The Hidden - The unspeakable evil

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Movie
German title The Hidden - The unspeakable evil
Original title The hidden
Country of production United States
original language English
Publishing year 1987
length 96 minutes
Age rating FSK 18
Rod
Director Jack Sholder
script Jim Kouf
production Michael L. Meltzer ,
Gerald T. Olson ,
Robert Shaye
music Michael Convertino
camera Jacques Haitkin
cut Michael N. Knue ,
Maureen O'Connell
occupation

The Hidden is an American film from 1987 . The film can be assigned to the genres of action , horror and science fiction . Directed by Jack Sholder . The film opened in German cinemas on June 8, 1989.

action

A man named Jack DeVries, a previously innocent citizen, robbed a bank and then went on a wild chase with the police. The rampage can only be stopped by a police blockade, in which the police officer Tom Beck is also present. DeVries is shot down and ends up in the hospital. Since he will not survive according to the doctor, the case is closed for the police. What the police do not know, however: DeVries only served as host for an alien life form, which has a criminal interest in weapons and expensive material things like fast cars. In the hospital, the alien leaves DeVrie's body and takes over that of patient Jonathan Miller.

Meanwhile, Lloyd Gallagher, who works for the FBI, appears at the police station, who is looking for DeVries. He learns from Beck that he is in the hospital. Gallagher only finds DeVries dead there. He learns about Miller through the doctor and starts looking for him. He hopes for support from Beck, who only really gives in when Miller commits several crimes. Not an easy collaboration for Beck, as Gallagher seems to know astonishingly much about the perpetrator, but Beck does not reveal anything. Gallagher only reveals that it is personal, as the perpetrator killed his partner and his wife and daughter.

Both finally follow Miller's trail to a strip club, but come too late: They only find the dead Miller, as the alien has since taken over the body of the stripper Brenda Lee Van Buren. There is a chase between her and the two investigators, followed by a shooting. Although she is downright riddled with holes, to Beck's astonishment she does not die. On a roof, Beck is wounded by Brenda, Gallagher is able to prevent worse. Beck witnesses him aiming at her with a strange weapon. But shortly before the alien can leave the body, she throws herself from the roof. Before Gallagher reaches them, the alien escapes by taking the dog's body from Beck's supervisor Lt. John Masterson takes over.

Since Gallagher still does not reveal any details, Beck has him arrested and then interrogates him. Only now does Gallagher tell about the alien and that he has the only weapon with which one can kill the alien; however, the alien must leave the body for this, otherwise the weapon is ineffective. Beck doesn't believe him and locks him up. That changes when the alien, who has since taken over Masterson's body, appears at the police station to kill Gallagher. He reveals himself as an alien in the subsequent shooting. Beck and Gallagher manage to take Masterson off, but cannot prevent the alien from escaping. This time it has taken over the body of Beck's colleague and friend Cliff Willis.

It turns out that the alien wants to go to an event held by Senator Holt. The alien, who found out about Holt through the news, plans to take over his body. In Willis's body, it shoots its way through security. Gallagher and Beck appear, but they can't stop Willis. Beck is seriously injured in the shooting, and Gallagher is unable to prevent the alien from taking over Holt's body.

At a press conference there is finally a showdown. Gallagher charges towards Holt with a flamethrower. Although he was shot several times by him and the security guards, he managed to get close to Holt and burn him with the flamethrower. He thus forces the alien to leave the body. When the alien finally leaves the body, Gallagher shoots it with his special weapon, killing it for good.

Both Gallagher and Beck end up in the hospital, with Beck's injuries being too severe. Gallagher sees how much Beck's family is suffering and goes to Beck's sick bed. This eventually succumbs to his injuries. Gallagher then takes over Beck's body to keep him alive for his family.

Reviews

“[…] The result is a surprisingly functional film, a cross-country skier who talks and walks like a thriller, but has more brains than the average thriller. [...] original and efficient [...] "

- Roger Ebert

"It plays Michael Nouri ( Flashdance ) as a tough Los Angeles detective who has to say 'I just don't think so' at one point and Kyle MacLachlan ( Dune , Blue Velvet ), as a human-like alien alien, [...] after too much beer has a hangover and is chewing the Alka Seltzer tablet. Perhaps one should see for oneself to grasp the meaning. On the other hand, better not. "

- Vincent Canby : The New York Times

“Actually, it's bearable [...] and a lot of the script is predictable or silly or both-and-also. The Hidden is uninspired, but still quite fun for fans of action or sci-fi films. "

- Brian Webster : Apollo Movie Guide

"Pure action film with few horror elements, cynical in its brutality, macabre in its joke, fast-paced, but ultimately without a climax."

- Lexicon of international film

Awards

  • Jack Sholder won the award for best director at the international film festival Fantasporto in 1988 .
  • The Hidden was nominated for best film at the Saturn Awards in 1988 .

continuation

In 1994, The Hidden II: The Spawning was released with Raphael Sbarge in the lead role, directed by Seth Pinsker . The film did not even begin to reach the success of its debut and was therefore brought to the market in Europe directly as a VHS .

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Roger Ebert : The Hidden. rogerebert.suntimes.com, October 30, 1987, accessed on March 31, 2008 (English): “[…] makes a surprisingly effective film out of it, a sleeper that talks like a thriller and walks like a thriller, but has more brains than the average thriller. [...] original and efficient [...] "
  2. ↑ Vincent Canby : Movie Review: The Hidden (1987). In: The New York Times . October 30, 1987, accessed on March 31, 2008 : "It stars Michael Nouri (" Flashdance "), as a tough Los Angeles detective who must say at one point," I don't believe this, "and Kyle MacLachlan ("Dune", "Blue Velvet"), as a human-looking alien from outer space, [...] who has a hangover after drinking too much beer, chews the Alka-Seltzer tablet. Maybe you have to see it to get the full import. On second thought, maybe not. "
  3. ↑ Brian Webster: The Hidden. In: apolloguide.com. Apollo Movie Guide, archived from the original ; accessed on September 27, 2017 (English): "The acting is barely passable [...] and much of the script is predictable, silly or both. The Hidden is uninspired but still reasonably good fun for action movie and sci-fi fans. "
  4. ↑ The Hidden - The unspeakable evil. In: Lexicon of International Films . Film service , accessed September 27, 2017 .Template: LdiF / Maintenance / Access used