Review of The Hidden (1987) by Allan C — 28 Jan 2017

This 80s sci-fi action film hybrid has always held a special place for me. It's something of a genre mash-up that crosses an "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" type of story and plops it in the middle of the buddy cop action film.

As corny as that sounds, the film completely works and is compulsively watchable and does it all with a straight face. Without ruining the story, LA detective Michael Nouri is forced to help FBI agent Kyle MacLachlan in a manhunt for an individual who ends up being an alien parasite that takes over unsuspecting human victims and then uses the human shells to robs banks, steal fast cars, and cause general mayhem, that is until the human body gets too shot up by the cops and is forced to find another host.

The action is exciting and deftly directed by Jack Sholder. The script by Jim Kouf (billed as Bob Hunt) is smartly done and moves at a quick pace. There's also a solid supporting cast that includes Claudia Christian, Clu Gulager, Ed O'Ross, Chris Mulkey, and Lin Shaye (who until only recently I realized appeared in TONS of New Line Cinema films in small roles because she's the wife of producer/studio head Robert Shaye).

You also get to see an early appearance by Danny Trejo who yells at the latest alien parasite human incarnation "Yo, Hippie. What kind of dude are you?" Overall, this one is something of a minor classic and is sure to please sci-fi fans and 80s action film fans alike.