Other Titles • The Hitcher • Hitcher, der Highway Killer (1986)
Synopses for The Hitcher (1986)
1.
Steven Spielberg's first feature film, 1971's Duel, is set on a desert highway. It stars Dennis Weaver as a driver being pursued by a menacing truck, which is following him with all the vengeance of the ancient furies. In this spiritual update from 1984, C. Thomas Howell plays a guy taking a drive-away car from Chicago to San Diego. On a whim, in the rain, and against his better judgment, he picks up a hitchhiker (Rutger Hauer). The hitcher quickly admits to being a murdering psychopath, and once Howell finally gets him out of his car, he is pursued with all the vengeance of the ancient furies. We're never sure if the hitcher is a figment of his imagination, making Howell a schizophrenic killer, or if he's real and Howell is the random victim of a wandering madman, which is how his potential new girlfriend (Jennifer Jason Leigh) thinks of him. Either way, The Hitcher is great fun, kinda scary, and teetering on the brink of "must see." --Andy Spletzer
(15 votes)
2.
When a young man, driving to California by himself, naively picks up a hitchhiker, he gets more than he bargained for: the hitcher is a serial killer who mercilessly slashes anyone he meets, ranging from truckstop waitresses to happy families in station wagons. Because of a lucky fluke, the driver manages to escape the charismatic murderer. Enraged that one of his intended victims has gone free, the hitcher cleverly frames the young man for the killings. Now the driver realizes he is the only one who can stop the hitchhiker -- and his freedom depends on his success.
(15 votes)
3.
Never Pick Up A Stranger.
When Jim Halsey stops to pick up a hitcher one rainy night, he is soon dying to turn back time. The man puts a knife to Jim's throat as he tells him to pull past a stranded car on the side of the road. Its occupants have already been brutally slaughtered by the ominous stranger.
Now a bloody game of cat-and-mouse is about to be played out on this desolate stretch of highway, and every car that passes, and every poor soul who rides that road, are going to take part whether they want to or not.
(15 votes)
4.
Made in 1984, The Hitcher is an update--in spirit at least--of Steven Spielberg's first feature film, 1971's Duel. Here C Thomas Howell plays a guy taking a drive-away car from Chicago to San Diego. On a whim, in the rain, and against his better judgment, he picks up a hitchhiker (Rutger Hauer). The hitcher quickly admits to being a murdering psychopath and once Howell finally gets him out of his car, he is pursued with all the vengeance of the ancient furies. We're never sure if the hitcher is a figment of his imagination, making Howell a schizophrenic killer, or if he's real and Howell is the random victim of a wandering madman, which is how his potential new girlfriend (Jennifer Jason Leigh) thinks of him. Either way, The Hitcher is great fun, kinda scary and teetering on the brink of "must see". --Andy Spletzer
(15 votes)
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