1986-R-97 Minutes-HBO Pictures

Directed by Robert Harmon

Written by Eric Red

Cast

C. Thomas Howell-"Jim Halsey"-The Fuckee

Rutger Hauer-"John Ryder"-The Hitch Hiker aka The Fucker

Jennifer Jason Leigh-"Nash"-The ONLY person in Texas who believes Halsey.

Jeffrey DeMunn-"Captain Esteridge"-The Law...hellbent on bringing Halsey to justice for his crimes

Synopsis

A kid delivering a car cross-country makes the biggest mistake of his life when he picks up a hitch hiker. After forcing the hitch hiker out of the car,the hitch hiker starts "playing games" with him,pinning murder after murder on the kid. With every trooper in the Texas badlands hunting him and one person who believes him,he must bring the hitch hiker to justice and clear his name.

Opinion

Pretty standard plot synopsis,huh? Well,this is a pretty simple story...quite standard as far as film goes. What makes this film are the performances by the actors. C Thomas Howell (who is usually fucking horrible) is actually decent here (when he's scared or in the presence of Hauer) and totally hilarious at other points (like when he hi-jacks a cop car with the two cops in it). Jennifer Jason Leigh is alright as Nash (never learn her first name) but shes not really asked to do a hell of a whole lot. Everyone else in this movie basically plays a sheriff or Texas State lawman...and they are some of the nastiest cops ever on film.

More on my irrational hatred of C Thomas Howell. He once did a film called "Soul Man" which I have a severe hatred for. It was one of the worst flicks I have ever seen in my life and I hate this guy because of it because of everything that sucked about the frilm,he sucked the most by far. ENough of that,though...back to THE HITCHER!

The real reason to watch this film is for the performance of Rutger Hauer...THE HITCHER! From his first scenes in this film,you can tell what his intentions are...the man is pure fucking evil and he is clearly enjoying himself playing this role. HThe way he carries the carachter of John Ryder is brilliant and rather creepy...kind of like he is enjoying playing this guy a bit too much.

The Hitcher is not a raving lunatic when he appears on the screen...almost any other actor would have played him this way,but under Rutger Hauer,The Hitcher is a rather "detatched"...calm in his actions for the most part. Even when he is intimidating Howell,he knows that he has the upper hand in the situation and uses it to his advantage. When The Hitcher takes his knife,presses it into Halsey's crotch,The Hitcher uses Halsey's fear against him and ensures he'll get a bit further down the road. The only time in this film where Hauer plays him as a true psycho is near the end when he escapes the prison bus and jumps onto the SUV (I think it's a Chevy Blazer) and begs Halsey to kill him. Hauer is fucking amazing here,and while I have enjoyed him in other films (The Osterman Weekend and Blind Fury to name a few),this is the film I remember him for.

The direction by Robert Harmon is rather good as well,especially during the chase scenes which are done really good. Normally I'm not a big "chase scene" kind of guy,but the look of the desert with only the cars on the road (and the occasional helicopter) is amazing. The camerawork is great...check out the scene after Halsey wakes up after being incarcerated. The way the camera pans around the carnage is great. Another great scene is when Halsey is eating french fries and suddenly he picks up a human finger.

If there's a weak link here,it's Eric Red's script which is alright but leaves alot of questions un-answered (mainly what The Hitcher's motive is for fucking with this kid) and alot of improbable bullshit going on. I have read reviews of this film (written by others obviously) where they mention a tinge of homosexuality and in this film it could work as a motive. The Hitcher gets revenge on Halsey for spurning him/throwing him out of the car (even though Hauer almost castrated him) early in the film. Even if that was the case though,why would The Hitcher take his revenge to such ridiculous lengths? How the hell does The Hitcher ALWAYS seem to know where Halsey is even though we lost track of The Hitcher's actions for a good long time (about 20 minutes) while Howell is in the desert? Do Texas State Troopers REALLY have nothing better to do than get into car chases with victims of mistaken identity?

Although the script is a bit over the top and ridiculous,the direction and acting are definetly worth it. Worth checking out for anyone who likes thrillers,psychological horror films,or just likes watching C Thomas Howell getting fucked with severley by a pro.

Tits And Blood

I think this is the only film I have ever seen Jennifer Jason Leigh in where she keeps her clothes on,but when she's tied between the trucks,watching her twist was kinda "exciting" even though it shouldn't be. A severed finger in a basket of fries,bloody police outpost/station/whatever,a dog eating a hand,shotgun death,alot of crashing cars,gas station blown up.

Dont Miss...

Halseys first words...he'll live to regret them

Halsey getting beat down by Texas's finest.

Halsey trying to act all bad-ass with a buch of local sheriffs and taking their car.

The Hitchers interrogation...fucking brilliant answers

Halesy and the Hitcher's (un)expected(?) meeting in a diner.

The human finger/french fry scene

Nash's death...all Halsey has to do is...well,there's no reaching a man as psychotic as The Hitcher at this point in the film.

The final confrontation

Wrap Up

Enjoyable thriller...watch it next time if you catch it on TV or rent it on video/dvd. The script's deficiencies are made up for by good direction and Rutger Hauer as The Hitcher is not to be missed...he's that fucking good!