Review of The Hidden (1987) by Stef I — 13 Jul 2012

This film checks so many boxes in the 'Yes' column I was shocked it had escaped my attention for 25 years! The story, although a mixture of a Twilight Zone episode, the Outer Limits and Lethal Weapon, is strangely compelling. The acting won't win any awards, but like the Terminator, works extremely well for the subject. There's a plot twist that would just not happen in a modern day movie, so well thought out, but against the grain, it's something I wished would happen and was still shocked when it did.

Like a fine wine this film aged extremely well, and it serves as a who's who from the 80s golden years. There's faces from Red Heat, Babylon 5, Flashdance, Hooperman, 48 hours, and Danny Trejo even turns up for a cameo, looking young!

This film is by the far the best B-movie I have ever seen and I urge you to watch it with B-movie firmly in your mind. You will not expect much and hopefully, will be surprised at what you see. Considering what both the writer and director went on to make after this, it must have been a one off piece of luck working together that forged this DVD treasure.

I'm reluctant to give any film 5 stars as perfection is an unobtainable ideal, but I'm awarding The Hidden 5, because it remains true to its characters, it builds in pace throughout and it does not bow to studio pressure by trying to appease everyone that watches it. Well done!