I don't know. I can't help but feel that Rutger Hauer was one of the greatest actors that ever lived. He was sort of the Dutch equivalent of Christopher Lee. Always amazing in everything he appeared in. He did so many awesome things. I've never seen him give a bad performance. Even if what he was in was bad, he was always good in it. And, even if Hollywood failed to appreciate him to a proper degree, anyone who has ever seen him act in anything knows how amazing he was. Even if he wasn't a fortified star to Hollywood, he was to us.
Saw this as a 17yr old in 86 and it freaked the hell out of me, I had never seen anything like it before. Only went because I liked Rutger in Blade Runner, after The Hitcher I realized what a great actor he was because he was even scarier in this.
the level of escalation is insane in this. underrated movie. rutger hauer's facial expressions are a work of art. i always tied this and other movies similar to the stephen king short story
This was absolutely psychologically terrifying watching this in the late 80s as a teen. Compulsive viewing and masterful performanace from Rutger. RIP.
I liked it, but I kept laughing every time Rider showed up. The improbability of it all was comedic and I started thinking of John Candy in Planes Trains and Automobiles.
Truly an underrated '80s masterpiece. What separates it from a lot of other action/thriller/horror B-movies of the time is that somber/melancholic undertone. There's an almost dreamlike atmosphere to it and it's a bummer the director didn't go on to have a more robust career. Fun Fact: Christopher Nolan said this movie was a big influence on how conceptualized the Joker in The Dark Knight.
A truly unappreciated gem that is ripe for rediscovery when Second Sight’s 4K Blu Ray gets a release. Well performed and paced, phenomenally photographed by John Seale and wonderfully scored by Mark Isham. A rarity of a for film that really transcended genres.
It combines all the best elements of thriller, noir and slasher/stalker films. Judging by the critical response it received back in the day, this film was definitely ahead of its time. It feels a lot like No Country... more than 20 years later.
That's an excellent observation, the similarity to No Country. Everyone talks about Nolan's use of this film as a template for the Joker. But this is like a proto-No Country For Old Men, sort of like the way Sleepy Hollow is like a proto-Harry Potter movie. Not the same as the later film, but prefigures many aspects of it and was clearly on the later filmmakers' minds.
I liked it, but I kept laughing every time Rider showed up. The improbability of it all was comedic and I started thinking of John Candy in Planes Trains and Automobiles.
This was an intense film from start to finish. The performances really sold you on the terror of the situation. I would honestly say it comes very close to being a perfect film.
I just watched this movie for the first time last night actually and I was saying to myself how good this movie was and why it’s so underrated. Glad to see you talking about it.
@Evan Hodge people these days most likely who all prefer boring movies with Ryan Reynolds and Ryan Gosling and Henry Cavill etc. pretty boys who can’t act !
Much like John Carpenter's Thing that also got roasted by critics and bombed at the box office back in the day, this cult classic has gone on to be reappraised over time while gaining a fanbase on VHS rentals. I always loved this phycological horror for it's lead performances and amazing atmosphere :-)
a lot is made of the male characters, but JJL brought a much needed heart in her somewhat naive, hometown girl who would have had posters of bad boys in her childhood room. She was attracted and scared by Jim's leather jacket-man-on-the-run persona and clear to see she was driven by heart, empathy and a desire for adventure. Her understand good girl brought to such a violent end made for a heart breaking arc despite the graphic nature of her final scene. Twisted audience expectations and made a film with many memorable scenes stand out with her contribution. Great addition to your catalogue of retrospectives Oliver, well done.
Great video, Oliver 👍🏽 The Hitcher remains one of my all time favourites. First saw it on video back in the 80s. I have NO idea why it remains so unseen and underrated. Rutger is absolutely electric as 'John Ryder' and Howell is believable as he doesn't suddenly become an action hero - just someone trying to escape and survive. I hope Second Sight hurry up and give us the long awaited blu ray.
Watched this so many times as a teen, one of my top 10 favourite movies I would say, it's not explained but doesn't have to be. Just a fantastic film, thank you so much for giving it some much deserved attention!!!
Oliver -thank you for this excellent tribute to my first professional film. At least I took it as a 'tribute.' I'm currently color grading the new 4K transfer from original negative. I'm very happy that this old film seems to live on these many years later. Very gratifying, indeed. Thank you, again.
FYI- Mark Isham’s end title theme is used effectively in Stranger Things season 4 when Jim Hopper is giving his soliloquy in the Russian gulag. I recognized the music immediately.
