The Hitcher (1986)

Director:

Robert Harmon

Writer:

Eric Red (written by)

Release Date:

21 February 1986 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Crime | Drama | Horror | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

The terror starts the moment he stops.

Plot:

A young man who escaped the clutches of a murderous hitch-hiker is subsequently stalked, framed for the hitcher's crimes, and has his life made into hell by the same man he escaped.

Plot Keywords:

Murder | Police | Serial Killer | Framed | Road

Awards:

3 wins

Cast

Rutger Hauer	...	John Ryder
C. Thomas Howell	...	Jim Halsey
Jennifer Jason Leigh	...	Nash
Jeffrey DeMunn	...	Captain Esteridge
John M. Jackson	...	Sergeant Starr (as John Jackson)
Billy Green Bush	...	Trooper Donner (as Billy Greenbush)
Jack Thibeau	...	Trooper Prestone
Armin Shimerman	...	Interrogation Sergeant
Gene Davis	...	Trooper Dodge (as Eugene Davis)
Jon Van Ness	...	Trooper Hapscomb
Henry Darrow	...	Trooper Hancock
Tony Epper	...	Trooper Conners
Tom Spratley	...	Proprietor
Colin Campbell	...	Construction Man
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Brittania	...	(uncredited)
Garth Shaw	...	Photographer (uncredited)

Directed by
Robert Harmon

Writing credits
Eric Red		(written by)

Produced by
David Bombyk	....	producer
Edward S. Feldman	....	executive producer
Paul Lewis	....	co-producer
Charles R. Meeker	....	executive producer
Kip Ohman	....	producer

Original Music by
Mark Isham

Cinematography by
John Seale		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Frank J. Urioste

Casting by
Penny Perry

Production Design by
Dennis Gassner

Art Direction by
Dins W.W. Danielsen		(as Dins Danielson)

Set Decoration by
Lynda Burbank

Makeup Department
Leslie Ann Anderson	....	hair stylist (as Leslie Anne Anderson)
Pamela Peitzman	....	makeup artist

Production Management
James L. Honore	....	post-production supervisor (as James L. Honoré)
Paul Lewis	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Craig Beaudine	....	first assistant director
Leigh Webb	....	second assistant director
Frank Capra III	....	second assistant director: second unit (uncredited)

Art Department
Tommy Estridge	....	property master
J. Rae Fox	....	assistant art director
Nancy Haigh	....	art department coordinator
Kerry Jennings	....	assistant property master
Tom O'Brien	....	construction coordinator
William Stout	....	production illustrator
David J. Barker	....	property maker (uncredited)

Sound Department
Destiny Borden	....	adr assistant
Robert Deschaine	....	adr recordist
Robert Deschaine	....	foley recordist
Stephen Hunter Flick	....	supervising sound effects editor (as Stephen Flick)
Avram D. Gold	....	adr editor (as Avram Gold)
Warren Hamilton Jr.	....	sound editor
Gregg Landaker	....	sound re-recording mixer
Mark A. Mangini	....	supervising sound effects editor (as Mark Mangini)
Steve Maslow	....	sound re-recording mixer
Michael Minkler	....	sound re-recording mixer
Art Names	....	production sound mixer
Joan Rowe	....	foley artist
Gregg Barbanell	....	foley artist (uncredited)
Peggy Names	....	boom operator (uncredited)
Robert Nichols II	....	sound recordist (uncredited)
Steve Richardson	....	sound editor (uncredited)
Jerry Trent	....	foley artist (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Arthur Brewer	....	special effects supervisor (as Art Brewer)
Patricia Brewer	....	special effects assistant
Ken Estes	....	special effects assistant
Terry W. King	....	special effects assistant (as Terry King)
Leo Leoncio Solis	....	special effects assistant (as Leo Solis)
Andrew Miller	....	special effects (uncredited)

