The Hidden (1987)

User Rating:

6.9/10   

Director:

Jack Sholder

Writer:

Jim Kouf (written by)

Release Date:

20 October 1987 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Horror | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

A new breed of criminal.

Plot:

An alien is on the run in America. To get his kicks, it kills anything that gets in its way, and uses the body as a new hiding place...

Plot Keywords:

Alien | Police | FBI | Shooting | Ferrari

Awards:

4 wins & 5 nominations

Cast

Kyle MacLachlan	...	Lloyd Gallagher
Michael Nouri	...	Tom Beck
Claudia Christian	...	Brenda Lee Van Buren
Clarence Felder	...	Lt. John Masterson
Clu Gulager	...	Lt. Ed Flynn
Ed O'Ross	...	Cliff Willis
William Boyett	...	Jonathan Miller
Richard Brooks	...	Sanchez
Larry Cedar	...	Brem
Katherine Cannon	...	Barbara Beck
John McCann	...	Senator Holt
Chris Mulkey	...	Jack DeVries
Lin Shaye	...	Carol Miller
James Luisi	...	Ferrari Salesman
Frank Renzulli	...	Michael Buckley

Runtime:

96 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:16 | West Germany:18 | France:-12 | Australia:MA (DVD rating) | Australia:R | Finland:K-16 | Norway:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Greenwich Village, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Heron Communications

Trivia:

The transfer of the alien from DeVries into Jonathan Miller was accomplished by stop-motion photography. During the stops, stage hands would work at stuffing the creature model into the mock head. Actor William Boyett, upon seeing the alien going into "his" mouth, was so disgusted he refused to watch and actually left the room.

Goofs:

Continuity: Early in the movie, when Tom Beck is about to shoot at DeVries speeding in a Ferrari, he throws his jacket haphazardly over his car door. In the next shot his jacket is very neatly folded over his car door.

Quotes:

Barbara Beck: Where did you grow up?
[Lloyd points upwards]
Barbara Beck: What is that? North?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Pump Up the Volume (1990)

Soundtrack:

You Make Me Feel So Young

Underrated Sci/Fi Action Thriller.

A series of bizarre, unusual crimes are committed by seemingly ordinary citizens of Los Angeles. L.A. Police Detective (Micheal Nouri) is totally baffled by these strange crimes. When a mysterious FBI Agent (Kyle MacLachlan) is helping the police detective with these inexplicable robberies and murders but not telling the detective that it is a demonic extraterrestrial creature is invading the bodies of everyday citizens and transforming them into inhuman killers.

Directed by Jack Sholder (A Nightmare on Elm Street 2:Freddy's Revenge, Wishmaster 2:Evil Never Dies, Alone in the Dark) made a entertaining, wildly violent, kinetic, sci-fi action/thriller that is even touching with a sense a humor. This independent film has high production values and it was made with a budget of under $5 million. This was a Small Hit for then independent studio:New Line Cinema. MacLachlan and Nouri are good in the film.

DVD has an fine anamorphic Widescreen (1.85:1) transfer (Also in Pan & Scan) with an digitally remastered-Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound (Also in the original mono Sound). DVD has an running commentary track by the director and fan/friend of the filmmaker:Tim Hunter (River's Edge). DVD also has unused footage, never seen before special effects production footage with narration from the director and the original theatrical trailer. The film has become a Cult Classic and it is also one of the most underrated films of the 1980's. This film is a fast, violent, edge of your seat thrill ride. Written by Bob Hunt (Hunt-who is actually screenwriter:Jim Kouf). Kouf is best known for his screenplay of "The Stakeout Films" and the little seen "Gang Related". Terrific music score by Micheal Convertino. (**** ½/*****).