I'll give some insight into Ryder for those who are interested. Ryder is a spree killer, who unlike serial killers, have no desire to "get away with it" and see this act of killing as a prelude to their own death, either by police shooting or suicide. Ryder has no desire to commit suicide, but he does want to die, and this is expressly stated when tells Jim to say the words "I want to die". Ryder knows where his trail of killing ends, and he is looking for someone to finally kill him. When Jim tells him "I don't want to die" and pushes him out of the car, Ryder knows he has found the person who will finally end him. Thus begins the cat and mouse game where he is constantly toying with Jim, waiting for Jim to finally give him what he desires. In this sense, the character of Ryder is much like Roy Batty in Blade Runner, aware of his own mortality and struggling to deal with it. The personal desires of these characters in relation to this theme, though, are at polar opposites of each other. Whereas Roy Batty is afraid of dying, which is why he tells Tyrrell "I want more life fucker", Ryder has had enough of life, which is why he tells Jim "I want to die". Much like The Terminator as well, these films are heavily rooted in the tradition of memento mori, with characters literally facing their own death in pursuit to some realization in life.
Something I have always liked about The Hitcher is the mystery surrounding John Ryder. Having no known background, place of origin, or history makes him more intriguing. And we never learn anything about him, or his true intentions, if he even has any.
its unfortunate that you don't get as many views as a few years ago because the quality of your videos, and their consistency, is still great. So many video essays nowadays, many pretentious and not particularly well-made ones among them, but your reviews are consistently good and you have a very balanced view on the movies. I mean its nice sometimes to see a video essay where its wholly/completely the creators artistic preferences and what themes/ideas they think the movie has, but its also nice to just see a review of a movie and get an understanding of it and how it was made.
I was dismayed recently when looking for this movie that I couldn't find it on any streaming services, but also happy that I found a blurry upload on RUclips
2 things make this movie for me: The cinematography and Rutger Hauer's performance. The images grab you from the start and carry the viewer even through some plot holes. And Hauer makes John Ryder one of the greatest psychopats in movie history. A great little gem to which I return from time to time.
Only watched this recently too but always knew the cover from the video store as a kid. I couldnt believe it was more highly talked about!!! It is an excellent film and one that kept my attention all the way through, which is difficult to do these days.
What an INCREDIBLE MOVIE. One of my favourites. All performances are top notch. Everyone bringing their “A” game , with Hauer dominating the screen. The utter mystery of the Hitcher is the beauty of the story. Just evil. Able to travel anywhere and survive impossible events. Really looking forward to the new Blu-ray.
This movie always jarred me when I saw it as a kid. I've always said you can learn everything you need to know from watching movies, and it's been over 30 years since I've seen it, but life lessons learned by this one.
I never understood how this failed to get the attention it deserved and, even now, nowhere near enough people know about it. This is one of those rare films that makes me feel on edge throughout. When I was younger, I was disappointed by the lack of gore and how you don't see what happened to his most of his victims but, now, having seen so many films that do show everything, it made me realise just how much more powerful the suggestion of gore really is.
This was an amazing breakdown of this movie 👍👍 ever since I stumbled upon this movie in the 90s growing up I've always vouched for this movie because it is criminally underrated 💯
Underrated masterpiece. In my top 10 favorites. I consider this to be an alternative Joker movie - Rutger makes a terrifying version of.the Joker. Also - SPOILER - His character is wearing two wedding bands - the sign of a widower.
Thank you Oliver! I saw in theater and it was praised back then, but soon disappeared from collective memories. Rutger Hauer's performance and the haunting soundtrack stuck to my mind though. I rewatched it many years later, and it finally entered my list of underrated gems. The Hitcher is one of those villains that lack of background makes even more threatening. He is pure evil and needs to be killed, this is all we need to know. Sure this premise has its own limitations, but the director acknowledges them too well and never tries to play out of his league. This perfectly executed B-movie has stood the test of time way better than many bloated 80's flicks, and I'm glad it finally received the cult status it deserved in the first place!
An unforgettable masterpiece. Why this was not a big hit is a mystery to me, and along with Nighthawks and Blade Runner, Rutger Hauer brought another memorable, interesting and frightening villain to the big screen.
That "TRUCK TEAR APART" scene still freaks me out as much as I was at 10, having driven through desolate North Texas last year and thinking of nothing but this flick. The editing smoothly from implying the action to aftermath was brilliant. I always knew it was Isham, it has some real Point Break moments
What’s it like out there!? I’m absolutely intrigued by that part of the world.. out in the wilds of the desert… I’ve never been along R66…I bet it’s so beautiful..
My sister .. 6 yrs older … used to rent movies on a Friday and watch them sat night when mum and dad went out. She made me watch this when I was 8 .. as well as blade runner wear wolf in london lost boys and near dark. I now realise how good these films were … though after yrs of therapy. Oh the 80 s
He was always one of my favorite actors. Never became a star he deserved to be but always provided charismatic acting and have something about him that made him unforgettable
One of my favorite Thriller movies of all time, my dad and I used to watch this on HBO in the 80s. I loved the wide landscape cinematography and the music by Mark Isham is incredible. It's actually a "relaxing" movie to me these days, not much dialogue. I was excited as hell when it finally came out in HD.
