Review of The Hidden (1987) by Tsubaki S — 03 Nov 2013

When ordinary citizen Jack DeVries (Chris Mulkey) suddenly robs banks and goes on a killing spree, the LAPD struggles to find the answer to DeVries actions. Eventually DeVries ends up in a high speed chase leaving him seriously wounded in the hospital. LAPD detective Sgt. Thomas Beck (Michael Nouri) is put on the case and before he knows it the slightly odd Special Agent Lloyd Gallagher (Kyle MacLachlan) from the FBI is assigned to work with Beck on the case. Gallagher states he has been trailing DeVries for the past month all the way from Seattle. At the hospital, DeVries suddenly awakes, disconnects his life-support equipment and walks over to the comatose man in the next bed, Jonathan P. Miller (William Boyett). DeVries rips off Miller's breathing mask, then a slug-like Alien emerges from DeVries' mouth and transfers itself into Miller's body; DeVries then drops dead. When a doctor and nurse defibrillate Miller, Miller amazes the staff by awakening and calmly walking out. Beck and Gallagher arrives in the hospital, finding DeVries dead body and a missing Jonathan P. Miller. The hunt for something dangerous and not from this world has just begun...

What a hidden (he he) gem "The Hidden" is. I bought this on a vhs tape abroad back in 1988ish due to what I had red about the movie. This was during the time of the heyday for the Swedish Board of Censorship and of course "The Hidden" was censored due to the graphic violence. So getting hold of a vhs tape from England without any cuts was of course a highlight for me. This is a fast paced layered action flick with a base in extra terrestials and shape shifters. There´s a bit of "The Thing", "Dark Angel" (the 1990 Dolph Lundgren movie) and "Alien Nation" in it and I love that quirkiness of the evil alien, who likes fast cars, guns, heavy music and is set on taking over earth. Michael Nouri and Kyle MacLachlan works well as odd cop colleagues. Gotta love Claudia Christian, a major stunner for sure. "The Hidden" is violent, but I reckon it fits with the storyline. And yes, the FX is a bit wobbly, but that´s ok, there´s not that much in it so it doesn´t disturb the pattern of movie. I like as well the ending with Gallagher giving life to Beck and thus becoming Beck and in the process has a wife and daughter yet again.