Implausible and needlessly grotesque.

amazing film. Kept the tension til the end and acting is great too.

I know the critics attacked this film but it is a cult classic. Rutger Hauer's performance is chilling. He oozes menace with every line. The whole point of a horror film is to inspire fear in the audience. This film delivers that in spades. The story isn't terrible. An argument can be made for the implausibility of all films. Yes there are moments where you question why the main character didn't do something else but fear doesn't lend itself to rational thought. Just get your popcorn and run with it. It's good escapist entertainment.

Thrilling enough, 'The Hitcher' provides serviceable entertainment but doesn't go far beyond that...

I saw this back in '86 and found it frightening.

'The Hitcher' is certainly a tense and gripping ride through the across the desolate highways of middle America and if you're looking for a standout performance then Rutger Hauer steals the show. He's the complete nut-job who you really don't want to offer a lift to if you see him at the side of the road. While the counterpoint is out unlucky hero, played by C. Thomas Howell, who also holds his own as the young protagonist caught in an escalating nightmare. The film thrives on its cat-and-mouse dynamic, which will definitely give you moments of high tension and edge-of-your-seat thrills. Of course, being made in the eighties, you get practical effects which add some much-needed realism to the action which grounds the atmosphere in a gritty, real-world feel that suits the film's tone. However, the pacing does falter in places, with certain stretches feeling overly drawn out. Also, the story does tend to hinge sometimes on coincidences that may strain credibility for some viewers. But, despite these flaws, 'The Hitcher' is a worthwhile 'bare-bones' thriller which makes for a darkly entertaining journey. Fans of psychological thrillers and intense simple chase stories should find it is worth watching allowing its atmosphere and performances make up for its occasional lapses in logic and pacing.

Es bastante tensa y tiene algo escenas muy obvias y hasta absurdas oír así decirlo. Pero su historia y los personajes están muy bien hechos, hay algunas escenas que si destacan mucho y hace que estés pegado a la pantalla en todo momento.

Slick thriller with good cinematography, lighting and car stunts. My only issue with it is that it's a bit overcooked and improbable, especially near the end. I also thought the characters could have had a better connection. But overall it's a nice, brooding horror/thriller.

Absolute classic... Rutger Hauer and C. Thomas Howell are exceptional. A remake was made... of course... but it is not a patch on the original.

I could watch that movie over and over again. To see Rutger Hauer do a perfect job is amazing. I loved it since i first saw it got an upgrade (4K) i re-watched the remake. Love Sean Bean but he doesn't have the presence that RH had. This one has great work all around.

Barely okay for about 90% of the runtime This is a cut and clear case of one of those movies that starts out as a horror and devolves into action. It's marginally entertaining as it begins, and gains traction with the appearance of Jennifer Jason Leigh, before it falls apart because of Rutger Hauer. Hauer is basically a b-level actor, and he isn't bringing the Robert Englund level of authenticity that this movie needs. C Thomas Howell is kind of interesting and doesn't fall apart until the script does, much later than you'd think. Then, Leigh is used for some plot devices but is generally underappreciated. Some of the action is tense, but other parts are bogus. The way the movie ends is basically stupid. I wouldn't call it a horrible movie, at all, and it held my attention, but it could have been so much better in so many ways.

The Hitcher is completely ludicrous and often without purpose, but it remains a stylish ride all the same.

En los años ochenta como en toda época se han hecho muchas películas y The Hitcher es una de las propuestas más originales que se han hecho y que han pasado muy desapercibidas. Es un thriller bastante original que no es muy conocido, pero tiene una intrigante historia que vale la pena ver. No se trata realmente de una película de terror como se la suele catalogar, pero tiene un ambiente intrigante de suspenso que gira al rededor de Jim Harley en su lucha para probar su inocencia mientras es acechado por John Ryder. Aunque no suena algo muy nuevo lo de ser culpado por un crimen y tratar de probar la inocencia, la película sabe darle un muy buen giro para que la historia sea atrapante y se sienta diferente a otras películas. El desierto y la carretera son los escenarios principales y combinados con las escenas de acción, la película llega a tener una vibra de western. John Ryder no es un villano conocido, pero es bastante original por su estrategia de lograr hacer que los policías depositen sus ojos sobre Jim como el verdadero culpable. Las motivaciones de Ryder no son del todo claras, pero por la forma en que provoca a Jim, parece que lo que está buscando es un rival que lo enfrente. Rutger Hauer ofrece una estupenda actuación en la piel de este personaje. The Hitcher es un estupendo thriller que forma parte de la lista de películas muy poco conocidas que merecen ser vistas. Mi calificación final para esta película es un 9/10.