I love that there was no motive given for John Ryder. He was someone who enjoyed killing, and found the perfect person to torture along the way. It seems as though that's how Ryder finds most of his victims. Take the family in the car, or the man in the car Ryder prevented Halsey from stopping to check on. Once Halsey pushed Ryder out of the car, he took that personally. Halsey became his audience for the murders he was about to commit, even going so far as to let him get arrested for Ryder's murders. He did not like being pushed out of that car. Not even a little bit. So if there was a motive, that's acceptable.
This 1986 version is an awesome movie. I saw it when it came out, and me and my mates all thought it was execellent. It was one of those movies that no one went to the cinema to see it, but word of mouth got it seen by everyone on home video. RH is just so good.....and CTH is good...
What’s bizarre is I only knew of the Sean Bean version and fairly enjoyed it. It wasn’t until years after it released that I found it out it was a remake and that it’s original was far superior. Still, The Hitcher is up there as one of the best Mid-West desert films
@@alienboy1322 I honestly forgot all about until Harper brought it up. It’s a pretty forgetful film-however best to overlook it and go for it’s true version. It’s funny, if this type of film were to drop today. It would’ve garnered a ton of success
Thanks for this. I can’t believe people don’t bring this film up more than they do, it’s a really well made film that “subverts expectation” better than most films that attempt to do that today.
I only watched this movie once on cropped VHS back when it was first released, and this review has made me want to watch the full version just to see the actual 2.35:1 cinematography scope, because some of those shots are AMAZING.
Thanks for the retrospective. I loved this when I was a young boy growing up in the 80s and its crazy to think those critic's hated it. We all love Ned stark and I'm sure on paper the remake looked good but what an absolute pile of gash! There's no doubt the Hitcher is an all time classic and hopefully now it will not be forgotten like tears in the rain.
I think it got kind of lost between all the big scary movies at the time like Halloween and Friday 13th.. etc… shame. I think it’s better than both of those.
I've always felt that what elevates this film (other than the stellar filmography, soundtrack and a chilling performance by Rutger Hauer) is the ambiguity of who/what the hitcher is and what he represents. Although they could be considered plot holes, the fact that he often appears out of nowhere and appears somewhat omnipotent through the first 2 acts makes him a phantom-like figure (also enhanced by the ambient soundtrack) and only adds to the mystery. I was always scratching my head to his response to Jim's question about his motive ("you're a smart kid, you figure it out") as I could never really figure it out but felt that clues were there.
Dude! This is mine and my wife’s favorite 80’s thriller. Talk about another phenomenal performance by Rutger Hauer. Blade Runner alone was an epic performance. Another I’d love to see given the retrospective treatment is Rutger Hauer’s Nighthawks (1981).
Had no idea it was hated during its release. I've always been impressed with it. I was blown away first time I saw it, wondering why I'd never heard about it.
Great concept executed very well. The only problem was that I wish the budget was higher. So a few of the scenes and how it shot was a little bit better. Other than that it was a nice movie. The cast was perfect. Played their parts exactly to the T.
Big fan of this movie…. The last scene in which Jim lights up a cigarette at sunset and the credits are shown in combination with the soundtrack is a coherent overall concept for me. Almost pure art.☝️
Roy Batty on steroids. I watched this when i was just 8, this movie gave me the creeps, I never even considered giving hitchhikers a chance...i guess the message was well sent to us. Thanks for this review Oliver!
Those who can't make films themselves, mostly end up teaching or critiquing film. Both Siskel and Ebert (i believe) loved shitting on films that they secretly either wanted to make themselves or that went completely against their beliefs and viewpoints.
The Hitcher is a masterpiece. It's cool that people start making videos about it. I myself wanted to... sadly, I lack the time. But it deserves it. The character of Ryder is imo, in the top 10 of the best movie villains ever written-performed-filmed. A thrilling antagonist. A complete mystery that manages to make sense nonetheless. Siskel and Ebert... the eternal clowns.
Oliver, you deserve more views, man. I've been watching your stuff since 2016 and it's always a great time. I watched this movie only once when I was a kid. Over 30 years ago. But it left such an impression I never forgot it.
