The Borrower (1991)

Director: John McNaughton

Starring: Rae Dawn Chong, Don Gordon, Tom Towles

Aliens punish one of their own by sending him to earth. The alien is very violent, and when the body he occupies is damaged, he is forced to find another.

An Alien serial killer is banished to Earth, and transformed into a human. On arrival on Earth, the alien’s head explodes. He kills a nearby man and takes his head. The man’s son runs for help, but the police believes him to be the killer. The police is baffled by the murder scene and the absence of the head.

The case is handed to tough cop Diana Pierce (Rae Dawn Chong), who just captured – and hospitalized – a convict named Scully. Diana and her partner Charles Krieger (Don Gordon) investigate the killings. Meanwhile, the alien is wandering Earth aimlessly, and befriends a homeless man, Julius. With the borrowed heads not lasting long, the alien continuously needs to find another head.

When Scully escapes from hospital, the suspense is elevated as he pursues Diana. The film features very good practical effects, and good performances all round. I also enjoyed the subtle humour scattered throughout this fantasy horror.

‘The Borrower’ received award nominations for Best Film, Best Makeup, Best Supporting Actor, and won for Best Special Effects.

Would I watch it again? Yes.