User reviews

****SPOILERS**** After the Cuban Ambassador to the UN is assassinated in New York City the CIA, with the help of Cuban government officials, trace the killer to be the daughter of an exiled anti-Castro Cuban living in the Czech Republic who's a professional assassin named Simone Rosset and using the name of Yanna Natova, Maruschka Detmers.

With a major meeting by the Cuban and US government set in Prague to re-establish diplomatic relations between those two countries it's expected that Simone will disrupt the meeting by trying to kill both the Cuban and US officials expected to sign that agreement.

Sending US Marshall Michael Dane, Dolph Lundgren, to arrest Simone and bring her back to the US to stand trial for the Cuban Ambassador's murder Michael is met by his long time friend and US government agent Alex Reed, John Aston, to help him in finding and arresting Simone.

After tracking her down during a number of car and train chases as well as a dangerous jump, from a high bridge into the Danube River, that almost killed both Michael and Simone, Michael finally captures her. Later as Michael is about to take Simone to the Prague airport to fly with her back to the US, to be tried for murder, Simone tells him that she never was in New York the day of the Ambassador's killing and never left the Czech Republic in five years; Simone also tells Michael that she'll never live to stand trial. Simone's prediction comes sadly true when she's assassinated in a Prague hotel room after Michael saved her life from a number of assassin attempts that he foiled.

One of Dolph's better efforts showing that he could act as well as haul and kick butt that he's so well known for. Realizing, too late to save Simone's life, that it's evident that there are those in higher ups in both the US and Cuban governments who don't want that signing to take place Michael goes to the signing ceremony in Prague to prevent it from being disrupted by the real assassins of the Cuban UN Ambassador.

Great action scenes that leave you black and blue just from watching them with Dolph Lundgren at his best as the reluctant hero who breaks with his superiors, to stop the very assassination that he was assigned by them to prevent, who think that the real killer is already dead.

Maruschka Detmers is the biggest surprise in the movie by being every bit as good as Dolph in the action scenes but also touches the heart-strings with her both sensitive as well as tragic performance as the doomed Simone. Tremendous final under the streets and on top of the buildings of picturesque Prague with Dolph Lundgren, bloody T-shirt and all, saving the day by putting the bad guys on ice as well as single-handedly restoring US-Cuban relations for the first time in some forty years.

I feel bad writing this review, since my far-from-perfect rating mostly reflects my disappointment in having expected a different kind of movie. Honestly, HIDDEN AGENDA is a pretty good film from Dolph Lundgren's early DTV career...if you're looking for a spy thriller. The film is directed by the maker of FIRST BLOOD and co-written by one of the scribes behind STATE OF PLAY. Contained within a low-budget sphere, the quality is there, but it just doesn't deliver the kind of thrills I want to see from the Swedish Superman. This is definitely a movie you'll have to check out for yourself to get the full gist of it, unless you're looking for a genuine action film like me - then you can save your money.

The story: CIA agent Michael Dane (Lundgren) is assigned to apprehend the prime suspect in an ambassador's murder (Maruschka Detmers) in Prague and bring her to America, not knowing that he's about to be thrown into a web political intrigue and treachery.

Considering that the film was made for a slim $7 million and as a cooperative effort among five countries, it looks admirably good. There's one embarrassing instance early in the picture where the filmmakers had to fudge a laser pointer, but otherwise, director Ted Kotcheff's capabilities shine through - not only by successfully filming scenes you wouldn't expect to find in a cheap film, but also by making the East European filming location fun to look at. Authentic Czech is spoken throughout, which is pretty nice, and the film maintains a sense of gravity and importance that'd be exceedingly rare in Lundgren's subsequent career.

The movie isn't completely without good action. There's even a segment I particularly like, wherein Lundgren has a shootout with a sniper while clinging to the ledge of a tall building. However, the problem is that very little of the action is the kind that I like. It's almost all shootouts and car chases, which leaves exceedingly little room for martial arts. Lundgren once claimed to have injured himself before he could complete all of the scenes, which might explain the lack of more hand-to-hand action, but it's still disappointing. Additionally, however good the writing might detail the progression of the whodunit-style mystery, I have to take it to point for its truly forced romance between our two leads. Apparently Dolph's charms are so great in this picture that not even a lesbian character can withstand him.

For most fans, I'd imagine the movie is at least worth a look, unless you're on the same page as me and would miss the almost-nonexistent fisticuffs.

