The Hidden is just really fun. I mean, maybe I'm easy, but I was pretty much on board the moment two workers were carrying a giant pane of glass across the street, and a car chase comes through and smashes through it. I haven't seen that done in earnest in a film for quite some time - and man, this was earnest. Honestly, that earned a lot of goodwill from me.
The film has pretty unique action/comedy/sci-fi vibe to it. I feel like there was a window of opportunity in the late 80's where you could get away with having serious action but being kind of goofy at the same time. The Hidden throws some sci-fi into that mix (our baddie is an extra-terrestrial), and there's just enough nasty creature work that you have to toss horror in there too. My biggest issue is that it felt like it peaked a bit too soon - it's a solid story and it's fun getting to know the characters, but it sort of runs out of steam by the end of the film.
But it's still a worthwhile ride. It's about a cop named Tom Beck (Michael Nori) who has been assigned to a murder case: a man with no prior criminal history has gone on a crime spree, stealing cars, robbing a bank, and killing several people in the process (including one "oh wow!" kill with his car). The man eventually gets in a crash and taken to the hospital in critical condition - but when he dies, the patient next to him escapes and goes on a similar spree... hmmm. Beck is stumped, and is begrudgingly paired up with FBI agent Lloyd Gallagher (Kyle MacLachlan). Gallagher seems to know more about this case than he lets on... and things may not be what they seem...
But what you find out pretty quick is that the thing causing all of the killings is not a man at all - it's this weird slug-looking alien parasite that hops from body to body. Rather disgustingly, I may add. Beck (who is a Good Cop with a Loving Family) and Gallagher (who is just weird) have to work together to try and stop this otherworldly force, before more of LA is destroyed. Oh, and in what kind of feels like an afterthought: the alien wants to take over the world.
Anyways, for the first hour or so, The Hidden is a blast. It's got a lot of solid, well-directed action with a little touch of corniness - you get good stunts, gun play, and car chases. There's some solid humor to be found as the alien inhabits an older man's body - William Boyett is a highlight doing a more violent but also more subtle version of what Vincent D'Onofrio did in Men in Black. And Beck and Gallagher are just good characters. They are well written, have good chemistry, and are just the kind of characters that are very easy to root for.
Horror-wise? Well, The Hidden counts as horror, I guess. But if you're looking for something that is specifically designed for scares or tension you're probably looking in the wrong place. The alien here is definitely gross, and there are a couple of pretty gnarly prosthetic effects that definitely land The Hidden in the horror category. While those scenes are cool and all, I'd say The Hidden is more of an action, then sci-fi, then maybe even a comedy film before horror. But it's the kind of film where it's just a mash-up of genres, and overall they mesh well.
The ending is a little bit of a let-down however. The film begins by firing on all cylinders (the opening sequence is a big action scene/chase), so by the time you hit the hour mark you feel like you've been at it for a while - I wouldn't say it's exhausting, but it just can't sustain that same pace. The final showdown feels kind of shoehorned in and doesn't really feel organic - they mention a character early on in the film, don't establish why he'll matter, and then kind of build the finale around him. But I think it's ultimately a matter of too-much-too-soon. The beginning of the film is so much fun that it's hard to follow it up. It doesn't ruin anything by any means, but there's not doubt that the beginning and middle of the film are stronger than the end.
Overall, The Hidden is just a fun movie that is right in my wheelhouse. I'm sort of wondering how it would play to people who didn't "movie come of age" in the late 80's - it's very much a product of it's time: lots of action, a dose of goofy humor, a little gore, a little cheese. It may be my new "they don't make them like this anymore" film. (I guess that means I'm old.) The Hidden has got all that good stuff, but it's also done in a very earnest way. Anything that went for that mix now could only really succeed with a heavy dose of irony. (If I'm wrong and you know of any more recent examples, please let me know!) Generally speaking, I would recommend it. But if you are into mid-to-late 80's kind-of-funny-but-mostly-serious action:
I would wholeheartedly recommend this film.
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