I am NOT a major fan of action films, so the fact that I liked "The Hidden" is unusual. The movie is jam-packed full of explosions, gun fire, deaths and mayhem. But it also works as an inventive sci-fi movie...one that pretty much went under the radar back in 1987 when it debuted.The film has an incredibly simple plot...when the film begins, a maniac is running amok in LA...killing and stealing as if there's no tomorrow. Soon, however, you realize this killer is NOT a typical killer...he's practically indestructible. And, when he's about to die, a disgusting alien pops out of his mouth and inhabits the next person...and begins the murder spree all over again!! However, an oddball who claims to be an FBI agent (Kyle McLaughlen) arrives to assist the lead detective on the case (Michael Nouri) and they are the Earth's best bet to stop this menace.Despite relying heavily on action and wholesale slaughter, the film is intelligently written and original. It's also an interesting time capsule of the late 1980s...in all its awfulness and excess. Well worth your time.

The Hidden has a promising start. The opening scene reminded me a bit of the iconic scene in They Live! (the one in the bank). The car chase scenes are great and the idea behind what's going on is a good one. It's just that it's all a bit too implausible. Kyle MacLachlan and Michael Nouri don't really have enough chemistry for me either. It gets better though as things build to the climax.

"The Hidden" is an irrepressible, high-spirited genre flick full of screeching car chases, sprays of bullets and shattering glass that leaves more than a few casualties in its wake. It has a lot of fun with the body-switching premise and maintains a strong sense of humor throughout. Kyle MacLachlan's performance as the unearthly FBI agent offers another great reason to watch. Body switching sci-fi/horror fun from director Jack (Nightmare On Elm Street 2) Sholder, this can't quite keep up the breakneck pace or promise of the first half throughout but it manages to throw out an entertaining story that's loaded with a pleasing amount of action, some alright effects, and solid acting from its two leads Michael Nouri and Kyle MacLachlan. Scripter Jim Kouf (using the name Bob Hunt on the credits) even throws in a few jabs at 80's excess - like having a car salesman giving a potential customer cocaine when they're signing the papers and the Alien villain steals a huge stereo and plays some punk music.Jack Sholder's direction is extremely good, not just in the excellent action scenes but in small character touches that add a lot and elevate it above the straight-to-video fodder of the day - it's a real movie movie, so much so that it's surprising he never broke into the mainstream. 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.Overall rating: 8 out of 10.

Here was something fresh and original for it's time, which starred a few actors you saw a lot around this 87-90 phase. We have an alien parasite slipping into innocent folk's mouths, turning them into killing machines, with two cops, (Nouri) one of those cool lone types, we all love, and his new assigned partner, one mysterious and intriguing cookie, played beautifully by Kyle Maclachlan. The result is one exciting action fare, a slick thriller that has you from page one, especially the first half hour which is so much fun. Nouri, an underrated actor, and Maclachlan, work wonderfully off each other, where again Maclachlan must be praised. It's fun too watching the alien bug enter a new body, claiming it, where just the low scenario and our cops, makes this film, which does show a bit of style, and would make a lot of other filmmakers, out there, envious. With a reputation as being a cult pic, The Hidden is a hidden gem from 88, which is well worth the view, especially for science fiction horror fans.