Rutger Hauer owns The Hitcher. He hitches a ride with C Thomas Howell and he soon regrets his goodwill. People are killed along the way and the good Samaritan finds himself in deep doo doo. JJ Leigh appears as a waitress who gets tied up with the events. Howell spirals into Dante's Inferno with cops on the chase. Although farfetched I was entertained by the movie.
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billcr124 June 2021
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Yes, this movie would be remade years later with Sean Bean cast as the hitchhiker that likes to play some rather brutal games and one has to wonder why. Rutger Hauer was perfectly cast here as the psycho and his performance could not have been topped. Maybe they felt the need for a female lead rather than the male one because you know how females never get the chance to be the main character who survives in a horror movie (heavy sarcasm here). This is basically a story of a young man driving in the middle of nowhere who looks to have been very bored and in the need of some company. He finds some in the form of a hitchhiker and suffice to say he should have listened to all the warnings he got of hitchhikers, but on the plus side his travels in the middle of nowhere are about to be a lot less dull. You get a great scene as the two opponents as it were square off for the first time with the young man seemingly getting the better of the hitcher in round one. Unfortunately, everyone in this desert seems to be to kind for their own good as the guy sees the psycho in a car with a family. So other face-offs with this hitcher are coming up and some will be very violent indeed. A rather good thriller/horror type movie with my main complaint coming towards the end as how was he not handled better than that? Other than that you get a very good and chilling game of cat and mouse and you get a performance by Hauer that could not have possibly been beat.
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dvc515913 October 2007A normal ordinary guy picks up a stranger in the middle of nowhere so that he could drive awake. Little does he know that he's going into a road trip from hell...
Rutger Hauer give what I think is his best performance. Sure, there was that menacing Replicant in Blade Runner, but this one overshoots it by a long shot. He delivers a performance so good, that you'll find it difficult to question whether his character is believable or unbelievable.
C. Thomas Howell, one one of the kids in Steven Spielberg's ET, plays the protagonist. Here, he faces every driver's worst nightmare imaginable, and he delivers it with realism. Howell also demonstrates how an ordinary teenager can change into a helpless being who is caught between a psychopathic game of cat-and-mouse set by a brutal man hell-bent on killing him.
The nice New Mexico cinematography of which the film was filmed and set gives tranquility to the picture and makes the film looks good while delivering the thrills. Strongly supporting this topic is composer Mark Isham's gritty yet beautiful score. It;s just perfect for this kind of movie.
The action sequences are handled very nicely here. We got a petrol station blowing up, an intense police car chase, and one of the greatest endings in cinematic history. Period.
The Hitcher (1986) is one of the first films I have ever watched, and I still cherish it to this day. The 2007 remake, or rather, reDO, is a shallow and uninspiring music-videoish piece of crud that will only be liked by the MTV generation, but never the fans of the original. Why was it remade, we will never know.
Overall, it is an excellent movie and one of the best thrillers ever made. Pick this one up, guys, it's worth it.
8/10 -
Backlash0076 November 2001The Hitcher is a marvelous thriller and Rutger Hauer is truly scary as hell. He is undoubtedly one of the best villains in cinematic history. The game that Hauer and C. Thomas Howell play out makes for a great way to spend an hour and a half of your life. You can't help but feel sorry for Howell as he can never escape the madman. Hauer has zero motive and that makes him all the more evil. And how he always finds Howell is something that is unnerving and unexplainable. It's like their paths were meant to cross somewhere out in in the desert. Eric Red's script leaves nothing to be desired. The scene where Howell is eating french fries is one of the most unforgettable in horror history. And so is the event that leads to the capture of Hauer. The end is fantastic and it's something that you want to do through the entire movie. It will definitely make you think twice before picking up hitchhikers. If you enjoyed The Hitcher, Check out Hitch-Hike (with David Hess) and Duel.
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conono4 August 2005Murder Spree Road Flick. Contains many fairly stupid moments ("plot holes") and yet remains gripping throughout its length. Graphic, stunning violence; be warned.
Howell is slightly vapid yet pretty and his relations with Rutger Hauer verge on the homo-erotic. Hauer is a near-perfect villain, demonstrating the steely resolve and psychological impenetrability that have made him a favorite "bad guy" in other films.
