Autostop rosso sangue (1977)

User Rating:

6.9/10   

Director:

Pasquale Festa Campanile

Writers:

Peter Kane (novel)
Aldo Crudo (screen treatment) ...

Release Date:

July 1978 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Crime | Drama | Horror | Thriller

Plot:

A bickering couple driving cross-country pick up a murderous hitchhiker whom threatens to kill them unless they take him to a santuary, and in return agrees to split some bank loot he has on him.

Plot Keywords:

Hostage | Hitchhiker | Female Full Frontal Nudity | Upskirt | Italian

Cast

Franco Nero	...	Walter Mancini
Corinne Clery	...	Eve Mancini
David Hess	...	Adam Konitz
Joshua Sinclair	...	Oaks (as John Loffredo)
Carlo Puri	...	Hawk
Ignazio Spalla	...	Bar Owner (as Pedro Sanchez)
Leonardo Scavino	...	Mendoza (as Leon Lenor)
Mónica Zanchi	...	Girl at Camp Site
Benito Pacifico	...	Highway Patrolman #1
Angelo Ragusa	...	Highway Patrolman #2
Luigi Birri	...	Motorcycle Punk #2
Robert Sommer	...	Harry Stetson
Ann Ferguson	...	Lucy Stetson
Fausto Di Bella	...	Motorcycle Punk #1

Also Known As:

Death Drive (UK) (video title)
Hitch Hike
Hitchhike: Last House on the Left (USA) (video title)
The Naked Prey (USA)

Runtime:

104 min | Canada:82 min | UK:98 min

Country:

Italy

Language:

Italian

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Norway:16 (cut) | USA:Unrated | West Germany:18 | France:X (original rating) | UK:18 | Australia:(Banned) (original rating) | Australia:R (censored)

Filming Locations:

Campo Imperatore, L'Aquila, Abruzzo, Italy

Company:

Explorer Film '58

Trivia:

Franco Nero had a broken hand throughout the film because the he actually broke his hand working on a previous production. Because of the injury the script was re-written to have Walter drunkly fall and break his hand early in the film. Also it was re-written that Eve would be driving the car throughout the film, originally it was suppose to be Walter driving.

Movie Connections:

Edited into 42nd Street Forever, Volume 1 (2005) (V)

Rare Campanile Thriller

Director Pasquale Festa Campanile is best known for thoroughly unremarkable comedies, some of which being on the saucy sexy side. This film here, however, does not easily fit into his CV.

Autostop rosso sangue is a moody thriller, with a collection of unpleasant characters one would rather expect in a piece by Ruggero Deodato. If this film contains any humour (which is debatable) then certainly only of the dark and cynical kind. There are clear-cut villains (no surprises: David Hess) in this film, but the complete absence of really likeable characters makes this uncomfortable viewing. This film is certainly not for everyone and many people will find it shocking.

Still, Autostop... is excellently put together, it is very effective in what it is trying to do. Campanile may be out of his genre here but he certainly was not out of his depth - this is one of his best films.