Stunts
Janet Brady	....	stunt double: Nash
Jophery C. Brown	....	stunts: Sheriff #2 (as Jophery Brown)
David Burton	....	stunt double: Halsey (as Dave Burton)
Justin De Rosa	....	stunt double: Ryder (as Justin Derosa)
Eddy Donno	....	stunt coordinator
Kenny Endoso	....	stunts: Sheriff #4 (as Ken Endoso)
Freddie Hice	....	stunts: Sheriff #1
Danny Rogers	....	stunts: Sheriff #3 (as Danny Rodgers)

Camera and Electrical Department
Brian W. Armstrong	....	second assistant camera (as Brian Armstrong)
Wayne Baker	....	aerial camera technician: second unit
James L. Carter	....	camera operator: second unit (as Jim Carter)
Jack Cooperman	....	aerial photographer: second unit
François Duhamel	....	still photographer (as Francois Duhamel)
Carlos M. Gallardo	....	best boy (as Carlos Gallardo)
Eyal Geva	....	second assistant camera
Ross Judd	....	first assistant camera: second unit
Bruce Kaye	....	first assistant camera: second unit
Robin P. Knight	....	key grip (as Robin Knight)
Walt Lloyd	....	camera operator
Jesse Mather	....	best boy electric
Charles Minsky	....	director of photography: second unit (as Chuck Minsky)
Lee Nashold	....	camera car operator
Tim Phelps	....	gaffer
László Regos	....	panaglide operator: second unit (as Laszlo Regos)
David Schmier	....	first assistant camera
Mark Simon	....	first assistant camera: second unit
Philip Sloan	....	dolly grip (as Phil Sloan)
Joseph D. Steuben	....	camera operator: second unit (as Joe Steuben)
Jonathan Sharpe	....	second assistant camera (uncredited)
Lee Sollenberger	....	rigging grip (uncredited)

Casting Department
Megan Branman	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Jac McAnelly	....	key costumer
Parker Poole	....	costumer
Simon Tuke	....	costumer

Editorial Department
Richard Candib	....	first assistant editor
Barry Dresner	....	second assistant editor
Tracey McCampbell	....	second assistant editor
Judi Rosner	....	post-production coordinator

Music Department
Gary Clayton	....	music mixer
Nicholas C. Washington	....	music editor (as Nicholas Washington)
Samuel Lehmer	....	score mixer (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Jason Belsky	....	driver
Robert Benjamin	....	driver
Russ Buckens	....	transportation captain
Jim Daily	....	driver: special effects
Steve Halsey	....	driver
Steve Hellerstein	....	transportation coordinator
Lou Kinney	....	driver
Larry Michael	....	driver
Robert Suer	....	driver: special effects
Carl Thompson	....	transportation captain

Other crew
Frank Ancone	....	first aid (as Frank Aucone)
Mel Bucholz	....	customer service: MGM Lab
Katie Carmichael	....	production assistant
Robert J. Elisberg	....	unit publicist (as Bob Elisberg)
Dennis Gassner	....	title designer
Gary Glover	....	production assistant
Karen Golden	....	script supervisor
Jack W. Haddox	....	production accountant (as Jack Haddox)
Matt Hall	....	production assistant
Julie Jones	....	assistant accountant
Catalaine Knell	....	production secretary
Margaret Krueger	....	production assistant
Sal Lombardo	....	production assistant
Cass Martin	....	location manager
Larry Moss	....	production consultant
Scott Nyegaard	....	production assistant
Ross Reynolds	....	helicopter pilot: second unit
Lenny Rogel	....	production assistant
Debra Scutari	....	production coordinator (as Debbie Scutari)
Rodney Stone	....	production assistant
Craig Miller	....	marketing consultant (uncredited)

Production Companies

• HBO Pictures (presents)
• Silver Screen Partners (in association with)