The visuals alone make this worth watching. Movies very rarely look this beautiful anymore. And yeah, Jennifer Jason Leigh was really hot back then. Greetings from Germany :)
Rutger Hauer Is a remarkable fellow and actor With his undeniable screen present in whatever he does have been a fan of his all of my life The Hitcher is a masterclass in acting RIP Sweet prince
I loved The Hitcher Rutger Hauer was a genius actor. This film and Ladyhawke introduced to me Rutger Hauer when his films were on Cable TV in the 1980's. The Hitcher was originally a Thorn EMI Screen Entertainment released which in the UK it was a theatrical release then on video Cannon took over the Thorn EMI catalogue halfway though 1986. I never got why the critics hated the film. It was an intelligent psychological horror film. In my eyes the film is about Jim Halesy journey he start as a naive boy to a man. Also you can see how John Ryder basically know that he wants to suicide as he is a sadistic killer but uses Jim to kill him. Even when he gets Jim to say "I Want to Die" feel like it's Ryder's suicide confession. This film can mean a lot of themes. As for Aids context that's 80's critics trying to be clever. They even tried that with The Fly 1986, which David Cronenberg replied "If Seth Brandle Jeff Goldblum got aids, why hasn't Veronica (Geena Davis) got it as she was sexual experience. Back to The Hitcher, it is a film with a lot of themes which is the audience's choice of what they want in the film.
This just shows that a good horror movie can be based only on suspense and the charisma of the characters, no over the top gore needed. Hauer did a masterful performance
Another performance that should have made Rutger Hauer a fortified star
Yes. He was awesome. Shame for the career.
He was a star just not the big Hollywood name .. IMO the Hollywood big shots are so boring.
He was! In the Netherlands. Here not so much….
I don't know. I can't help but feel that Rutger Hauer was one of the greatest actors that ever lived. He was sort of the Dutch equivalent of Christopher Lee. Always amazing in everything he appeared in. He did so many awesome things. I've never seen him give a bad performance. Even if what he was in was bad, he was always good in it. And, even if Hollywood failed to appreciate him to a proper degree, anyone who has ever seen him act in anything knows how amazing he was. Even if he wasn't a fortified star to Hollywood, he was to us.
I always loved him - great actor. I grew up in America and Lady Hawk is one of my favorite movies.
That opening scene alone, with next to no dialogue by Hauer, is pure, stone cold tension.
You could cut the tension with a spoon.
That opening title music is nothing short of haunting. It immediately sets the tone for what is to come.
@@RoosterMontgomery this movie and everything within it has haunted and intrigued my soul ever since I first saw it. There is nothing quite like it.
I feel like this film is an unsung entery in the horror genre and really deserves to be more well known
They did do a remake of it.
@@dwoolaver1549 which was not so good.
To me, "The Hitcher", "Duel" and "Breakdown" (w/ Kurt Russell") are the Holy Trinity of the "Road Rage Thriller" genre.
Absolutely.
It is RELENTLESS
Remember watching this as a kid and just couldn't stop watching from beginning to end. It felt so random and brutal. One of my favorites!
Saw this as a 17yr old in 86 and it freaked the hell out of me, I had never seen anything like it before. Only went because I liked Rutger in Blade Runner, after The Hitcher I realized what a great actor he was because he was even scarier in this.
Same here!
Scary and so otherworldly handsome.
I saw it first in summer 1986 I was 11 years old.. I liked this film a lot..
this is literally the definition of an uderappreciated masterpiece that deserves more recognition not just by horror fans, but movie fans in general
Let it go, bud. You don’t get it...and never will.
Sis & Eb were a couple of hacks, that didn't have a clue about movies.
I strongly agree... they were laughable @@steve1785
the level of escalation is insane in this. underrated movie. rutger hauer's facial expressions are a work of art. i always tied this and other movies similar to the stephen king short story
Could not agree with you more.
Well said.
Agreed. I bloody loved Rutger Hauer. Best quirky actor that ever was. No one comes close.
What is the name of the short story by Stephen King?
This was absolutely psychologically terrifying watching this in the late 80s as a teen. Compulsive viewing and masterful performanace from Rutger. RIP.
I liked it, but I kept laughing every time Rider showed up. The improbability of it all was comedic and I started thinking of John Candy in Planes Trains and Automobiles.
Truly an underrated '80s masterpiece. What separates it from a lot of other action/thriller/horror B-movies of the time is that somber/melancholic undertone. There's an almost dreamlike atmosphere to it and it's a bummer the director didn't go on to have a more robust career. Fun Fact: Christopher Nolan said this movie was a big influence on how conceptualized the Joker in The Dark Knight.
And you do?
I LOVED this movie when I first saw it on VHS back in the 90s. Such an underrated gem.
A truly unappreciated gem that is ripe for rediscovery when Second Sight’s 4K Blu Ray gets a release. Well performed and paced, phenomenally photographed by John Seale and wonderfully scored by Mark Isham. A rarity of a for film that really transcended genres.
Such an underrrated classic.
RIP Rutger Hauer.
Got a problem with this people? Or do you just not like the film?
It combines all the best elements of thriller, noir and slasher/stalker films. Judging by the critical response it received back in the day, this film was definitely ahead of its time. It feels a lot like No Country... more than 20 years later.