A great movie for the paranoid who wish to feed their fantasies. Owes something to Spielberg's "Duel" but remains its own film. Relatively spare visual style well-suited to the theme. Recommended, but not for the faint of heart. -
malkane31625 April 2005A definitive Road Movie which features some impressive stunt work, chases and crashes, as well as a storming performance from Rutger Hauer and some shocking moments and twists. One of the best underrated films of the eighties, and apparently set to be remade. Sigh.
C.Thomas Howell plays a Jim, young man with the job of driving a car for his company through the desert to California. One ominous, rainy night he sees a hitchhiker at the side of the road, and decides to pick him up. 'My mother told me never to do this' he says jokingly, but it soon becomes clear that the hiker, John Ryder is a little strange. He doesn't talk much and soon becomes violent and sadistic. Jim grows increasingly worried and gets rid of the Hitcher when he gets the chance. This gets his heart pumping, and he drives on. However, later he finds that the Hitcher is following him, and that he is a murderer, getting picked up, killing those in the car, and moving on. He is a serial killer of anyone who picks him up. When Jim sees him in the back of car with a family he tries to warn them but they don't realise. Later he finds their car, empty at the side of the road. Jim reports the deaths, but Ryder makes it look as if Jim is the killer, continually framing him. Jim meets a truck stop waitress, Nash who believes he is innocent and joins him on the road, but Ryder, and the cops are on his tail. Just when Jim thinks he is safe, that the cops believe him, Ryder appears and destroys everything again with an uncanny ability to kill and survive. Eventually he catches up with Jim and Nash, and kidnaps her. The cops come too late, and see that Jim was telling the truth all along. He has Nash in a slightly dangerous position and wants Jim to come with him to save her life. Soon the pair are on the road together in one final fight and chase where Jim becomes more and more violent and unhinged.
The ambiguous ending is a source of much discussion, as are many of the unanswered questions of the film. But we're smart kids, we can figure it out. We do not need to know any motive for murder- does it matter when someone is stalking you relentlessly? This adds to the tension of the chase, and the madness to Ryder's character. The reasons do not matter, it is the fact that we will spend time trying to work it out rather than facing the fact that someone is after us and trying to deal with it. You can search for reasons afterwards, if you must. Reasons are given for comfort, so that we have something concrete to hold on to, but we are not meant to feel any comfort here. It is a nightmare which seems to get worse as it continues, and there seems to be no escape, Hitchcockian in the way the falsely accused man is sought and tries to prove his innocence. In the end this does not matter either- all that matters from the start is what happens between Jim and John. Nash is a tragic figure, showing what can happen to the innocent when they get involved with something evil. A killer of Ryder's nature does not care who gets in his way, by the point where he catches Nash, all he cares about is changing and hurting Jim. Does Jim become like Ryder by the end? Is he redeemed or cursed by getting revenge? This is up to us.
Some of the crashes here rank with The Road Warrior as some of the best ever filmed. They are filmed in such a way to heighten the sense of Ryder's madness and seeming immortality, and to show the growing fear and detachment of Jim. The score is also very subtle, and the dialogue, especially between Jim and John is meant to be ambiguous and give rise to questions-Ryder is looking for a reaction and thought from Jim, as the director is from us. Hauer steals the film, giving arguably his best performance, and it remains one of the best performances in a horror movie. Howell has caused annoyance amongst critics and viewers for his performance, but he portrays the fear, naivety and excitement of a teen going out on his own for the first time. His portrayal of being wrongly accused, trying to escape the cops and Ryder, trying to save others, and eventually becoming solely interested in revenge, is perfect and could not be bettered by any other actor. Leigh as Nash is also strong and we feel sympathy for her as she is drawn deeper into the game, and she offers a softer emotional content than the two increasingly frantic men give. Say what you will of her treatment, but this was the only way Ryder could get what he wanted from Jim. A cult classic which deserves much credit and respect.
