Review of The Hidden

"The Hidden" is an irrepressible, high-spirited genre flick full of screeching car chases, sprays of bullets and shattering glass that leaves more than a few casualties in its wake. It has a lot of fun with the body-switching premise and maintains a strong sense of humor throughout. Kyle MacLachlan's performance as the unearthly FBI agent offers another great reason to watch. Body switching sci-fi/horror fun from director Jack (Nightmare On Elm Street 2) Sholder, this can't quite keep up the breakneck pace or promise of the first half throughout but it manages to throw out an entertaining story that's loaded with a pleasing amount of action, some alright effects, and solid acting from its two leads Michael Nouri and Kyle MacLachlan. Scripter Jim Kouf (using the name Bob Hunt on the credits) even throws in a few jabs at 80's excess - like having a car salesman giving a potential customer cocaine when they're signing the papers and the Alien villain steals a huge stereo and plays some punk music.

Jack Sholder's direction is extremely good, not just in the excellent action scenes but in small character touches that add a lot and elevate it above the straight-to-video fodder of the day - it's a real movie movie, so much so that it's surprising he never broke into the mainstream. There's nothing much to say about it because it's just so much fun. If you like horror, action, or sci-fi, then you really should see this film. It has all of those elements, wrapped up in a simple plot with simple special effects and simplistic performances from its actors.

Overall rating: 8 out of 10.