That's an excellent observation, the similarity to No Country. Everyone talks about Nolan's use of this film as a template for the Joker. But this is like a proto-No Country For Old Men, sort of like the way Sleepy Hollow is like a proto-Harry Potter movie. Not the same as the later film, but prefigures many aspects of it and was clearly on the later filmmakers' minds.
I liked it, but I kept laughing every time Rider showed up. The improbability of it all was comedic and I started thinking of John Candy in Planes Trains and Automobiles.
This was an intense film from start to finish. The performances really sold you on the terror of the situation. I would honestly say it comes very close to being a perfect film.
One of the best Horror films of all time, no question.
Watched this movie so many times when I was a kid. Couldn't get enough of it.
I just watched this movie for the first time last night actually and I was saying to myself how good this movie was and why it’s so underrated. Glad to see you talking about it.
@Evan Hodge people these days most likely who all prefer boring movies with Ryan Reynolds and Ryan Gosling and Henry Cavill etc. pretty boys who can’t act !
What a film this is, always seemed to be on ITV4 late at night back in the day. Seeing it as a kid it scared the hell out of me.
Great film. The death of Nash is one of the most horrific scenes in a movie I have ever watched.
Ruter hauer was such an amazing actor. He didn’t seem to get the credit he deserved 😊
He was the best in Blade Runner by far. Far outshone Ford, I love Blade Runner, but for me this is Rutger Hauer’s best work.
@@desertrose1226 he's also terrific in Flesh +Blood
@@patanouketgersiflet9486 only recently found out it’s a Paul van hoven film. Not surprised 😯
@@scottessery100 The amazing score by Basil Poledouris is some kind of an extra giveaway.
@@patanouketgersiflet9486 I think that's a great film but it doesn't seem to be available now and hasn't for a long time, at least in the UK.
Rutger Hower was unreal in this role
Much like John Carpenter's Thing that also got roasted by critics and bombed at the box office back in the day, this cult classic has gone on to be reappraised over time while gaining a fanbase on VHS rentals. I always loved this phycological horror for it's lead performances and amazing atmosphere :-)
a lot is made of the male characters, but JJL brought a much needed heart in her somewhat naive, hometown girl who would have had posters of bad boys in her childhood room. She was attracted and scared by Jim's leather jacket-man-on-the-run persona and clear to see she was driven by heart, empathy and a desire for adventure. Her understand good girl brought to such a violent end made for a heart breaking arc despite the graphic nature of her final scene. Twisted audience expectations and made a film with many memorable scenes stand out with her contribution. Great addition to your catalogue of retrospectives Oliver, well done.
Yeah she was actually incredibly important.
Great video, Oliver 👍🏽 The Hitcher remains one of my all time favourites. First saw it on video back in the 80s. I have NO idea why it remains so unseen and underrated. Rutger is absolutely electric as 'John Ryder' and Howell is believable as he doesn't suddenly become an action hero - just someone trying to escape and survive. I hope Second Sight hurry up and give us the long awaited blu ray.
Watched this so many times as a teen, one of my top 10 favourite movies I would say, it's not explained but doesn't have to be. Just a fantastic film, thank you so much for giving it some much deserved attention!!!
One of the best openings ever, imo. Chilling, ambient, beautiful.
Oliver -thank you for this excellent tribute to my first professional film. At least I took it as a 'tribute.' I'm currently color grading the new 4K transfer from original negative. I'm very happy that this old film seems to live on these many years later. Very gratifying, indeed. Thank you, again.
FYI- Mark Isham’s end title theme is used effectively in Stranger Things season 4 when Jim Hopper is giving his soliloquy in the Russian gulag. I recognized the music immediately.
I'll give some insight into Ryder for those who are interested. Ryder is a spree killer, who unlike serial killers, have no desire to "get away with it" and see this act of killing as a prelude to their own death, either by police shooting or suicide. Ryder has no desire to commit suicide, but he does want to die, and this is expressly stated when tells Jim to say the words "I want to die". Ryder knows where his trail of killing ends, and he is looking for someone to finally kill him. When Jim tells him "I don't want to die" and pushes him out of the car, Ryder knows he has found the person who will finally end him. Thus begins the cat and mouse game where he is constantly toying with Jim, waiting for Jim to finally give him what he desires.
In this sense, the character of Ryder is much like Roy Batty in Blade Runner, aware of his own mortality and struggling to deal with it. The personal desires of these characters in relation to this theme, though, are at polar opposites of each other. Whereas Roy Batty is afraid of dying, which is why he tells Tyrrell "I want more life fucker", Ryder has had enough of life, which is why he tells Jim "I want to die". Much like The Terminator as well, these films are heavily rooted in the tradition of memento mori, with characters literally facing their own death in pursuit to some realization in life.
Something I have always liked about The Hitcher is the mystery surrounding John Ryder. Having no known background, place of origin, or history makes him more intriguing. And we never learn anything about him, or his true intentions, if he even has any.
