![]() Power in American politics can be 'bought' just as easily as a cassette player, its accession just an impulsive decision by the strong. Its new owner has just mused 'Do I trade in my Mercedes or just hang on to it?' (his white suit ironically anticipating imminent mortality.) Later, in his final incarnation as Senator Holt,like a child who has made its mind up, the alien can announce just as decidedly and without any sense of irony 'I want to be President'. A little later on, after viewing the Ferrari just sold to a arms and antique dealer, he states glibly 'I want that car'. Miller sees a ghetto blaster on display, takes it after clubbing the salesman to death. The aliens acquire human bodies, much as humans might go shopping, casually discarding one form for another when it is worn out or no longer wanted. It's the sort of film that gives low budget science fiction a good name, one that effortlessly combines a sharp view of society together with the brisk pace of 'The Terminator' (1984) At one level, 'The Hidden' is a film about acquisition, by implication digging at the American Dream. Sholder's allegorical B-movie offers unblinking aliens, loud rock music, car chases, and the presence of Kyle MacLachlan together with a quiet, emotional core. 'The Hidden' is a non-stop action ride, and the cheesiest 1980s fun this side of 'Maniac Cop'. ![]() Very quickly Kyle goes all 'Starman' on us, and Nouri soon realizes that he's actually on the trail of an extraterrestrial psycho who is taking over people's bodies so he can go on a rampage of murder, car theft, fatty foods and heavy metal music! So okay, this isn't the most cerebral movie in the world but I defy anybody not to have a ball watching it! The supporting cast includes Claudia Christian ('Babylon 5') as a foxy looking stripper, Clu Gulager ('The Killers') as Nouri's superior, and even a blink and you'll miss it cameo from future tough guy legend Danny Trejo ('From Dusk Til Dawn',etc.) as a convict. He is teamed with a kooky FBI agent ('Blue Velvet's Kyle MacLachlan) who knows a lot more than he lets on. ![]() yeah, I know) is a cop tailing an average guy who has seemingly snapped and turned into a homicidal maniac. The thing is it's FANTASTIC 1980s b-grade trash! This is one of the most entertaining sci fi thrillers you'll ever see, and lovers of cinematic violence will be thrilled by its body count, which is one of the highest you'll see outside a Hong Kong action movie. 'The Hidden' is one of those movies you might easily pass by on first glance, assuming it's just your standard 1980s b-grade trash. It will probably wind up as a cult classic. What also helps this film is a little bit of humor thrown in here and there. ![]() Here, he is the FBI agent.or is he? On the first viewing I found Michael Nouri's role as too abrasive, taking away from some of the fun of viewing this, but, in future viewings he was more tolerable. Kyle MacLachlan plays his normal mid-80s strange character, a la Blue Velvet, Twin Peaks, etc. It guess it kind of sounds dumb, but seeing it is better than describing it. It's a fast- paced account of normal people taking turns being inhabited by an alien being and suddenly turning into out-of-control killing machines. Here's a low-grade sci-fi/crime story that is amazingly entertaining. Well, add my name to the list of admirers. I wrote the following three paragraphs and then scanned some of the reviews.only to find everyone else saying pretty much the same thing as I had written, namely that this movie is a hidden gem and enormously entertaining. ![]()
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