Distributors

• TriStar Pictures (1986) (USA) (theatrical)
• Shochiku-Fuji Company (1986) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Tohokushinsha Film (1986) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Cannon France (1986) (France) (theatrical)
• Sandrew Film & Teater (1986) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Ekaterinburg Art Home Video (EAHV) (19??) (Russia) (VHS)
• Flashstar (19??) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Home Box Office Home Video (HBO) (1987) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Home Box Office Home Video (HBO) (1993) (USA) (VHS)
• Home Box Office Home Video (HBO) (1999) (USA) (DVD) (VHS)
• Kinowelt Home Entertainment (2003) (Germany) (DVD)
• Lumiere Home Video (19??) (Australia) (VHS)
• Momentum Pictures Home Entertainment (2003) (UK) (DVD)
• RCV Home Entertainment (2005) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Thorn EMI Video Australia (19??) (Australia) (VHS)
• Thorn EMI (19??) (UK) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (19??) (Australia) (VHS)

Special Effects

• Cinema Research (special visual effects)
• Makeup Effects Laboratories

Other Companies

• Bongo Post  soundtrack
• Cinema Cafe  catering
• Cinema Research  titles
• Goldwyn Sound Facility  re-recorded at
• Lion's Gate Sound  post-production facilities

Runtime:

97 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:16 | South Korea:18 | Australia:MA (re-rating) | Ireland:18 | Australia:R | Canada:R | France:-12 | Italy:VM14 | New Zealand:R16 | Norway:18 | Portugal:M/18 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R | West Germany:18 | Finland:K-18 (1986) (uncut version) | Finland:K-16 (1993) (cut version) | Germany:BPjM Restricted

Filming Locations:

Amboy, California, USA

Company:

HBO Pictures

Trivia:

Screenwriter Eric Red can be seen in a cameo role toward the end of the film, playing a sheriff's deputy escorting John Ryder to the prison bus for transfer.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: During the final scene when Rutger Hauer jumps out of the back of the bus and flies through the windshield of the Dodge Ramcharger, the windshield shatters like regular glass, not safety glass.

Quotes:

[Jim watches John Ryder being interrogated]
Jim Halsey: [whispering] John Ryder.
Captain Esteridge: What'd you say?
Jim Halsey: His name is John Ryder.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Making of 'Alien³' (2003) (V)

Soundtrack:

DON'T STOP LOVIN' ME

A truly first rate thrill-ride!

It's hard to believe upon seeing The Hitcher that the film never saw the inside of the cinemas. It was video rental that got this film known, and thank god it did because The Hitcher is a truly first rate thriller! The film doesn't waste time with intricate plot details or explaining character motivations; instead, The Hitcher puts all the focus on the central theme and that does the film no end of favours when it comes to thrilling the audience. The central plot line follows the 'cat and mouse' structure, as we see a young man pick up a hitcher, only for the hitcher to turn out to be an unrelenting madman. What follows is a relentless chase across a desolate desert setting as the young man tries to escape the man that he tried to do a favour for. The idea behind the film had been used before in films like the brilliant 'Hitch-Hike', but The Hitcher makes the plot line it's own simply by not letting up for a minute. Every time there's a slow moment, the film quickly turns around and delivers more shocks and thrills; and it's that mentality behind the film that ensures the audience will be kept on the edge of their seats.

A huge reason for The Hitcher's cult success is Rutger Hauer's performance at the centre of the movie. His portrayal of the title character is rich in ambiguity and is one of the few genuinely frightening performances in all of cinema. Hauer ensures that he's frightening by never giving any reason for his attacks and that, coupled with his very cold persona; make the character the last person you would want to pick up on a deserted desert highway. C. Thomas Howell is the exact opposite in his role as frightened kid, and he and Hauer make a very good cat and mouse. Jennifer Jason Leigh rounds off the cast with her performance as a trashy waitress. Despite being made for cable television and not having the biggest budget in cinematic history, The Hitcher never seems stretched and this reflects best during the car chases and the gas station explosion scene. The film never goes over the top with the special effects, but the ones it does have work and this ensures that you never question the film, resulting in a plot line that an audience can easily buy into. On the whole, The Hitcher is easily one of the most exciting films ever made and comes with high recommendations to everyone!