I got it because I'm a Maruschka Detmers fan, and I wasn't disappointed in her part, however limited it was in showcasing her talents. I didn't take this movie seriously, and I'll bet the actors had fun making this movie.

The scenery and location were very impressive, the interaction between the main characters was good, with a touch of (unintended?) comedy throughout. Some of the scenes were unbelievable, but that just added to the feeling that you couldn't take this seriously as an action-adventure movie. For example, how could Michael pass by all the security points, evil bad guys pursuing him unscathed? If it isn't taken seriously, well that's the fun of it.

I had never seen Dolph Lundgren act before, and was comparing him to Arnold... both are hard workers.

The story line is this movie's weakest point, along with a few minor characters who obviously were put in the movie for appearance but no acting ability whatsoever.

Overall, I liked it and after repeated viewings, I still enjoy it.

„The Shooter" (also known as „Hidden assassin") is a boring , unsurprising and unexciting thriller. The major twist is obvious after few minutes and the rest of the story is predictable and boring. "The Shooter" tries to intrigue people with political commentary about the relationships between the U.S. and the Czech Republic, but fails miserably. There is some action here – car chases , fights and shootouts but it's all completely flat and joyless. It's hard to believe that this movie was directed by Ted Kotcheff – the same guy who did so well with "Rambo first blood". There is some suspense here and there , but it's simply not enough.

The Prague looks nice and John Ashton ("Beverly hills cop") is OK as Lundgren's buddy. Lundgren tries hard , but the screenplay doesn't really give him too much to work with. There is also some nudity , but not on the level of "Basic instinct" to make this movie interesting.

A headache. I give it 1/10.

Although this film is not interesting for its acting or its story line, you must see it (even with the sound off) if only for the absolutely gorgeous set design, lighting design, and cinematography, which combine to make this film an eye-popping piece of eye candy. It helps that the filmmakers had the beautiful old city of Prague to film in, with its rich architectural history, romantic interiors, cobblestone streets, etc. I wanted to print out almost every scene in the film and then frame them for my walls, so gorgeous were almost all the frames of film. Try it for this! You'll love it!

Dolph Lundgren in a murkily-lit modestly-budgeted Co-European production, I have to say, is not a prospect to get the average moviegoer's pulse racing; Dolph is the poor man's Arnie – not, as it turns out, because of acting ability or screen presence, but simply because Arnie came first. Nevertheless, that's the way it is for poor old Dolph, so throughout the 90s all he seemed to get were the scraps that fell from Arnie's table. This one isn't as bad as you might expect. It isn't good either, but it's serviceable.

It certainly improves on a weak first ten minutes that are hampered by some lousy lighting and even lousier acting from the likes of Gavan O'Herlihy who chews scenery like a man with indigestion who doesn't wish to appear impolite. Dolph is Michael Dane, a US Marshal on the hunt for Simone Rosset (Maruschka Detmers) a shapely assassin suspected of doing a Frank Sinatra and coming out of retirement to off a Cuban ambassador. Rosset, however, pleads her innocence, and Dane uncovers doings of the murky variety when he investigates a little further.

Detmers is an actress new to me, but she adds a touch of class to an otherwise pedestrian action movie. Her character is obviously modelled on Nikita, but Simone is a part-time lesbian with a taste for good wine and a knack for jumping off high places. Detmers gives the impression she is slumming – that's how classy she is. Lundgren gives a decent enough performance too, but the story lets them both down in crucial areas. Dane is just a little too dim, even for a Marshal. He uses a tactic of self-mutilation instead of surveillance, stages a car chase which nearly ends up with him and his passenger being squashed between two tram cars simply because he wants to drive rather than be driven, and shoots indiscriminately into a moving train. On the plus side, the story does at least try to be a little different from the countless other mid-budget efforts out there, adding an unexpected twist that is well-timed and effective, and making use of some terrific Prague location work.

This one is for those times when you really don't want to think about what you are watching; it's for when you want the film to do all the work and lay everything out for you without inserting any sly subtexts, etc. The action set-pieces are a little workmanlike – the budgets restricts them to a couple of car chases and a lot of gunfights – but one, carried out on the rooftops of Prague, is pretty cool.

No-one sitting down to watch a film like this should be doing so with high expectations, so it follows then that no-one should be disappointed

I quite like watching Dolph Lundgren movies that are high on atmosphere. One of my favourite movies is Silent Trigger, which is just gorgeously shot. So I read reviews of this one as being also beautiful, and there's sniping in the movie too, so I went with it.

