The last time we saw any movies by Dutch director Paul Vehoeven (Robocop,Starship Troopers) it was 2006 with the world war 2 drama Black Book (Zwartboek). The filmmaker recently interviewed on the Dutch television show “Zomergasten” (or “Summer Guest”) that his next project will be De stille kracht, or The Hidden Force, which is an Louis Couperus novel from 1900. The story follows rebellion against colonial rule along with the emergence of fundamentalist Islam, throw in some adultery as well as pyshic powers!!!
The whole idea comes from Black Book screenwriter Gerard Soeteman and here’s a translated version of the synopsis:
In ‘The Hidden Force’ the decline and fall of the Dutch resident Van Oudyck is caused by his inability to see further than his own Western rationalism. He is blind and deaf to the slumbering powers of the East Indian people and countryside. The black magic, bird calls, vegetation, heat and the mysterious, hostile attitude of their Javanese subjects prove stronger than the cool power of the colonials.
Verhoeven has been connected to several projects including a adaption of the 1914 Game along with the Halle Berry attached project The Surrogate but it appears The Hidden Force looks likely to be the next one for the Dutch director. Its hard to beleive this is the same director that brought cult hits such as Starship Troopers, Robocop then it went all down a slipperly slope with Hollow Man and ..cough!…EH..Showgirls, is the director still living off the praise from his earlier works or has the damage of Showgirls damaged is reputation? So anyone excited about Verhoeven’s projects?
source Firstshowing
Thepeoplesmovies.com 