The Hitcher — a horror thriller revolving round a murderous hitchhiker — wasn’t nicely acquired when it got here out in 1986 however has discovered loads of followers since then (sufficient for a sequel and remake a long time afterward). Roger Ebert was famously not one in all them, calling it “diseased and corrupt” and that it suffered from a “deep sickness at the screenplay stage.” Nevertheless, that deep illness is precisely why the movie guidelines, no less than almost 40 years later, and why The Hitcher 4K is value selecting up.
“In this 1986 cult classic, director Robert Harmon thrills the viewer with the story of young Jim Halsey (C. Thomas Howell), who stops on the highway to pick up a hitchhiker, not knowing that by doing so, he opens the door to terrible evil. The mysterious hitcher, unforgettably portrayed by Rutger Hauer, is a relentless slaughterer, preying on those who invite him into their lives. Somewhat dismissed at the time of its original release, The Hitcher developed a rabid fan following in the ensuing years, now properly recognized as one of the most memorable and terrifying thrillers of the 1980s,” says the official description for The Hitcher 4K.
The premise for The Hitcher is an easy one and based mostly on a really plausible worry. What in case you decide up a hitchhiker, however he’s really a assassin? It’s a stable begin, however after the primary character kicks the hitchhiker out of his automobile after the primary 25 minutes of the film, it ought to be over, proper? By no means. As an alternative, The Hitcher provides its villain virtually supernatural skills to maintain popping again up as he toys with the primary character, inflicting mass quantities of havoc alongside the way in which. It’s over-the-top and ridiculous, however in a thrill-ride method that makes it a complete pleasure to look at.
The Hitcher 4K appears to be like a ton higher than how the film is presently streaming on Max (in poor high quality and a 4:3 perspective). The finer high quality actually helps you respect the performances, as nicely, which is the aspect that makes the movie actually stand out from a whole lot of typical style fare. Whereas the good-looking and baby-faced C. Thomas Howell is the movie’s protagonist, who’s likable regardless of making 50 dumb choices that preserve the story going; it’s actually a showcase for Rutger Hauer. The Dutch actor is unimaginable because the serial killer villain and is instantly off-putting and unnerving as he makes any dialog tense. It’s a whole lot of small particulars in the efficiency, akin to refined gestures and actions, that actually make him a stellar horror villain that can make you second-guess any hitchhiker you see in the longer term.
There’s loads to unpack about The Hitcher, together with a grotesque scene with Jennifer Jason Leigh, which is why I used to be glad to see The Hitcher 4K include a whole lot of significant particular options. Not solely is there a full commentary monitor by director Robert Harmon and author Eric Crimson, however there’s additionally a 41-minute video interview with Harmon as nicely. It’s nice listening to tales from the manufacturing, and it provides you much more context as to why this movie has been capable of finding an viewers over time.
The Hitcher 4K Assessment: Remaining Verdict
The Hitcher 4K is a superb house launch, one that’s leagues above the model of the movie that’s presently on streaming. With significant bonus options that give further perception into how the movie was made, it’s a simple advice for horror followers.
Disclosure: ComingSoon acquired the product from the distributor for our The Hitcher 4K evaluation.
