It’s been a couple of decades since I last watched this cult classic. I remember enjoying it at the time, but I never got around to watching it again, or enjoying if for the blog.

Until now.

Kyle MacLachlan coming off Blue Velvet, and just about to dig into Twin Peaks (coincidentally his character in this film claims to be an FBI agent from Washington State), stars alongside Michael Nouri in this science fiction cop thriller that has a lot of humor to it.

Beck (Nouri) is a Hollywood detective who is chasing a criminal who has an affectation for violence, Ferraris and hard rock. When Lloyd Gallagher (MacLachlan) shows up to work the case, Beck tries to tell him the case is over, but the violence, theft and tunes starts up again when the killer seems to body jump to another person.

Beck and the audience are chasing after Gallagher to catch up, even as the latest killer, Miller (William Boyett) begins to tear up the town. Gallagher reveals he has a personal stake in this hunt, the thing that is Miller killed his wife, child and partner.

But Gallagher may not be all he appears to be either.

Miller infects a local exotic dancer, Brenda (Claudia Christian), and that causes a whole new set of problems for Beck and Gallagher. It seems the body jumper is an alien on the run, and Gallagher is the alien version of law enforcement hunting down the killer.

But when they come up against a dead end, how will Gallagher and Beck find the new iteration of the killer? It’s only so long until the creature starts killing again, and until then innocent lives are in the balance.

Gallagher has to reveal the truth to Beck, even if he doesn’t believe it, and they’ll have to pair up to stop this creature once and for all.

There’s a fun supporting cast to the film including Richard Brooks, Lin Shaye, Chris Mulkey and Ed O’Ross (and oh my god there’s Danny Trejo!) and all of them seem to be tuned into the vibe of the film that walks a balance between cop thriller, science fiction romp, and a touch of buddy film.

There are also a lot of solid practical effects that stand up beautifully, and look amazing even today. MacLachlan delivers a just off-center performance so you realize right from the off that he’s not exactly local and Nouri plays it straight down the line as a cop who has seen everything, until he hasn’t.

It’s a damned fun film, and sure this idea has been done a number of times, but never with such an eye towards ensuring the viewer has a good time. Love this one.