kapelusznik18
****SPOILERS*** Far out movie involving a thing from outer space causing havoc in the city of Las Angles by using the bodies of humans and in once case a cute and lovable dogie to do its dirty or deadly work. It's up to l.A Det. Thomas Beck, Michael Nouri, to get to the bottom of all this as well as catch the crazed killer who by the time he got on it had already killed some two dozen people. Getting FBI Agent Lloyd Gallagher,Kyle Maclachian, as a partner Beck soon realizes that the guy, who instead of dissolving an aka Seltzer tablet in water eats it whole, is some kind of weirdo as It soon becomes apparent that Gallagher isn't who he says he is and has something personal against the killer or killers that he's keeping from his partner.Much like the 1956 movie classic "The Invasion of the Body Snatchers" the film "The Hidden" has an hidden surprise for its audience that becomes very apparent as the what seems like indestructible killer starts to rejuvenate him or herself throughout the movie. It takes a while for Det. Beck to realize that his partner FBI Agent Gallaher is on to something far more dangerous then anything that he had to face in his 13 years on the LAPD. That becomes very apparent towards the end of the movie when Det. Beck teams up with him, against LAPD regulation's, against this slimy creature before he or it destroys the entire city and everyone in it.***SPOILERS**** After some dozen reincarnations from man to woman and to animal the slimy looking things takes over the body of US Senator Holt, John McCann, who's planning to run, on the "Save the Whales Lobsters & Squids ticket", for president of the United States. With his partner Det. Beck shot and on life support during all the action in the movie FBI Agent Gallagher makes it to the news conference where Sen. Holt is to make his long awaited announcement and engages him-who pulls out a gum and peppers the audience with bullets-in a fire fight roasting Sen. Holt alive with a US Army issue. With he smoke cleared and in a last act of self sacrifice Gallagher saves Det. Becks life by giving up his own so he, with his job now done, can go back home in spirit if not body from wherever he originally came from.
Fluke_Skywalker
Plot; A no nonsense cop is paired with a mysterious FBI agent on a case that finds them tracking an alien life form who takes over people's bodies.Feeling equal parts 'Alien Nation' and 'I come In Peace' (aka 'Dark Angel'), the far lesser known The Hidden actually beat both of them to theaters by a few years. It's a quirky buddy cop style film that features several familiar genre tropes, but to its credit it never gorges on them. The sci-fi element is revealed early, but we're otherwise kept in the dark until the third act--and even then not much is really explained (a point of mild frustration). The "twist" is rather obvious, but it's still fun to watch it play itself out thanks mostly to effective performances from leads Michael Nouri and Kyle MacGlachlan.This is a surprisingly well made B-movie with a strong cast. The tumblers fall into place a little clumsily, but I still found it to be, if not a hidden gem, then at least an effective and entertaining genre mash-up.
SnoopyStyle
Jack DeVries has no criminal record but he goes on a two week crime spree that culminates into a violent bank robbery. The LAPD sets up a roadblock and puts him in the hospital on his death bed. An alien parasite leaves DeVries and enters patient Jonathan Miller. FBI Agent Lloyd Gallagher (Kyle MacLachlan) arrives searching for DeVries and LAPD detective Thomas Beck (Michael Nouri) is assigned as his partner. Miller goes on a crime spree pursued by Gallagher with a confused Beck. Then the alien is transferred to stripper Brenda (Claudia Christian). Gallagher corners Brenda on the roof but she jumps. The parasite escapes again. Gallagher finally tells Beck the truth but he doesn't believe it.This is a great sci-fi indie classic. It has touches of the Terminator with an irreverent streak of dark humor. William Boyett and Claudia Christian are my favorite alien-possessed characters. I would prefer the movie kept these two longer and not keep switching so much. The movie is filled with great violence and car chases. Certainly some of it can be improved and cleaned up but this needs to be seen by more people.
mikeburdick
For some odd reason, I don't even remember "The Hidden" coming out in theatres, so I'm glad I came across a copy of it years ago at Vidiots in Santa Monica (recently bought my own copy at Title in Sydney, totally chuffed). It's quite a little gem of a sci-fi slash action film. It's well-scripted, well-paced, full of great practical non-CG action and quite well-considered performances.It's basically a cop buddy film in many respects, but with some very strange revelations, a mashup of Carpenter's "The Thing," "The Terminator," "48 Hours" and "Men in Black." It's also a time capsule, especially if you lived in L.A. back in the '80s. (Check out the scene with George's Diner on Vermont and Franklin, now Fred 62.)What sets "The Hidden" apart from other action-sci-fi films is the quirkiness— especially Kyle MacLachlan, pre-"Twin Peaks"—and that it has a heart. It manages to make you empathise with each of the main characters' predicaments and actually care what happens to them.If you're bored with formulaic, soulless Hollywood action films, I highly recommend "The Hidden" for an evening when you just want to kick back, not think too hard and have some fun.
AD
