Such a frustrating disappointment

not horrible nor great

Best movie ever!

One of the best movies of the year! Incredible from the beginning to the end.

NOTHING redeeming about this film. Costume design: almost every man wore a gray suit. Sound affects: gun shots sounded like fire crackers. Acting: they should have gone to acting classes. Director: the writer and "actors" should sue him. Not worth the time to go on. But need 6 more lines.NOTHING redeeming about this film. Costume design: almost every man wore a gray suit. Sound affects: gun shots sounded like fire crackers. Acting: they should have gone to acting classes. Director: the writer and "actors" should sue him. Not worth the time to go on NOTHING redeeming about this film. Costume design: almost every man wore a gray suit. Sound affects: gun shots sounded like fire crackers. Acting: they should have gone to acting classes. Director: the writer and "actors" should sue him. Not worth the time to go on

This is a low budget gem that expertly mixes together the action, horror, and science fiction genres into one fast-paced, satisfying whole. It's similar to TERMINATOR 2 in that the film basically consists of a string of action sequences (with a lower budget, obviously, but no less exciting) with a little plot interspersed in between to hold things together. It's films like this that have me scouring video shelves for those '80s flicks - even though nine out of ten of them turn out to be pretty rubbish. THE HIDDEN is an obscure rarity that deserves much more appreciation than it currently holds (ie. nobody much has heard of it). I would go so far as to say it's a minor classic.The opening credits play over some security footage of a bank heist which culminates in a violent shootout between the security guards and the robber. Things move on to a fantastic car chase through the city, where our antagonist runs over as many people as possible before crashing into a police barricade at high speed and collapsing, almost dead. Looks like a typical action film, you might think...but you'd be wrong.Suddenly, the grossest scene of the film is upon us without any warning. The barely-living robber rises from his hospital bed and leans over a fellow patient. His mouth opens and...you guessed it...an alien slug comes out of his mouth and pops into the other man's. The special effects are actually very good here, with the models being used for the actors being so lifelike you can hardly tell that they're fake. The alien slug is appropriately gooey and disgusting, and as the box tells us, "...not for the squeamish".From then on we watch the killer alien go on a violent anti-social rampage, swapping bodies at will like the demon in FALLEN or the electric murderer in SHOCKER. For what it's worth I love these type of films. Hot on the alien's trail are a pair of mis-matched cops. Oh no, another buddy-buddy movie you might think and you'd be right. Predictably, the film begins with our partners hating each other and then growing to respect each other. One is played by none other than Kyle Maclachlan, who does a good job of making himself as weird yet ineffectual as possible. Michael Nouri, on the other hand, is the tough, likable cop and hands his leading role well. Solid supporting actors like Clu Gulager and Ed O'Ross help to give life to the rest of the cast.Fans of guns will no doubt be ecstatic over the dozens of bullets flying across the screen as this film progresses, as our heroes desperately try to stop the alien each time it enters a new body. There's a lot of blood spraying everywhere during these shootouts with the killer usually getting shot about a hundred times or so. I've discovered that watching Claudia Christian getting pumped full of lead as blood splashes from her body can be a very rewarding experience (I can't stand the actress, you see).There's a real sense of momentum which keeps this film on its toes and keeps the adrenaline pumping, and Jack Sholder's direction always keeps things in the midst of the action to stay interesting. There's a homage to THE TERMINATOR when the alien goes on a rampage in a police station, ending in a great gag involving a rocket launcher. Speaking of gags, there's plenty of comedy in here too to stop things from becoming too heavy. Events culminate in a fantastic, fiery showdown which, personally speaking, I found to be totally appropriate and worthwhile. So, in a film which packs in everything from male bonding to gratuitous violence to slimy special effects, what more could you possibly want?

There are many films based on the idea that aliens take over humans, or human form, from "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" to Carpenter's "The Thing.' Many of them are loosely based on Heinlein's emblematic novel "The Puppet Masters."The Hidden is a fun and entertaining entry in this genre, for those who can handle a bit of screen mayhem. The premise is that alien slugs will take over your nervous system, and while trying to get themselves into a position of power (like, the presidency of the US!), they cannot resist having fun while inside you, from hookers, to fast cars, to loud music. It seems these slugs are enjoying the human body for all it's worth!Don't expect serious fright/yech factor as in "The Thing," or anti-conformity polemics as in "Snatchers." This movie is packed with action, well-timed comedy, and even a bit of bittersweet ending. And of course, sex, rock-and-roll, and sports cars, along with flamethrowers and of course slugs. The film shows that you can produce entertaining and good quality fare with a small budget. Not quite the price/performance ratio of the granddaddy of all SF action flicks on a tight budget, "The Terminator," but definitely a fun evening.

I agree with many... this film was highly underrated, and nearly forgotten in the slew of scifi action films that have come afterward. But this one is special. If you've read any of my reviews, one of my key points in the creation of any great film is the CASTING, and this is a prime example. With few exceptions, the acting was first-rate, in every way. The two leads, headed by a extremely capable Michael Nouri and a fabulous Kyle MacLachlan, were noteworthy, with Nouri as the world-weary detective, and MacLachan's nuanced, tortured role adding a dimension of scenic truth and pathos to the entire production. I've always been a fan of Michael Nouri, and his easy, believable performances never fail, a worthy counterpoint to this highly interesting mix of protagonists. But what impressed me the most about this film was that it clearly had "heart," a tender through line of humanity and dare I say it, LOVE, that runs continuously through this piece, without ever getting in the way. How many scifi action movies can claim the same thing? The scene at the end makes me tear up every time. The thoughtful score by Michael Convertino added in full measure to the uniqueness of this film. If "The Hidden" isn't already isn't a classic of science fiction, it certainly will be.