9 out of 10 -
vertigo_1410 March 2005I loved this movie as a kid, this thriller of an idiotic loner kid who's driving across the country and, deciding at the wrong moment to be generous, picks up a suspicious hitchhiker that turns out to be a killer on the lose. Something like 'Roadgames' and later borrowed upon for 'Joy Ride,' the "Hitcher," a psychopathic villain masterfully played by Rutger Hauer chases the kid all over the lonely deserted highway attempting to kill him. And, as usual, no one believes the kid and usually suspect him to be either a babbling weirdo or the murder suspect that the town has been after. Only one girl, played by Jennifer Jason Leigh, is willing to believe him, but is soon about to regret it. There are a lot of good brief moments of flinch scares and the usual story line. Maybe if C Thomas Howell, who takes the lead alongside Rutger Hauer and Jennifer Jason Leigh as one of the three primary characters, hadn't hammed up the role so much by being far too wimpy in a situation requiring at least some intelligence and planning ahead (once he figures out that he's being hounded by a madman), it might've been more tolerable when I saw it years later. The filmmakers might have been looking for a naive young man-type to fill the role, but they might've done better with someone who could at least behave a little more aggressively once he figured out that this deranged stalker isn't going to quit and that he's pretty much on his own to put a stop to him.
I think, after watching it with my friends and having them point out how incredibly ridiculous, and most especially, how sometimes dragged out, this movie is, I was swayed to view this movie with a bit more skepticism. But, it being a Rutger Hauer movie, I still watch it when I'm in the mood for the "run or die" variety of thrillers. Still worth seeing. -
The Hitcher (1986) was a directing debut for Robert Harmon, who had previously worked as a cameraman. The film is written by Eric Red whose other credits as a writer include brilliant Near Dark by Kathryn Bigelow. The Hitcher tells the story of an ordinary young man, who is taking his friend's car to other state/destination through the empty and deserted roads of America. He is very tired and almost collides with a huge truck. It rains hard. Soon he notices a figure standing by the side of the road raising his thumb..Our youngster unwisely stops and says the legendary line: "My mom always told not to do this." And then, the incredible and surrealistic nightmare begins...
This film is unbelievably beautifully shot and it is easy to see that Harmon was cinematographer before this directing debut. Camera flows and moves so smoothly and gently that the atmosphere is guaranteed to last throughout the film. The music by Mark Isham is also extremely important element and with the exceptional camerawork, these are the greatest elements in this piece of difficult art. The scenes are very similar in mood to Kathryn Bigelow's Near Dark which has the unforgettable music by Tangerine Dream, and both films are scripted by Eric Red, as mentioned earlier. The Hitcher is one of the most beautiful terror films I've ever witnessed.
The Hitcher is not a realistic film and the hitcher character played by Rutger Hauer is not a realistic human being as he can follow the young protagonist (C.J Howell) anywhere and always knows where he is. He will kill the youngster no matter what and no one can tell why. Even the hitcher himself doesn't give a clear answer when he is asked why he kills and does these horrific things. My opinion is that the hitcher is a double side of Howell's personality (everyman's personality) and he is the bad and evil side of human beings' nature. The hitcher is pure evil and no one can change his thoughts and mind, because evil cannot be changed or turned into "good." It is about which side, evil or good, is one's primary personality. There are always both sides, but the both cannot influence at the same time..Howell has to destroy the hitcher/his bad and evil side in order to continue his life and recognize and accept his and others' "dual personality" in the future. There are no good persons in the world, there are only persons who can control their bad/evil side and keep it "un-active", and so they can be considered "good."
Couple of scenes are totally outstanding in their virtuosity such as the scene where two police cars are destroyed by a shotgun blast and they fly and crash in a slow motion. That kind of thing would never happen in real world, but those unrealistic scenes make this film even more nightmarish and effective. Also, the end scene between these two protagonists, Hauer and Howell, is memorable and gorgeously shot. I will definitely not spoil how this one ends, but at the end, the main character is much more wiser and knows that human beings and thus himself are not as simple as one might think..
There is no point in describing the greatest scenes in the film because the whole film is so great. It is unmatchable nightmare that has no equal in history of cinema. It handles the theme of wickedness in a form of road movie and horror movie and the result is perfect piece of art. When I said earlier "difficult art" I meant that due to the film's violence (there is not plenty, but that what is on screen is brutal and disturbing) this may be too hard to take and understand for most of the viewers. So this cannot be recommended for everybody like some mainstream movie, but people with open minds and hunger for intelligent and symbolic cinema should love this film, even though it is pretty difficult to "love" !
I have seen this three times now and it unfolds more and more with each viewing time. 10 out of 10 masterpiece. -
ccthemovieman-116 December 2005The first time I saw this movie it just about terrified me....and few films have ever done that to me as an adult. Rutger Hauer was haunting as the demented killer.
