mind-boggling as first veins and then organs and skin begin to appear where once there was a void.

Eventually, Caine discovers a formula to reverse the effects.

He knows the Pentagon will take over the experiment, so he wants to know personally what invisibility feels like.

To Caine, it feels like omnipotence -- and the feeling unleashes his dark side.

Caine is no saint to begin with. He's a spiteful, jealous, power-hungry man who gets more spiteful, jealous and power-hungry when he can wander undetected at will.

His first mission is to discover who his assistant and former lover Linda McKay (Elisabeth Shue) has replaced him with in her life and bed. Surprise.

It's none other than Matthew Kensington (Josh Brolin), another member of the team.

This discovery sends Caine over the deep end and he decides to leave the confines of the underground lab, but not before killing his fellow scientists.

At this point, Hollow Man turns into Alien, with Caine being the invisible menace that stalks the hallways of the underground facility.

Bacon makes sure the audience feels no empathy for Caine.

He's an unpleasant person just itching to become even more unsavoury.

Caine is a monster long before he actually becomes a monster.

At best, Shue is a lightweight Sigourney Weaver.

Brolin is far more successful and credible as the wary lover and underrated scientist.

The first half of Hollow Man is genuinely creepy and visually stunning.

The second half is a poor imitation of Jeff Goldblum's The Fly, but the special-effects are still amazing.

(This film is rated AA)

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