THE HOLLOW

THE HOLLOW
By Ken Leicht

I’ve always been a fan of the Headless Horseman Legend. There have been precious few films about him. Even Burton’s Sleepy Hollow was what…ten years ago now?

This film is surprisingly effective for a low budgeter but that’s probably cause of all the good will I have for the headless horseman. The characters are all stock and all of the name actors look in pain to be in this film…especially Judge Reinhold (hey at least it’s not another Beethoven film). Just try not to look at the suffering in Judge Reinhold’s eyes as he forces the hokey melodramatic dialogue to come from his lips. At least his little love moment with the wife came off okay. There’s still hope for Judge. Somebody put this guy in a real film. He was in Fast Times! Come on!

Stacy Keach fares better by admirably committing to his crazy old man character (It’s you’re destiny!!!...indeed). And Eileen Brennan (!) even shows up. Go figure.

As for former Backstreet Boy or N-Sync guy Nick Carter, welcome to film, now go home. Actually he wasn’t that bad in the classic one dimension jerk jock role. He fares better than the leading man who was pretty brutal in the hayride scenes.

The story of the film was fairly decent but probably should have been made at a higher level of production and behind the scenes talent because it just plays as too low rent sci-fi channel. And what was with the lighting? People were shining like it was magic hour. The whole night was lit up like crazy. Perhaps it might have been scarier if the woods weren’t lit up like a Christmas tree. It felt like whoever shot this didn’t know about lighting for video but whatever it’s not like everyone in Hollywood doesn’t over light night scenes. I’m sorry but a 12K is a little more light than the moon would ever give a scene.

I can’t really give the film a thumbs up but if you like the Sleepy Hollow legend, then it won’t kill you.