I'm not going to make a huge fuss and tell you that the movie is Barry Lyndon, but it really is purty. I'll get to that after a brief round up of the plot.

So the Dolphage here is US Marshal Michael Dane, who has been sent abroad to kidnap Simone Rosset (Maruschka Detmers), a sniper who is accused of assassinating a Cuban official in New York, and bring her to trial. I don't quite know how controversial such an extra-jurisdictional kidnapping is, there are documented cases of the US doing it, but I wouldn't have thought the US Marshal service would have been employed. It's morally wrong, as Rosset says in the movie, if the Czechs abducted a US citizen from Pittsburgh for trial in the Czech Republic, that would be a huge international incident.

Thing is she may not even have done it, and Dane (like Waxman in Silent Trigger) has a troubled conscience. Rosset has been in retirement for at least a decade and is now running a restaurant in Prague with her lover Marta (Assumpta Serna), their world is not just a little intoxicating to Dane. You get a sense, when he sees Simone's expressive dancing in a lesbian night club, that it's an image that will be engraved into his mind for the rest of his days. Assumpta Serna's presence is welcome, she's an unbelievable sauce who actually appears to have more sexual power 10 years later in the Quay Brothers' superb movie PianoTuner of Earthquakes at the age of nearly 50.

Purty places include the fabulous Czech restaurant, which I suspect is probably a little more touristy than the movie suggests (you can see Alphonse Mucha designs on the backs of the menus - famous artist of Prague). There's also a lovely wine cellar, and Marta's flat is quite beautiful. Something I harp on about a lot is the transformative quality of interior design in movies, it really does help if you have good diegetic lighting and plush dream apartments in movies. Marta has candles a plenty, cushions on the floor to lounge on, and lovely greenery everywhere, cheese plants, mimosa, and the like. Marta and Simone, one gets the impression, are experts at living.

Although others have said that the special effects are not all that, I think there's a couple of pretty cool ones, take the leap to the metro car for example. It's true that the movie is a cheapie compared with modern stuff, but I don't think a few cases of movie explosives were going to make this one better.

The plot is fairly much all over the place, and the Cuban officials in the movie a big annoyance, the fact that Dolph is basically the adopted son of one of the spooks comes off as pretty silly, as does the major plot twist. Despite what is also a fairly ludicrous ending, there are very cool parts to the script, such as the observation by Alex (the adoptive father), that the only time self-doubt is useful is when you're playing Hamlet on stage. There's also a kind of strange beauty to the fights between Dolph and Simone, in that he's more than twice her size, and yet she has enough nouse to make them last out.

The lasting value is in the film's aesthetics, and the haunting of Dane, as well as the occasional fairly cool special effect. It joins my list of flawed but very purty and lovable movies that were made during my childhood, alongside the likes of Albert Pyun's Cyborg, and Wes Craven's Shocker.

'The Shooter' (aka 'Hidden Assassin' which I find much cooler title) is quite trivial on the plot wise - special agent goes to Prague to catch supposed assassin, but things aren't like they seem. But the movie is well shot - bleak and cold cinematography creates nice '90s Eastern-European vibe, and somehow manages to feel artistic. By the time of filming this movie Dolph Lundgren's acting range had improved a lot and he is not as wooden as in some of his earlier movies. Heavely flawed, but still enjoyable time passer.

Though this film would be classed as mediocre by most, I rate this movie fairly high. The scenery is fantastic, the soundtrack is interesting with its combination of suspense and smooth jazz, and with Dolph Lundgren side-kicked with John Ashton you get a smooth, even dose of action, adventure and comedy.

Though the movie does seem slow at times, and you tend to forget the characters names or the reason why Dolph is actually there in the first place, the movie does provide decent suspense and action throughout.

I didn't like the fact that Dolph's main wound (his arm) was self-inflicted and rather, well... pointless. However, the rooftop-gunfight scene (end) and the part where Dolph takes out a sniper with a handgun are simply a must see! (Believable? It is within Dolph's power, ha-ha!)

The ending is simply awesome. Enough said.

This movie is fantastic, you'll either rate it as a masterpiece or just a decent, action flick; but nothing lower.

"Hidden Assassin" (aka "The Shooter") is one of those generic action/thriller revolving political assassinations in Europe and one heroic American marshall (Dolph Lundgren) trying to find an excellent shooter who already made a victim and he or she is about to add another important victim to his infamous resume. The director of "First Blood" finds an amazing aspect to everything which is the actual locations in Czech Republic; a couple of fun action sequences where the stunt folks face shown without shame; and Lundgren's cold charisma as an action hero.

