The Hitcher (1986)

Director:

Robert Harmon

Writer:

Eric Red (written by)

Release Date:

21 February 1986 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Crime | Drama | Horror | Thriller

Tagline:

The terror starts the moment he stops.

Plot:

A young man who escaped the clutches of a murderous hitch-hiker is subsequently stalked, framed for the hitcher's crimes, and has his life made into hell by the same man he escaped.

Plot Keywords:

Shot In The Neck | Body Torn Apart | Car Chase | Villain Played By Lead Actor | Vomit Scene

Awards:

3 wins

Cast

C. Thomas Howell	...	Jim Halsey
Rutger Hauer	...	John Ryder
Jennifer Jason Leigh	...	Nash
Jeffrey DeMunn	...	Captain Esteridge
John M. Jackson	...	Sergeant Starr (as John Jackson)
Billy Green Bush	...	Trooper Donner (as Billy Greenbush)
Jack Thibeau	...	Trooper Prestone
Armin Shimerman	...	Interrogation Sergeant
Gene Davis	...	Trooper Dodge (as Eugene Davis)
Jon Van Ness	...	Trooper Hapscomb
Henry Darrow	...	Trooper Hancock
Tony Epper	...	Trooper Conners
Tom Spratley	...	Proprietor
Colin Campbell	...	Construction Man

Runtime:

97 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

South Korea:18 | Iceland:16 | Australia:MA (cable rating) | Australia:R (original rating) | Canada:R | France:-12 | Italy:VM14 | New Zealand:R16 | Norway:18 | Portugal:M/18 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R | West Germany:18 | Finland:K-18 (1986) (uncut version) | Finland:K-16 (1993) (cut version) | Germany:BPjM Restricted

Filming Locations:

Amboy, California, USA

Company:

HBO Pictures

Trivia:

Eric Red, (writer), said that the film was inspired by the Doors song, "Riders on the Storm".

Goofs:

In the scene with the two police cars try to shoot out tires, not only can you see the ram holes in the bottom of the cars, just after that you can see a car battery and large air-tank fly out of a trunk. The air-tank is the power for the ram that flips the car. And that cars battery should have been in the front, not the trunk.

Quotes:

[Donner photographs Jim Halsey]
Trooper Donner: Well, these are real good. Your mama's gonna like those.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Far Out Man (1990)

Soundtrack:

DON'T STOP LOVIN' ME

Tense and interesting thriller that deserves its cult status

"The Hitcher" is one of those films that initially flopped during its original theatrical release, but gained a small cult following thanks to both video and subsequent late night television screenings. It certainly deserves the status, because while its not flawless, its an unique spin on the already done hitchhiking serial killer theme (Ida Lupino did the basic concept thirty years prior with "The Hitch-Hiker"). What makes it work so well ultimately is the degree of existential malaise and near supernatural occurrences. Some may complain about how implausible and increasingly far fetched the title villain's actions are, but I feel they completely work in favor of the film. It adds a dreamlike atmosphere that was completely missing from most of the 80s weak horror output. The ambiguous ending is also very interesting and open to debate.

The film is pretty well made for the most part. The direction by Robert Harmon (who did nothing worthwhile outside of this, making him a cinematic one hit wonder) keeps everything moving at a quick and tense pace. This is really as much an action film as it is a horror thriller. The acting is rather hit and miss. C. Thomas Howell is, unsurprisingly, pretty lousy but he somewhat improves (or maybe just becomes more bearable) as the film continues. Jennifer Jason Leigh doesn't really have much to do with her part, but makes what she can of it. However, as the hitcher himself, Rutger Hauer is terrifying, one of the most relentless and cold villains in all of cinema. Hes always watchable despite the crap hes often stuck in, and this is one of his finest roles. "The Hitcher" is a film that ultimately works despite the occasional odds against it. (7/10)