80sfilms

Not exactly a horror film, but not exactly a drama either, The Hitcher (1986) is one of those grey-area films that is more chiller/thriller than gory flick. 

The film stars C. Thomas Howell as Jim, a young man taking a drive-away car across the country from Chicago to San Diego.

When he sees a hitchhiker on the side of the road during a rain storm, he stops. That hitchhiker, John (played by the creepily sinister Rutger Hauer) admits to being a murdering psychopath, and Jim cuts him loose as soon as possible, but not without consequences.

When Jim meets a girl, Nash (played by Jennifer Jason Leigh) along the way, she ends up in harm’s way as John and Jim battle it out on the deserted desert highway.

The Hitcher, which brought surprisingly tense action to the big screen, was directed by Robert Harmon and written by Eric Red.

Although there are a few peripheral characters in the film, Howell, Hauer and Leigh are its major stars. Howell, who was a bit of a heartthrob back then, also starred in Soul Man (1986), Secret Admirer (1985), Red Dawn (1984), Grandview, U.S.A. (1984), Tank (1984), The Outsiders (1983) and E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial (1982).

Hauer could also be seen in Wanted: Dead or Alive (1987), Flesh+Blood (1985), Ladyhawke (1985) and Blade Runner (1982).

Leigh also starred in Flesh+Blood (1985), Grandview, U.S.A. (1984), Easy Money (1983) and, most notably, Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982).

Fans of Hauer, Howell or Leigh should enjoy The Hitcher, as all three turn out great performances in the film. For fans of psychological thrillers, be sure to watch this 80s version…and skip the remake.

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