The Hidden (1987)

Such a frustrating disappointment

A waste of 90 minutes of my life

It's a feast for the eyes. But what really makes this dramedy work is the acting.

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

This is a low budget gem that expertly mixes together the action, horror, and science fiction genres into one fast-paced, satisfying whole. It's similar to TERMINATOR 2 in that the film basically consists of a string of action sequences (with a lower budget, obviously, but no less exciting) with a little plot interspersed in between to hold things together. It's films like this that have me scouring video shelves for those '80s flicks - even though nine out of ten of them turn out to be pretty rubbish. THE HIDDEN is an obscure rarity that deserves much more appreciation than it currently holds (ie. nobody much has heard of it). I would go so far as to say it's a minor classic.The opening credits play over some security footage of a bank heist which culminates in a violent shootout between the security guards and the robber. Things move on to a fantastic car chase through the city, where our antagonist runs over as many people as possible before crashing into a police barricade at high speed and collapsing, almost dead. Looks like a typical action film, you might think...but you'd be wrong.Suddenly, the grossest scene of the film is upon us without any warning. The barely-living robber rises from his hospital bed and leans over a fellow patient. His mouth opens and...you guessed it...an alien slug comes out of his mouth and pops into the other man's. The special effects are actually very good here, with the models being used for the actors being so lifelike you can hardly tell that they're fake. The alien slug is appropriately gooey and disgusting, and as the box tells us, "...not for the squeamish".From then on we watch the killer alien go on a violent anti-social rampage, swapping bodies at will like the demon in FALLEN or the electric murderer in SHOCKER. For what it's worth I love these type of films. Hot on the alien's trail are a pair of mis-matched cops. Oh no, another buddy-buddy movie you might think and you'd be right. Predictably, the film begins with our partners hating each other and then growing to respect each other. One is played by none other than Kyle Maclachlan, who does a good job of making himself as weird yet ineffectual as possible. Michael Nouri, on the other hand, is the tough, likable cop and hands his leading role well. Solid supporting actors like Clu Gulager and Ed O'Ross help to give life to the rest of the cast.Fans of guns will no doubt be ecstatic over the dozens of bullets flying across the screen as this film progresses, as our heroes desperately try to stop the alien each time it enters a new body. There's a lot of blood spraying everywhere during these shootouts with the killer usually getting shot about a hundred times or so. I've discovered that watching Claudia Christian getting pumped full of lead as blood splashes from her body can be a very rewarding experience (I can't stand the actress, you see).There's a real sense of momentum which keeps this film on its toes and keeps the adrenaline pumping, and Jack Sholder's direction always keeps things in the midst of the action to stay interesting. There's a homage to THE TERMINATOR when the alien goes on a rampage in a police station, ending in a great gag involving a rocket launcher. Speaking of gags, there's plenty of comedy in here too to stop things from becoming too heavy. Events culminate in a fantastic, fiery showdown which, personally speaking, I found to be totally appropriate and worthwhile. So, in a film which packs in everything from male bonding to gratuitous violence to slimy special effects, what more could you possibly want?

I agree with many... this film was highly underrated, and nearly forgotten in the slew of scifi action films that have come afterward. But this one is special. If you've read any of my reviews, one of my key points in the creation of any great film is the CASTING, and this is a prime example. With few exceptions, the acting was first-rate, in every way. The two leads, headed by a extremely capable Michael Nouri and a fabulous Kyle MacLachlan, were noteworthy, with Nouri as the world-weary detective, and MacLachan's nuanced, tortured role adding a dimension of scenic truth and pathos to the entire production. I've always been a fan of Michael Nouri, and his easy, believable performances never fail, a worthy counterpoint to this highly interesting mix of protagonists. But what impressed me the most about this film was that it clearly had "heart," a tender through line of humanity and dare I say it, LOVE, that runs continuously through this piece, without ever getting in the way. How many scifi action movies can claim the same thing? The scene at the end makes me tear up every time. The thoughtful score by Michael Convertino added in full measure to the uniqueness of this film. If "The Hidden" isn't already isn't a classic of science fiction, it certainly will be.

There's very little I can say about 'The Hidden' which isn't gushing praise. When cult sci-fi films are being discussed, you always hear talk of 'Alien' or 'The Thing,' yet The Hidden never seems to get a mention. I always find that surprising as it's so good and yet so simple. No complex plots here - just an easy-to-follow bad alien being hunted down by a good alien.There's nothing much to say about it because it's just so much fun. If you like horror, action, or sci-fi, then you really should see this film. It has all of those elements, wrapped up in a simple plot with simple special effects and simplistic performances from its actors.Just sit back, grab the popcorn and enjoy. But only if you have a strong stomach, as some of the scenes can be pretty violent.I'm giving it a 9/10 as it's just an absolute retro-fave of mine. In reality, it's probably more of an 8/10 for most people. My guilty pleasure.http://thewrongtreemoviereviews.blogspot.co.uk/

Not even five minutes pass before a man in a wheelchair is run over for laughs and the next hour or so becomes an unhinged series of violent comedic escapades. An odd FBI agent played by Kyle MacLachlan teams up with a detective played with cheesy earnestness by Michael Nouri, who are after an alien who takes over the human bodies he invades - and goes on murder, theft and mayhem causing rampages. This is a B movie and proud of it and the sight of a scantily clad alien controlled stripper who's heavily armed and a geezer with a boom box who's out of control, are a few highlights in this absurd film. Jack Sholder directs with energy to spare and it's a shame his big screen career sputtered out after his '89 film Renegades and spent the next two decades directing TV movies - before briefly resurfacing in studio filmmaking by directing some of the reshoots for the doomed big budget fiasco Supernova.