The film moves very fast in this story of a maniac stalking a young motorist (C. Thomas Howell). Two subsequent viewings have quieted the fear but it's still a very chilling film and should keep most people riveted to the screen. It's an hour- and-a-half that will fly by with action and suspense.
On the negative side, not once but twice we have to watch Howell vomit. Neither he nor female lead Jennifer Jason Leigh are likable "good guys." (Of course, when has Leigh ever been a "good person" on screen?) The police, as usual in films, are pictured as sadistic, short-tempered idiots. Finally, credibility gets stretched a bit, particularly in the last 30 minutes.
So....expect a lot of good and a fair share of bad in this film. But, overall, it will be a film that will get your attention, beginning with Mr. Hauer. -
STAR RATING: ***** Saturday Night **** Friday Night *** Friday Morning ** Sunday Night * Monday Morning
Jim Halsey (C Thomas Howell) is a young man driving his car down a freeway one night who suddenly decides to stop for a man who is hitching a ride. That man is John Ryder (Rutger Hauer.) From the off-set, he doesn't make himself out to be a nice guy and he doesn't let up from there- threatening to kill Jim for no reason and making him sweat for his life. Jim manages to get rid of his twisted assailant- only to be thrown headlong into a maze of murderous mayhem as 'The Hitcher' goes on a killing spree (involving a lot of cops) with Jim getting taken as the scape-goat.
The film opens with a masterful bolt of suspense- in a thunderous rain-shower, The Hitcher holds out his thumb as a crack of thunder erupts over-head, setting the scene for the suspenseful, scary ride that's about to follow.
Hauer lives and breathes the role. In a career that sadly (because I really like the guy) declined into an endless sludge of direct to video hell shortly afterwards, this is quite possibly the role he'll best be remembered for (after all, he was only the co-star in Blade Runner.) Ryder is a cold, mean psycho whose only motivation seems to be to cause as much terror as he can. In his opening scene, he masterfully transforms very quickly from a bit of an arsehole into a threatening madman, as he explains to his charge why the last guy who gave him a ride won't get out to call for help. No clear explanation is ever discovered as to why he does what he does, the closest we get to this being a chat across a table in a diner, in which he offers "you're a smart boy...figure it out."
In the main supporting role Howell also shines (though nowhere near as much as Hauer), as the beleaguered, petrified young man whose endurance and sanity is pushed to breaking point. In an early role, Jennifer Jason Leigh makes a bit of an impression as the cafe owner's daughter love interest.
Spielberg's Duel first dealt with a man being hounded on an American highway for no reason...you are only left to guess 'The Hitcher' is meant to be the mad truck driver's brother. **** -
FlorianLaur19 July 2022The Hitcher is far better than critics at the time thought it is. On the surface, it's just a violent thriller about a seemingly insane killer who plays cat and mouse with a young man.
But that is far from the truth. Ryder isn't insane. We don't know why he started to do what he does, but if you watch closely, you'll see that he doesn't want to live.
He wants someone to "stop him"/kill him. Just that it shouldn't be anybody.
We don't know what the guy in the beetle did or didn't do. But it seems Ryder wants to make sure that whoever kills him has to sacrifice something.
He even pays Charon's obol, a symbolic fare to hell to the boy. A strong symbol that he knows well where he'll go and that he wants to go there.
That's why he never kills the boy. He isn't stupid. He pushes him because he wants the boy to change. Maybe that's how Ryder himself started out a long time ago? Maybe it has importance to him for other reasons. That's why he is disappointed when the boy fails to shot him in the truck, fearing the girl would die in the process. Maybe he would have made sure she doesn't, but he wants the boy to risk it! The same way he is willing to take a hell of a lot of risks, just to keep pushing and pushing.
I guess only someone like Rutger Hauer could make you feel some sort of sick sympathy with his character. Yes, he is a vicious butcher. But I can't help but think that something has turned him into this. Especially in the scene at the motel when he seems to enjoy a moment of peace and serenity when he spoons the girl. Maybe it reminds him of what he once had? But alas, it can not be. Not for him. He knows where his journey has to end.
