FBI Particular Agent Dale Cooper of Twin Peaks is likely one of the most iconic TV protagonists of all time. His distinctive look, mannerisms, and eccentric method to investigating the homicide of Laura Palmer (Sheryl Lee) within the eponymous Washington city are all a part of why “Coop” is arguably essentially the most well-known position of actor Kyle MacLachlan‘s profession. However, even earlier than the present premiered on ABC in 1990, traces of the character of Dale Cooper may very well be seen in a few of MacLachlan’s movie roles. As an illustration, each MacLachlan (New York Instances) and Twin Peaks co-creator David Lynch (LA Instances) have described Cooper as an older model of Jeffrey Beaumont, the protagonist performed by MacLachlan within the 1986 movie Blue Velvet, which Lynch directed.
However, one 12 months after Blue Velvet, MacLachlan performed one other character who arguably bears an excellent higher resemblance to Cooper — one whom Lynch had nothing to do with. That might be Lloyd Gallagher, one of many two protagonists of the cult traditional sci-fi motion movie, The Hidden (1987). Like Cooper, Gallagher can be an FBI agent whose investigation takes him into the realm of the bizarre and weird. MacLachlan performs Gallagher with lots of the identical traits that will come to outline Dale Cooper: quirky, clever, barely mysterious, and, above all, deeply compassionate. Heck, The Hidden even has one other actor from Twin Peaks in it (Chris Mulkey, who performed Hank Jennings).
‘The Factor’ Meets ‘Quick and Livid’
The Hidden
- Launch Date
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October 30, 1987
- Runtime
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96 minutes
- Director
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Jack Sholder
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-
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Claudia Christian
Brenda Lee Van Buren
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Clarence Felder
Lt. John Masterson
The Hidden facilities on LAPD Sergeant Tom Beck (Michael Nouri) and FBI Agent Lloyd Gallagher (MacLachlan) as they examine an odd sequence of crimes throughout Los Angeles. Peculiar folks with no prison report abruptly start committing violent crimes, together with robberies and sports activities automobile thefts. A lot of the film’s runtime consists of over-the-top automobile chases and gunfights between the police and the criminals, accompanied by a soundtrack that’s primarily a compilation of deep cuts of Nineteen Eighties rock music.
However what makes The Hidden extra than simply one other tacky ’80s motion flick are the sci-fi components of its plot. Unbeknownst to the LAPD, the perpetrators of those spontaneous crimes are possessed by a small insect-like alien parasite. The alien provides the our bodies of its human hosts additional power and immunity to copious bullets. As well as, the parasite can transmit itself from one human host to a different when its outdated host turns into too severely broken, making it much more tough for the police to catch it. To make issues much more irritating, Sergeant Beck can inform that Agent Gallagher is aware of extra about the reason for the crimes than he lets on, creating stress between the 2 protagonists.
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The sensible results within the scenes the place the parasite enters, exits, and in any other case mutilates the our bodies of its human hosts would possibly remind viewers of The Nightmare on Elm Avenue franchise, which was distributed by the identical studio as The Hidden, New Line Cinema. In actual fact, The Hidden was produced by Elm Avenue producer (and New Line’s founder) Robert Shaye, and was directed by Jack Sholder, who additionally directed the second entry within the Nightmare sequence. However these sequences are extra strongly harking back to physique horror movies like David Cronenberg’s Videodrome (1983) and The Fly (1986), in addition to of John Carpenter’s The Factor (1982).
Kyle MacLachlan, the FBI, and Bizarre Investigations
Gallagher’s position in The Hidden is similar to Cooper’s in Twin Peaks. Each are FBI brokers who’re despatched from Washington D.C. to the West Coast to assist the native regulation enforcement examine a disturbing crime. As well as, each brokers depend on unconventional strategies of their investigations, that are initially handled with skepticism by the native police. On the one hand, Cooper bases his investigative strategies largely on his interpretations of his personal goals. Gallagher, then again, makes use of his information of the extraterrestrial to infer the alien’s skill to alter hosts. Likewise, the alien parasite that possesses folks in The Hidden arguably mirrors the evil spirit BOB in Twin Peaks, who also can possess and management folks.
Gallagher’s mannerisms are additionally fairly comparable, albeit not an identical, to Cooper’s. Like he would later do with Cooper, MacLachlan performs Gallagher as calm and well mannered, which starkly contrasts with the depth and coarseness of Beck in The Hidden. Gallagher speaks in fast, matter-of-fact statements, a character trait that can be harking back to Cooper. For instance, when Beck calls for that Gallagher disclose all the pieces that he is aware of about the reason for the crimes, he calmly replies, “A proof is not going to make it easier to.” When Beck persists, Gallagher merely repeats his reply with the very same tone of voice.
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The key distinction between Gallagher and Cooper is that the previous is way much less affable and upbeat than the latter. Whereas Cooper typically digresses to go with the surroundings, townsfolk, and occasional of Twin Peaks, Gallagher stays stoic and stern all through the entire movie, not often even cracking a smile. However, Gallagher shares Cooper’s compassion and altruism, and the deep bond that he varieties with Beck mirrors that of Cooper and Sheriff Harry S. Truman (Michael Ontkean) in Twin Peaks, leading to a surprisingly transferring climax and conclusion.
A ‘Hidden’ Gem
Whereas it’s miles from good and typically veers into overly tacky territory, The Hidden is however a really enjoyable watch. The automobile chases and gun fights are certain to please followers of motion/police motion pictures, whereas the extraterrestrial villain and particular impacts make this movie equally interesting to sci-fi followers. And, after all, followers of Twin Peaks can watch only for the enjoyment of seeing Kyle MacLachlan “making ready,” because it had been, for the position of Agent Cooper. Identical to Lynch and MacLachlan considered Cooper as an older model of Jeffrey in Blue Velvet, so can also Twin Peaks followers view Agent Gallagher as Cooper in an alternate universe.
The Hidden is offered for rental or buy on Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video, and Fandango at Dwelling.