Prepare for a fast paced action thriller, that will entertain you from beginning to end. This film is definitely of the era in its style, sound and acting which adds to the overall quality of the film. Worth the watch, don't leave this film on the backburner.

The Hitcher is one of the best, if not the best, small-time terror movies of the 1980's. I struggle to even classify it. It's not horror specifically, not really a crime drama either, and certainly has suspense in spades but to call it a "suspense" movie would sell short the brutality involved both psychologically and physically. It's maddening, unsettling, and horrifying all at the same time. This movie will pin you to your couch, force you to watch it, and then leave you baffled at the end. Both Howell and Hauer's performances are stellar. As unlikely a pair as you will find, that's by design and makes the story that much more compelling. I struggle to understand anyone who doesn't recognize this film's greatness, to be honest. There's never been anything quite like it before or since.

Are you ready to embark on a spine-chilling journey with a classic 80s horror flick? This cautionary tale about picking up a hitchhiker is sure to keep you on the edge of your seat! Brace yourself as you follow Jim's heart-pounding escape from the clutches of the notorious hitchhiker, John Ryder, masterfully portrayed by Rutger Hauer. The tension mounts as Jim finds himself in a relentless pursuit while desperately trying to make it to California. Get ready for an exhilarating thrill ride that will leave you breathless!

I can't believe it took me this long to see this hidden gem. It is a bit outlandish at times and does raise a few questions but it's still a suspenseful game of cat and mouse amplified by the quiet desert highway setting.

There is not much to say: a must see. All of it is great, cast, action, pacing, the images, Mark Isham`s score...a highly intense action thriller.

Cat and mouse games have long been prominent within the thriller genre but one key aspect that they had been lacking until now was Rutger Hauer. To say his performance is haunting is nothing short of the truth, emitting tense mysticism and eerie horror from his very first appearance, he located himself on our screens with an aspiration to supply chills and deliver an unsettling performance that would strike fear into even the most blackened of hearts. Hauer is everything that you could have asked for from the antagonist of an 80's thriller, his devilish attitude repeatedly mysticises viewers through his solemn expressions and ambiguous dialogue which never overstays its welcome. While the menacing aura that follows him through every crevice and crack always manages to leave a distinguishable impression on the current and succeeding scenes. Naturally, as Hauer bathes in the limelight here it is only reasonable that the other cast members don't quite achieve those same levels of infatuation which unfortunately, some struggle with more than others. C. Thomas Howell has been widely received as a relatively conflicting casting decision, with many arguing that he just doesn't quite feel right here and I certainly don't disagree. He can come across rather offensively strong at times, like a mammoth suffocating me with a crushing amount of emotion instead of its colossal feet, all while his character continues to make various odd and questionable decisions that only manage to dwindle my already depleting opinion of him. Nevertheless, an impassioned antagonistic performance isn't the extent of The Hitcher's vast thrills. Its stellar cinematography and infectious score are both just as pivotal to the horrifying atmosphere that Robert Harmon's imagination has put on display. Their distinct ambience and murky dominion manages to exact an inconspicuous sense of terror onto the viewer throughout the film and even though they may not be quite as captivating as Hauer's gripping portrayal, their extensive grasp on the viewer is just as palpable. Undoubtedly, the film flourishes within its ghastly cat and mouse game but its altruistic offspring of Jennifer Jason Leigh and her accompanying romantic endeavours are far from a forgettable affair. Nash isn't exactly an intricate and complex character, she is actually rather plain and dare I say tasteless but her role within the film does manage to further emphasise the already growing sense of fear and horror that envelops this foreboding and sinister highway that they have found themselves confined to. Collectively, this may just fall into that expansive list of hidden gems throughout cinema immensely due to its consistently menacing atmosphere, commendable technical traits and an antagonistic performance for the ages.

Avery good timing. Some really shoking twists and a feeling and atmosphere that remains after the film. A blueprint for many followups.