The Hitcher (1986)

User Rating:

7.2/10   

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 | Road | Hitchhiker | Truck

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)
• 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) | 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:

Sam Elliott and Terence Stamp were offered the role of John Ryder.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: When Jim enters the abandoned garage, birds fly in front of the camera for dramatic effect. Though the hole in the floor seems to be intentional, the person visible pushing the birds out from said hole was probably not.

Quotes:

Jim Halsey: You'll get caught.
John Ryder: Sure. Fine. So What.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Six Feet Under: That's My Dog (#4.5)" (2004)

Soundtrack:

DON'T STOP LOVIN' ME

Gripping throughout, yet...

Murder Spree Road Flick. Contains many fairly stupid moments ("plot holes") and yet remains gripping throughout its length. Graphic, stunning violence; be warned.

Howell is slightly vapid yet pretty and his relations with Rutger Hauer verge on the homo-erotic. Hauer is a near-perfect villain, demonstrating the steely resolve and psychological impenetrability that have made him a favorite "bad guy" in other films.

A great movie for the paranoid who wish to feed their fantasies. Owes something to Spielberg's "Duel" but remains its own film. Relatively spare visual style well-suited to the theme. Recommended, but not for the faint of heart.