The Hidden

R

Released Oct 30, 1987

1h 36m

Sci-Fi

List

76%

Tomatometer

33 Reviews

72%

Audience Score

5,000+ Ratings

An FBI agent (Kyle MacLachlan) and a homicide detective (Michael Nouri) hunt the current human host of an orally exchanged alien life-form.

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Variety Staff

Variety

The Hidden is a well-constructed thriller, directed with swift assurance by Jack Sholder, brought down by an utterly conventional sci-fi ending.

Mar 26, 2009

Full Review

Derek Adams

Time Out

Powered by a driving rock score, this is by turns sleek, reckless, and smoothly effective, like a Ferrari with a psycho killer at the wheel.

Feb 9, 2006

Full Review

Vincent Canby

New York Times

A jokey sci-fi horror movie about the desperate pursuit of a vile ''thing'' from outer space.

Rated: 2/4

Aug 30, 2004

Full Review

Eddie Harrison

film-authority.com

…The Hidden is probably the movie that’s closest to The Terminator in its frenetic pace, punchy action, underlying sci-fi premise and ingenious story…

Rated: 4/5

Nov 5, 2023

Full Review

Sean Axmaker

Stream on Demand

Director Jack Sholder.... turns this high concept, low budget sci-fi thriller into a minor classic.

Oct 29, 2022

Full Review

Rene Jordan

El Nuevo Herald (Miami)

Sure everything is really crazy, but very fun and devilishly well done. [Full review in Spanish]

Jul 6, 2022

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Alec B

I do sort of appreciate the frenzied narrative as it can be fun when these kinds of movies don't take themselves too seriously. However it does mean that you have to keep a certain high energy pace and I just don't think "The Hidden" does that.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/22/24

Full Review

DanTheMan 2

Rockstar Games definitely owes some form of royalties to Jack Sholder. The Hidden is a fantastically unique and wickedly fun piece of genre cinema, under the guise of a routine 80s buddy cop police thriller it pulls the rug out from under you very early on and continues at full speed like a Ferrari with a psycho killer at the wheel. With the right tone to draw you into its premise, as unstintingly violent as it is crudely ingenious, it is sleek, reckless and smoothly effective. Kyle MacLachlan excels at playing lone outsider Gallagher, it almost feels like a precursor to his role as Dale Cooper in Twin Peaks. Backed by his excellent chemistry with Michael Nouri's Beck the duo is a fun watch as Beck slowly comes to realise this isn't just another homicide case. Directed with swift assurance by Sholder and powered by a driving rock score courtesy of Michael Convertino, The Hidden is a well-constructed, endlessly entertaining minor classic, with a frenetic pace, punchy action, underlying sci-fi premise and ingenious story, this sci-fi thriller more than worthy of your time.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

11/05/23

Full Review

Audience Member

An alien invasion movie influenced by the Ronald Reagan era It blends high speed chases, alien sci-fi body horror, and social satire A visual gag or a quick one-liner breaks the tension thanks to Sholder's direction He keeps the pedal pressed to the floor, the pace of its plot unspooling is relentless… and breathtaking, every moment is exciting and thrilling Both MacClachlan and Nouri share palpable chemistry Serves as a stand-in for American citizens affected by 1980's consumerism whether it was the lure of heavy rock, sex, drugs and rock n roll Also has a surprising amount of heart to go with especially the ending A true crackerjack action vehicle packed with provocative ideas and all the excess of the 1980's

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

10/30/23

Full Review

Darren D

The Hidden (1987) is a lot of fun, think "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" but they decided to be noisy about it with loud music, stealing fast cars & a lot of blood spuibs. Mean & darkly comedic sci-fi action from the 80's.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

07/13/23

Full Review

deanving13

This is a classic 80's Sci-fi. A hidden gem from a forgotten time. Great story and decently made for its time. Love the actors as well, they are an all-star 80's cast.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

01/25/23

Full Review

jon c

I remember watching this 5 years ago enjoyed it a lot cause it works as both an action buddy-cop movie and a sci-fi horror film Jack Sholder directs Kyle McClachlan and Michael Nouri starring as Thomas Beck and Lloyd Gallagher An alien invasion movie influenced by the Ronald Reagan era being its a far more representation of "greed is good" Beck works for the Los Angeles precinct; he's just stopped a local killer and thief during a high speed chase It's seems like a cut and clear case but unbeknownst to everyone there's an alien parasite working its way into human bodies Every time a person dies it switches to a new host continuing its rampant incessant killing An agent from the FBI named Gallagher is specifically looking for this alien, only he knows the truth about its nature so he needs Beck's help to hunt it down Yet he's foreign to the concept of stuff like drinking beer and alka seltzer which makes for some giggle worthy moments This is because Gallagher is also an alien himself but the justice-seeking type as his whole planet was wiped out by this parasitic life form Again the movie blends high speed chases, alien sci-fi body horror, and social satire A visual gag or a quick one-liner breaks the tension thanks to Sholder's direction He keeps the pedal pressed to the floor, the pace of its plot unspooling is relentless… and breathtaking, every moment is exciting and thrilling Both MacClachlan and Nouri share palpable chemistry Beck is a straight-man of reason searching for a clear answer while Gallagher only hints what's at stake attempting to pass as human being odd and reserved This killer alien thrives on self-satisfaction and its love for violent behavior Serves as a stand-in for American citizens affected by 1980's consumerism whether it was the lure of heavy rock, sex, drugs and rock n roll Among the destruction and alien effects it has a surprising amount of heart to go with especially the ending after all is said and done This speaks to the neurodivergence and how our outward expressions of emotion can sometimes be difficult for the "normals" to process, but that doesn't mean that the emotions are not as deeply felt It's how the movie taps into the era's excesses that's helped it attain cult classic status A true crackerjack action vehicle packed with provocative ideas and all the excess of the 1980's containing a fun conceit Very convincing performances while still being devilishly fun

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

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Jack Sholder

Director

Michael Nouri

Tom Beck

Kyle MacLachlan

Lloyd Gallagher

Ed O'Ross

Cliff Willis

Clu Gulager

Lt. Ed Flynn

Claudia Christian

Brenda Lee Van Buren

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Synopsis

An FBI agent (Kyle MacLachlan) and a homicide detective (Michael Nouri) hunt the current human host of an orally exchanged alien life-form.

Director: Jack Sholder
Screenwriter: Jim Kouf
Production Co: New Line Cinema
Rating: R
Genre: Sci-Fi
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 30, 1987, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 1, 2008
Box Office (Gross USA): $9.7M
Runtime: 1h 36m

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