We can only wonder where the boys will go... -
blowfly1321 October 2007I never get tired of this movie. Rutger Hauer is somehow gorgeous, creepy, sexy, and even at times sympathetic - he's one of very few actors who can portray a villain with so many layers. Howell was great as Jim, the young, innocent "victim" of sorts. \ I interpret this movie differently than other reviewers. To me, John Ryder is a human, a serial killer whose whole life is killing, who is compelled to keep killing, but who at the same time is tired of killing and wants to die. As with most serial killers, he does not kill himself, and he does not turn himself in. He hunts for someone who will do it for me, as he says explicitly when he first meets Jim. "What do you want?" Jim asks. "I want you to stop me," Ryder replies. Later in the movie he says that he's tired. These are revealing statements. This is not a supernatural bogeyman, which is one of the best things about this movie - he's no boring, relentless, emotionless, one-dimensional robot like Jason, or Mike Myers. I think Ryder chooses Jim because Jim shows a spark in their first encounter - he doesn't allow Ryder to kill him; instead he shoves him out of the car, yelling "I don't want to die!" Rutger senses that Jim has hidden strength, and pushes him and practically TRAINS him until finally Jim reaches the point where he can do what is necessary and kill Ryder. Ryder is almost like Lancelot, tired of always winning, and searching for the worthy adversary who can beat him in a fight to the death.
I don't believe Jim kills Ryder out of revenge; he kills him because he knows by the end that he's the only one who can do it, partially because Ryder WANTS him to do it. After Jim shoved Ryder out of the car, Ryder had opportunity after opportunity to kill Jim, but he doesn't (although he kills pretty much everyone else). Even at the end he shoots at the car, moving slowly enough so that Jim can start the car and run him over. He needs Jim alive for another purpose, and in the end Jim achieves that purpose. I haven't encountered this theme in any other movie, and in that way it's unique, and fascinating. -
sanafrq22 April 2021Great film with twists and authenticity. Storyline is brilliant.
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onyx-18 October 2003The idea for this movie was a good one and I was expecting it to be a lot better. On the positive side the desert/ghost town atmosphere is very good for a scary movie.The acting is pretty good, Hauer definitely does a good job as the killer. The problem with the movie is one that is just so damn unbelievable. Now I have this problem to a lesser extent with a lot of movies but this one just takes it so far that it totally ruins it for me. The killer manages to be everywhere with little explanation of how he got thee. Not only that, but he seems to be able to move and kill silently without anyone noticing until an opportune moment when he suddenly appears to the protagonist. His seemingly supernatural powers also allow him to take out an entire police station at one point (without waking up the guy sleeping in the jail below it) and those are just a few examples. If this kind of thing doesn't bother you then you may enjoy this movie but it seems to me the movie would've been a lot better if they had made it a bit more realistic.
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supertom-33 January 2002Starring everybody's favourite Dutchman, Rutger Hauer, this superb road movie thriller is tense, thrilling and superbly atmospheric.
The first scene between the Hitcher and Jim Holsey was superb, Rutger puts in a chilling performance. Mr Hauer has a reputation for pulling off some memorable bad guy performances, namely this, Blade runner and Nighthawks, but this is my favourite of his performances. The lines he has were brilliant. The pacing of the film was very good and apart from Rutger stealing the show the other actors were good. Jennifer Jason Leigh was good in her small role and of course C Thomas Howell in the lead does a good job. Overall this gets a 9/10 from me. -
bronsonskull7211 July 2003C. Thomas Howell stars as Jim a man who picks up a hitch hiker named John Ryder (Rutger Hauer in an effective performance) who makes life a living hell for Jim, by sticking a finger in his fries or framing him , Is Ryder really killing people or is it Jim's imagination. The Hitcher faced a critical bashing and all of it was unjust, The Hitcher is such a tightly wound thriller, that it will give even the strongest horror fans a jolt. It's certainly better then 2001's Joy Ride.