I totally agree - and that face omg! Even his whole look oozes mystery and makes your mind wander…
Watched this in the late 80s and it was fantastic, never forget the dinner scene
its unfortunate that you don't get as many views as a few years ago because the quality of your videos, and their consistency, is still great. So many video essays nowadays, many pretentious and not particularly well-made ones among them, but your reviews are consistently good and you have a very balanced view on the movies. I mean its nice sometimes to see a video essay where its wholly/completely the creators artistic preferences and what themes/ideas they think the movie has, but its also nice to just see a review of a movie and get an understanding of it and how it was made.
Hitcher is a great movie. Rented many times as a teenager and just bought it now. It holds up. Love its unpredictabilty and creepy moments.
This movie and Nighthawks are movies that show how creepy Rutger could be . RIP Rutger
Blind Side is another!
Love Nighthawks!
@@desertrose1226 Blind Fury?
I always read the character of John Rider as being Halsey's dark side incarnate- similar to Fight Club etc.
The same director, Robert Harmon, also made another road cult-classic named "Highwaymen" which shares similar atmosphere and feel.
I was dismayed recently when looking for this movie that I couldn't find it on any streaming services, but also happy that I found a blurry upload on RUclips
It’s on Hulu right now but it’s 4/3 aspect
I found it on HBO Max but it looks horrible. I think the one on RUclips is the best one right now.
@@miamcalister2505 I took the dvd version and upscaled it to 4K looks great
A great 80's movie!!! Oliver your reviews are masterful (editing and putting your retrospective together - just masterful), love your reviews!!!
2 things make this movie for me: The cinematography and Rutger Hauer's performance. The images grab you from the start and carry the viewer even through some plot holes. And Hauer makes John Ryder one of the greatest psychopats in movie history. A great little gem to which I return from time to time.
Only watched this recently too but always knew the cover from the video store as a kid. I couldnt believe it was more highly talked about!!! It is an excellent film and one that kept my attention all the way through, which is difficult to do these days.
What an INCREDIBLE MOVIE. One of my favourites. All performances are top notch. Everyone bringing their “A” game , with Hauer dominating the screen. The utter mystery of the Hitcher is the beauty of the story. Just evil. Able to travel anywhere and survive impossible events. Really looking forward to the new Blu-ray.
This movie always jarred me when I saw it as a kid. I've always said you can learn everything you need to know from watching movies, and it's been over 30 years since I've seen it, but life lessons learned by this one.
I never understood how this failed to get the attention it deserved and, even now, nowhere near enough people know about it. This is one of those rare films that makes me feel on edge throughout. When I was younger, I was disappointed by the lack of gore and how you don't see what happened to his most of his victims but, now, having seen so many films that do show everything, it made me realise just how much more powerful the suggestion of gore really is.
I remember seeing UK critics at the time actually loving the film. I didnt realise it had received bad press until years later.
I absolutely loved this movie when I first saw it. In my top favorite movies of all times for sure.
This was an amazing breakdown of this movie 👍👍 ever since I stumbled upon this movie in the 90s growing up I've always vouched for this movie because it is criminally underrated 💯
Love your review. This was a favorite of mine from the 80's. I think it was the first time seeing Rutger Huaer. This and Nighthawks.
childhood and one of the best 80`s movies ever made!!!!! FANTASTIC performance from Rutger
I can't wait for this one to come to 4K. From what I hear, it;s just around the corner.
This was a great film, ver underrated, and one of Rutger's best performances
I sent this to Tommy Howell( I'm sure he'll love this!!!) INCREDIBLE job as always
Underrated masterpiece. In my top 10 favorites.
I consider this to be an alternative Joker movie - Rutger makes a terrifying version of.the Joker.
Also - SPOILER -
His character is wearing two wedding bands - the sign of a widower.
Thank you Oliver!
I saw in theater and it was praised back then, but soon disappeared from collective memories. Rutger Hauer's performance and the haunting soundtrack stuck to my mind though. I rewatched it many years later, and it finally entered my list of underrated gems.
The Hitcher is one of those villains that lack of background makes even more threatening. He is pure evil and needs to be killed, this is all we need to know. Sure this premise has its own limitations, but the director acknowledges them too well and never tries to play out of his league.
This perfectly executed B-movie has stood the test of time way better than many bloated 80's flicks, and I'm glad it finally received the cult status it deserved in the first place!
Legendary. One of the best thrillers ever.
An unforgettable masterpiece. Why this was not a big hit is a mystery to me, and along with Nighthawks and Blade Runner, Rutger Hauer brought another memorable, interesting and frightening villain to the big screen.
Absolutely love this film. Brilliantly shot and great performances.
That "TRUCK TEAR APART" scene still freaks me out as much as I was at 10, having driven through desolate North Texas last year and thinking of nothing but this flick.