But storywise? Nothing new under the sun with its narrative going on a Cold War mode way too late in time and way too contrived, and lacking in both substance and missing many connections. Yet it's fun to watch, especially for Dolph's moments following the alleged shooter, a bisexual beautiful woman (Maruschka Detmers) involved with another woman (Assumpta Serna), a restaurant owner; and there's also some fun bits with Dolph's buddy, played by John Ashton.

In the headless plot, the Cuban Ambassador gets killed off and now authorities are on the run to catch who did it, before said person takes another political victim. That fact is easily established, we know. What's never clear relates to the hired hands, the people with the money, it's hard to figure out why those hits must be made - especially in an out of Cold War scenario (but the visual and the places makes it look like it was in the dying days of Soviet Union and U. S. global duel). Zero intelligence in creating a story, the rest of its appeal comes with some fights, many gunshooting and deaths, and lovely moments between the couple fighting each other. Much to our luck, Billy Ray moved on to more serious and better scripts.

Not sure exactly what it was, but it end being an enjoyable flick with the few thrills it offers - the escape on the bridge and the one in the train are pretty good, except seeing the extra looking weird at the camera (fun stuff). Mostly, I wasn't bored and that must account for something. 6/10.

Hidden Assassin (its proper name is The Shooter) is not just another mindless Dolph Lundgren actioner. It's a fairly well-plotted and exciting political thriller with some fine acting and great action sequences. But the real best thing about this movie is the setting. Filmed on location in Prague, the film looks beautiful and often stunning. Dolph plays a US Marshall (surprise, surprise) who is sent to Prague to find the assassin who killed the Cuban ambassador. Detmers is a beautiful bisexual assassin who Dolph gets caught up with, and before long the two of them are walking on dangerous ground while trying to stay alive the whole time. The suspense is always growing, as we never know who the killer is, wondering if it's Dolph's boss or even Detmers herself... I really like this movie. It's entertaining to watch and full of twists and surprises. Overall, I would probably recommend this one over some of Dolph's most well-known movies (Red Scorpion, Universal Soldier). Though without it's share of plot-holes, this remains a fun and very enjoyable romp.

An alright film altogether. Decent acting from dolph and the rest of the cast. The hair suited him. The action was pretty good and there were some things that I did not see coming. I have to say its one of the better action films I have seen recently and altogether it was a fun watch.

As a Dolph Lundgren fan this film goes down as one of my prefered viewings. I do like a good thriller, with some plot twists and tension. This film has those but to a mild degree, your not going to get really excited at this compared to something like Mission Impoosble with its high production and A-list cast but for a B-movie this is a good film that is surprising in places and reasonably well written.

Dolph plays Michael Dane, who is working with the FBI to try to capture a known assasin played by the sexy Maruschka Detmers. Dane does not beleive she killed the Cuban Ambassador, but he still has to bring her into custody in the build up to a summit between the US and Cuba to try to get the two country's to shake and make up if you like. The plot at times raises questions that many action thrillers do, for instance why are they doing that? one particular example is the inclusion of Dolphs character, he is flown in from New York to Prague simply to arrest this Woman, why on Earth she wasn't brought in before is beyond me, especially considering that her whereabouts were known. A lot doesn't make sense but those minor quibbles aside, the film is nicely paced and is enjoyable.

The acting is good, Dolph is assured and puts in one of his better performances, he has great chemistry with the excellent Maruschka who in turn also shows great chemistry with Assumpta Serna who plays Marta the possible lover of Simone. That is another mystery of the film, the sexual preference of Simone (Detmers) this does kind of undermine the development of a relationship between Dolph and Maruschkas characters. Also good is John Ashton as a bit of comic support as Danes Foster father and aid in the hunt for Simone.

Furthermore, the action scenes. They are not overly stylish but are exciting, Dolph is in prime condition to dish out a battering and there is some good gun play included as well. Particular standout scenes are the capturing of Simone, and her subsequant escape. Also later in the film when Dolph rescues Simones character and just after when they both escape. The end is good to with the music helping to really build everything to a climactic crescendo.