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fertilecelluloid19 November 2006Eric Red wrote some fascinating genre scripts in the 80's, including this and "Near Dark" (which he co-scripted with Kathryn Bigelow), and what distinguishes both of them is nihilism. Robert Harmon's "The Hitcher" is an atmospheric suspense thriller probably inspired by the Ida Lupino flick, "The Hitch Hiker", or one of the best "Twilight Zone" episodes that explored similar terrain. In "The Hitcher", Rutger Hauer is a psychopath whose idea of fun is terrorizing C. Thomas Howell and his companion Jennifer Jason Leigh. He has unexplained supernatural abilities to travel faster than your average maniac, and his motives are deliberately vague. This approach works for the most part, but once the film hits the sixty minute mark, its very spare structure fails to support the narrative. There are some amazing car stunts, high-powered violence, and stunning images courtesy of Aussie lenser John Seale. Leigh, who is a superb actress, has the leastrole here, and, not surprisingly, ends up bring ripped into two bloody halves because there's nothiong else to do with her. Hauer is exceptional in the lead role, and was never this good or this frightening again. The fact that he has so little dialog is what keeps him interesting. Too much dialog for a villain is always death. C. Thomas Howell, a limited actor, is adequate as Hauer's innocent victim. Director Harmon returned to similar terrain recently in the lacklustre "Highwaymen". Score by Mark Isham is a plus.
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mstomaso29 November 2007Rutger Hauer, C. Thomas Howell and Jennifer Jason Leigh give very memorable performances in this classic cat-and-mouse thriller directed by well-known TV movie director Robert Harmon.
The story is very simple. Hauer is an utterly psychotic serial killer who is hitch-hiking his way from one victim to another. Howell is a young man trying to deliver a luxury car from Chicago to California. Hauer defines creepiness, and Howell plays his perfect complement, as the unwilling hero.
Fortunately, the script remains devoid of clichés and does not over-do dialog. Instead, we are presented with one tense and disturbing action scenario after another as Howell goes to any length to avoid his hitcher-turned-stalker, and Hauer's obsessive game becomes more and more menacing. Jennifer Jason Leigh makes a nice early appearance as the one person seemingly willing to believe Howell and provide some help.
The story is similar to Spielburg's classic Duel (1971), but more flashy, slightly more human, and just a little more believable. Believability is problematic for both plots, but both films are so well made that it's easy to ignore their absurdities. The horror in The Hitcher is very strongly implied, but never fully presented. The story relies on psychological terror which both actors create with apparent ease.
The cinematography is solid, if not terribly innovative. The editing and directing are excellent - as the film maintains a perfect pace and pitch throughout.
Recommended for thriller fans. -
filippogiani13 August 2022I saw the relatively high rating and decided to give this a shot. I was going in blind, but the fact that the film was labelled as a horror and made in the 80's gave me a rough idea of what was to be expected (meaning some amount of camp and a low degree of self-seriousness). I was dead wrong, I was pretty much floored by the opening sequence alone: the lonesome car driving through the desert just before nightfall as a menacing storm is brewing in the background reminded me of the big open landscape sequences in Badlands, only exponentially more sinister. I started to suspect at this point that I had stumbled upon something special, and as soon as Rutger Hauer appeared on screen my suspicions were confirmed. I believe that putting this film into words would be doing it a disservice but I'll try to spend a few sentences on it regardless. The atmosphere is distinctly tense and dreamlike from beginning to end. The logic of the film, although reminiscent of it, is clearly separated from that of the world that exists outside of it. I would generally dismiss this as a negative aspect, but in the context of this specific picture John Ryder's perverted brand of omnipotence bestows a metaphysical quality upon him which elevates the character from a campy slasher-trope type to the incarnation of some dark, higher intent. The film feels like a fevered hallucination, the aesthetics of which are impeccably suggestive: the textures are grimy, the interiors are gloomy, the characters' skins are stained and sweaty. As alluded to previously, the logic that the characters surrounding the protagonist seem to abide by is nightmarishly slanted, leaving you feeling a deep sense of dread at the thought of being stuck in a foreign land with no allies, no reasonable people willing to lend a helping hand. Topping it all off is the soundtrack, which I wouldn't know how to even describe: although clearly a product of its time, it seemed glaringly subversive in a multitude of aspects, menacing enough to nicely complement the on-screen mayhem yet occasionally inducing highly atypical emotional interpretations of some sequences and imagery. All of the film's elements seemed to harmoniously tie into the same core concept: somewhat familiar, yet deeply foreign. As the story was approaching its climactic culmination, I started to believe that what I was witnessing must had been the turmoiled crossing of a threshold, the hallucinatory internal journey of an agonising Jim Halsey trapped in a flaming wreck after a deadly, initial collision with the truck (in the beginning of the film, he barely avoids crashing into one). This may not be the case as intended by the filmmakers, and likely so, but I'll always stand in admiration of any artwork capable of summoning such wild and enticing convictions in me.
