The Hidden
An FBI agent and an LAPD detective form an unlikely partnership to stop an alien body-hopping criminal tearing through 1980s Los Angeles.
Overview
An alien force wreaks havoc on the streets of Los Angeles, leaving chaos in its wake.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Breakneck
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Graphic
- kinetic
- irreverent
- grim
- late night genre marathon
- cult movie night
What critics said
Critics broadly found the film to be a fast, inventive, surprisingly effective genre thriller whose energetic action, humor, and direction outweigh its conventional science-fiction resolution.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The alien parasite moves between human bodies while continuing a violent crime spree.
FBI agent Lloyd Gallagher teams with LAPD detective Tom Beck to track the hidden intruder.
The film combines automobile chases, murders, robberies, unexpected humor, and a surefooted action-thriller rhythm.
Los Angeles becomes the battleground for an extraterrestrial threat concealed inside human society.
Films like The Hidden, and why
The Terminator
shares an 1980s sci-fi action thriller framework, relentless pursuit, and alien infiltration premise
Invasion of the Body Snatchers
shares body possession horror, surreal genre blending, and a violent extraterrestrial threat
Night of the Comet
shares cult 1980s genre energy, dark humor, urban destruction, and horror-action spectacle
Fallen
shares buddy cop chemistry, serial-killer investigation, and grimy supernatural crime thriller atmosphere
Movie Details
- Director
- Jack Sholder
- Release Date
- 1987-10-30
- Runtime
- 97 min
- Rating
- 6.9 / 10 (520)
Cast
- Kyle MacLachlan
- Michael Nouri
- Ed O'Ross
- Claudia Christian
- William Boyett
- Chris Mulkey
- Clarence Felder
- Clu Gulager
- Richard Brooks
- Larry Cedar
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Hidden about?
- An FBI agent and an LAPD detective form an unlikely partnership to stop an alien body-hopping criminal tearing through 1980s Los Angeles.
- What is The Hidden like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Hidden as breakneck, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is The Hidden violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in The Hidden as graphic.
- What did critics think of The Hidden?
- Critics broadly found the film to be a fast, inventive, surprisingly effective genre thriller whose energetic action, humor, and direction outweigh its conventional science-fiction resolution.
- Which films are like The Hidden?
- Films with a similar feel include The Terminator, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, Night of the Comet, and Fallen.
- How long is The Hidden?
- The Hidden runs 97 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Hidden?
- In United States, The Hidden is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