Overall this is a fairly decent thriller, with some nice lighting in the dark shots, and some nice and suitably dank locations. Dolph and Maruschka have a great chemistry, and the twists in the film are good. I would give this a 7/10

It's really hard to believe that this movie was directed by the same person who directed FIRST BLOOD. I was expecting top-grade action, especially since Lundgren was the star, but the movie is a real bore. Oh, there are shootings, hand-to-hand combat, and chases, but all of this is presented to come across as just as unexciting as the rest of the movie. The script is (mostly) unsurprising, containing a major plot twist that you'll see coming from the first few minutes of the movie. (Though I admit the eventual plot turn concerning the female lead did give me a surprise.) Movie is also badly photographed, with muddy colors throughout. Lundgren tries, but is pretty overwhelmed, and the best performance turns out to be by John Ashton, playing Lundgren's buddy. Recommended only to die-hard (and very forgiving) Lundgren fans.

I saw this movie for the first time shortly after its release and at the time I thought it was rather average. After almost 29 years, I look at it in a completely different light and am much more able to appreciate its positive aspects. The film perfectly portrays the atmosphere of the 90s, the filming locations were chosen really well. The story makes sense, the acting is nothing to complain about. I like that despite the action feel, the film also affects the viewer's emotions. Most of all, I have to appreciate a great camera with a careful composition. Everything is enhanced by impressive music.

Incredibly forgetful and incomprehensible hodgepodge about a U.S. marshal, Michael Dane (Dolph Lundgren) out to investigate the recent assassination of a Cuban ambassador to the U.S. in New York City. His adventures lead him to the city of Prague in the Czech Republic where he must apprehend an apparent "suspect" (Maruschka Detmers), who may or may not be the one responsible for the killing. He must then return her to New York City in the United States of America so that she may await trial for the murder.

As time goes by, Dane and the alleged "professional assassin" are on the lam. They run from the police, various bad guys, and lots of shootings occur.

The gorgeous on-location filming at some of the finest monuments found at the Czech Republic are a mild virtue and THE SHOOTER (also known as HIDDEN ASSASSIN) has occasional suspense.

Unfortunately, those are not good enough redeeming factors to give this film high marks. THE SHOOTER tries to intrigue people with political commentary about the relationships between the U.S. and the Czech Republic, but yet again, it fails miserably. The action in THE SHOOTER is abysmal, the guns blazing add nothing new to the genre, and these type of thrillers are becoming tiresome as they perish on the video shelves. THE SHOOTER is another bravura waste of time.

RATING: *1/2 out of ****.

The Shooter (Or Hidden Assassin) is a mid 90's Dolph film with a reasonable budget directed by Ted Kotcheff who also filmed First Blood. The film is not a straight ahead action film, more a political thriller filmed on location in Prague, which looks fantastic. A welcome addition to the cast is John Ashton of Beverley Hills Cop fame, and he is good in this, stealing every scene he is in. Action scenes when they come are well shot, and Dolph although stilted in some of the dialogue scenes is in commanding form when it it comes to the action set pieces. You have to give credit to Dolph for trying his hand at a more thriller style of action film and it pays off. He is helped by a strong supporting cast and a known director. This seems to be a little heard of film, and one which deserves to be more appreciated. I have seen it a few times and always enjoy it. If you come across this on TV or a streaming service, give it a go, you may be surprised by it.

Don't let the low on imdb score fool you. The Shooter aka Hidden Assassin is a slick, stylish 90s spy thriller that deserves a reappraisal.

Directed by Ted 'First Blood' Kotcheff and starring the very talented Maruschka Detmers as Simone Rosset and with additional support from John Ashton and Gavan O'Herilhy.

This is not your typical Dolph Lundgren action movie and although it's not a classic, It's is a very undervalued film that is much better than the reviews would have you believe.

The movie was filmed mainly in the Czech Republic, in Prague and the setting gives the movie a gritty down to earth feeling.

I would definitely recommend this film. It's a bit of a slow burn at times but it's a solid 90s action/thriller that is very good if not great.

3/5 stars.

After the Cuban ambassador was killed in New York, relations between the United States and the Island of Freedom were greatly strained. In an extremely unfriendly atmosphere, preparations were underway for the Cuban-American summit to be held in Prague. Having received information about a possible attempt on the heads of the two states, the CIA sent one of its best agents, Michael Dane, to the Czech capital. He managed to neutralize Simone Rosse, a specialist in the field of hired murders and the owner of a Prague nightclub. It was her handwriting that was clearly traced in the murder of the Cuban ambassador. However, when Simone was already in Michael's hands, he was surprised to discover that there was another, unknown killer "working under Simone"...