In closure, a lot of films have tried (and many still do) to earn the right to be defined as "Lynchian", to varying degrees of merit. I believe that this film not only fully deserve such a title, but that it also contributed to expand, in my personal view, what the term could come to entail if approached radically, differently, subversively. I would strongly recommend giving this one a chance. -
SPZMaxinema12 May 2022I have to say upfront, some things come across as corny and don't hold up anymore, however the story and premise was interesting. Rutger Hauer was the main highlight of this movie since he plays a very good creepy villain. The main character's arch had an interesting angle to it as well (with himself becoming similar to a criminal he wished to avoid). My brother recommended that I watch this and I can't say I regretted it!
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Venomly_Carnage19 November 2005This is an Excellent Thriller!! all the way through.
Jim Halsey (Thomas C. Howell) is transporting another car to cali, when he picks up a Hitcher along the way, the mistake of his life. At first the Hitcher seems like your average traveller with a cold, his name is John Ryder. After a few scares in the car Jim asks John to get out, but that is only giving John the upper hand of the game, John has plans for Jim. John tells Jim he's going to cut off his arms,legs and head as he done to the previous guy, but first Jim has got too say four word "I-want-to-die" after Jim pushes John out the car, he thinks he's safe, but cat and mouse has just started.
The acting is great and polished, the plot is original, and Rugter Hauers Prefromance as the Hitcher is Excellent, Scary and slick. from great settings and action holes this is a top thriller from the later 80's, The eerie music keeps you on the end of your seat.
10/10 FANTASTIC! -
gilgongo19805 March 2020The story was new to me and the plot was exciting. Overall a good classic from the 80s.
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A cat spends the day chasing a mouse. When he finally corners the mouse, he takes sadistic delight in batting it around, playing with it before it goes in for the kill. The cat wishes to savor the look of fear on its prey, instead of merely indulging the reward it's worked so hard to catch. This is the predator/prey relationship evidenced in "The Hitcher," one of the most relentlessly intense and mean-spirited horror films ever made.
Since the setting is the desert, I suppose it would make more sense to call John Ryder (played by Rutger Hauer) a vicious coyote, who is picked up one rainy night by a stray lamb named Jim Halsey (C. Thomas Howell). Ryder, who's apparently been murdering people all over the desert, is looking to do the same with Halsey, who cheats death only to be tormented for the rest of the film by this savage predator. The coyote craves a challenge--in fact, he seems to live for it.
Nothing else needs to be said. "The Hitcher" relies so heavily on a plot that weaves in and out of 'the expected' that any further description would spoil the fun. The two leads are excellent--Rutger Hauer has created one of the great villains of modern cinema, and C. Thomas Howell is a sympathetic and believable victim driven to madness. While the film isn't necessarily deep, the high-energy cast, moody desert settings and twisty script fuel this effort for 98 intense minutes. 3.5 stars out of 5. -
SkullScreamerReturns31 October 2020I don't find most horror and thriller movies actually scary. But when I'm having a really bad nightmare that is scary. The Hitcher is one of the closest movies I've seen that have a real nightmare feel. The kind of where someone is chasing you and wherever you go it's there again! And the more you run away, the more chaotic the overall situation becomes. The nightmare analogy also fits because the villain here is a mysterious character and the things he does seem sometimes random and weird like in dreams.
I wouldn't consider it a horror film but it does have a feeling of a slasher villain because there's something almost supernatural about him how he always pops up everywhere. Also the simple but atmospheric music enhances the haunting and desperate tone.
It's a well made thriller that really thrills a lot. Maybe even too stressful for my tastes but at the same time I have to give it some credit for being so genuinely effective. If you like stuff like Cape Fear and it doesn't make you want to punch the tv then this might be just up your alley. -
rwduke27 August 1999Hitcher takes a great story and turns it into an unbelievable, frustrating mess. Murphy's Law is definitely the premise of this movie. It becomes so frustrating watching everything go wrong. And the movie is unbelievable to a ridiculous degree. The only good thing about this movie is Rutger Hauer who plays his part perfectly. And it is occasionally suspenseful when you're not too busy laughing at it.