This German short film was originally called TRAMPER with an English title of HITCHHIKER. The director is one Ivar Leon Menger, who tells the story of a young student driving home one night who hears that a psychopath has escaped from a local asylum (I know, that old chestnut). The problem for him is that he's just picked up a hitchhiker...
This short film, which was initially widely available on the Internet after release, clocks in at just 14 minutes, so the clichéd story of the mad hitchhiker never has time to get boring. Very well shot (as are most modern shorts), it basically offers a simple two-handed conversation between an innocent student and a guy who may or may not be a killer. The script is strong and the performances are fine, especially from Von Dohnanyi as the weirdo hitch-hiker. Best of all is the twist ending, which manages to throw a fresh spin on what is otherwise a very old story.
This short film, which was initially widely available on the Internet after release, clocks in at just 14 minutes, so the clichéd story of the mad hitchhiker never has time to get boring. Very well shot (as are most modern shorts), it basically offers a simple two-handed conversation between an innocent student and a guy who may or may not be a killer. The script is strong and the performances are fine, especially from Von Dohnanyi as the weirdo hitch-hiker. Best of all is the twist ending, which manages to throw a fresh spin on what is otherwise a very old story.