The editing smoothly from implying the action to aftermath was brilliant. I always knew it was Isham, it has some real Point Break moments
What’s it like out there!? I’m absolutely intrigued by that part of the world.. out in the wilds of the desert… I’ve never been along R66…I bet it’s so beautiful..
My sister .. 6 yrs older … used to rent movies on a Friday and watch them sat night when mum and dad went out. She made me watch this when I was 8 .. as well as blade runner wear wolf in london lost boys and near dark. I now realise how good these films were … though after yrs of therapy. Oh the 80 s
I loved this film when I first saw it as a kid. The Hitcher kind of reminded me of an ultra violent Randal Flagg.
He was always one of my favorite actors. Never became a star he deserved to be but always provided charismatic acting and have something about him that made him unforgettable
One of my favorite Thriller movies of all time, my dad and I used to watch this on HBO in the 80s. I loved the wide landscape cinematography and the music by Mark Isham is incredible. It's actually a "relaxing" movie to me these days, not much dialogue. I was excited as hell when it finally came out in HD.
Saw it in the early 90's on VHS. Great film of it's time. In my mind it was a Paul Verhoeven-Movie...
Hi Oliver! I love your reviews over anyone else's. Always looking forward to a new one, and this ones right up my ally!! Stay safe 👍
I love that there was no motive given for John Ryder. He was someone who enjoyed killing, and found the perfect person to torture along the way. It seems as though that's how Ryder finds most of his victims. Take the family in the car, or the man in the car Ryder prevented Halsey from stopping to check on. Once Halsey pushed Ryder out of the car, he took that personally. Halsey became his audience for the murders he was about to commit, even going so far as to let him get arrested for Ryder's murders. He did not like being pushed out of that car. Not even a little bit. So if there was a motive, that's acceptable.
I bet, but i think he was really intrigued by him. We see Jim become more and more like him towards the end, maybe he saw himself in him.
Loved the helicopter 🚁 sequence. Loved Rutger's preformance. The man could play a very scarry baddie.
This 1986 version is an awesome movie. I saw it when it came out, and me and my mates all thought it was execellent. It was one of those movies that no one went to the cinema to see it, but word of mouth got it seen by everyone on home video. RH is just so good.....and CTH is good...
Yo man mind me asking was there a Blockbuster video in your hometown in 1986 or was it an independant video store, thanks
R.I.P. Rutger Hauer
The terror starts the moment he stops.
What’s bizarre is I only knew of the Sean Bean version and fairly enjoyed it. It wasn’t until years after it released that I found it out it was a remake and that it’s original was far superior. Still, The Hitcher is up there as one of the best Mid-West desert films
@Espi
Speaking of which, I vaguely remember the remake.
@@alienboy1322 I honestly forgot all about until Harper brought it up. It’s a pretty forgetful film-however best to overlook it and go for it’s true version. It’s funny, if this type of film were to drop today. It would’ve garnered a ton of success
Thanks for this. I can’t believe people don’t bring this film up more than they do, it’s a really well made film that “subverts expectation” better than most films that attempt to do that today.
This is the type of 80s movie I really like. Wish there was more of this made. That isolation and hopless vibe going all thru the movie
Always enjoyed Rutger in a lot of his lower budget movies around that time
Great choice and great video like always. Hitcher is cool atmospheric thriller with tons of tension.
Great video! One of my favourite horror films of the 80s. Second Sight are working on a 4K UHD release.
My favourite Rutger Hauer performance and by far the best C.Thomas Howl movie. I’ve loved this since i first watched it the day it was released on vhs
I only watched this movie once on cropped VHS back when it was first released, and this review has made me want to watch the full version just to see the actual 2.35:1 cinematography scope, because some of those shots are AMAZING.
The cinematography, Hauer, and the OST make this an exceptional movie.
I saw this movie on home video in the late 80s .It was a tough watch ,but absolutely brilliant .
Such a good film, great performances all round but especially from the Hitcher…… ahh….. the good old days.
Thanks for the retrospective. I loved this when I was a young boy growing up in the 80s and its crazy to think those critic's hated it. We all love Ned stark and I'm sure on paper the remake looked good but what an absolute pile of gash! There's no doubt the Hitcher is an all time classic and hopefully now it will not be forgotten like tears in the rain.
One of the best movies ever. It is implied that he might be the Devil. Hence the supernatural escapes.
An eerie and almost forgotten classic. Brilliant score by Mark Isham too.
Kind of Tangerine Dream-like as in the underrated thriller Flashpoint (1984), an HBO production as well.
@@LarryFleetwood8675 yeah that era was the peak of the electronic score from tangerine dream, john carpenter, vangelis and of course mark isham
I think it got kind of lost between all the big scary movies at the time like Halloween and Friday 13th.. etc… shame. I think it’s better than both of those.
I've always felt that what elevates this film (other than the stellar filmography, soundtrack and a chilling performance by Rutger Hauer) is the ambiguity of who/what the hitcher is and what he represents. Although they could be considered plot holes, the fact that he often appears out of nowhere and appears somewhat omnipotent through the first 2 acts makes him a phantom-like figure (also enhanced by the ambient soundtrack) and only adds to the mystery. I was always scratching my head to his response to Jim's question about his motive ("you're a smart kid, you figure it out") as I could never really figure it out but felt that clues were there.
Dude! This is mine and my wife’s favorite 80’s thriller. Talk about another phenomenal performance by Rutger Hauer. Blade Runner alone was an epic performance. Another I’d love to see given the retrospective treatment is Rutger Hauer’s Nighthawks (1981).
Great retrospective! I saw this in a theater when it came out. Learned a lot from your video, thanks!
Had no idea it was hated during its release. I've always been impressed with it. I was blown away first time I saw it, wondering why I'd never heard about it.
Great concept executed very well. The only problem was that I wish the budget was higher. So a few of the scenes and how it shot was a little bit better. Other than that it was a nice movie. The cast was perfect. Played their parts exactly to the T.
Big fan of this movie…. The last scene in which Jim lights up a cigarette at sunset and the credits are shown in combination with the soundtrack is a coherent overall concept for me. Almost pure art.☝️
Another class piece of work Oliver! Keep it up mate.
Roy Batty on steroids. I watched this when i was just 8, this movie gave me the creeps, I never even considered giving hitchhikers a chance...i guess the message was well sent to us. Thanks for this review Oliver!
Even Roy was a pussycat compared to the evil that is John Ryder!
For a pair of highly respected critics back in the day,Siskel and Ebert sure talked a load of bollocks sometimes
Those who can't make films themselves, mostly end up teaching or critiquing film.
Both Siskel and Ebert (i believe) loved shitting on films that they secretly either wanted to make themselves or that went completely against their beliefs and viewpoints.
Yep. Pair of old farts.
At that time video nasty was a thing ,the surrgance of those films made anything that was somewhat gory unappealing to critics .
Yeah.Those guys had some real bad takes. It sucks that two people like them could make or break a movie.
The Hitcher is a masterpiece. It's cool that people start making videos about it. I myself wanted to... sadly, I lack the time. But it deserves it.
The character of Ryder is imo, in the top 10 of the best movie villains ever written-performed-filmed. A thrilling antagonist. A complete mystery that manages to make sense nonetheless.
Siskel and Ebert... the eternal clowns.
I’d like to make a vid about it as well but similarly I have no time to. It’s an amazing movie. Jarring and unsettling…it really gets into your soul.
Oliver, you deserve more views, man. I've been watching your stuff since 2016 and it's always a great time.
I watched this movie only once when I was a kid. Over 30 years ago. But it left such an impression I never forgot it.
The visuals alone make this worth watching. Movies very rarely look this beautiful anymore.
And yeah, Jennifer Jason Leigh was really hot back then.
Greetings from Germany :)
If you like JJL check out the actress Jennifer Morrison. She and JJL kind of look similar.
Rutger Hauer
Is a remarkable fellow and actor With his undeniable screen present in whatever he does have been a fan of his all of my life The Hitcher is a masterclass in acting
RIP Sweet prince
I loved The Hitcher Rutger Hauer was a genius actor. This film and Ladyhawke introduced to me Rutger Hauer when his films were on Cable TV in the 1980's. The Hitcher was originally a Thorn EMI Screen Entertainment released which in the UK it was a theatrical release then on video Cannon took over the Thorn EMI catalogue halfway though 1986. I never got why the critics hated the film. It was an intelligent psychological horror film. In my eyes the film is about Jim Halesy journey he start as a naive boy to a man. Also you can see how John Ryder basically know that he wants to suicide as he is a sadistic killer but uses Jim to kill him. Even when he gets Jim to say "I Want to Die" feel like it's Ryder's suicide confession. This film can mean a lot of themes. As for Aids context that's 80's critics trying to be clever. They even tried that with The Fly 1986, which David Cronenberg replied "If Seth Brandle Jeff Goldblum got aids, why hasn't Veronica (Geena Davis) got it as she was sexual experience. Back to The Hitcher, it is a film with a lot of themes which is the audience's choice of what they want in the film.
Fell in love with rutger in this film, so sinister but beautiful, same in bladerunner, he was born to play that part
He’s bloody gorgeous and I’ve been enamoured by the Hitcher since I first saw it in 2018.
The entensity the sheer terror that this movie brings will never be the same.
Love the tone of this film - the use of wide lenses, the use of silence separating scenes. The patient watchful presence of the desert in everything.
This just shows that a good horror movie can be based only on suspense and the charisma of the characters, no over the top gore needed. Hauer did a masterful performance
I saw this gem when it came out and always saw it as a supernatural thriller.