Hitch-Hike (1977)

A bickering couple driving cross-country pick up a murderous hitchhiker who threatens to kill them unless they take him to a sanctuary. In return he agrees to split some bank loot he has on him.

Director:

Pasquale Festa Campanile

Writers:

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

Stars:

Franco Nero, Corinne Cléry, David Hess

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Franco Nero	...	Walter
Corinne Cléry	...	Eve (as Corinne Clery)
David Hess	...	Adam
Joshua Sinclair	...	Oaks (as John Loffredo)
Carlo Puri	...	Hawk
Ignazio Spalla	...	Mexican Way Station Clerk (as Pedro Sanchez)
Leonardo Scavino	...	Mendoza (as Leon Lenor)
Mónica Zanchi	...	Girl at Camp Site (as Monica Zanchi)
Benito Pacifico	...	Highway Patrolman #1
Angelo Ragusa	...	Highway Patrolman #2
Luigi Birri	...	Man at Camp Site
Robert Sommer	...	Harry Stetson
Ann Ferguson	...	Lucy Stetson
Fausto Di Bella	...	Motorcycle Punk #1

Storyline

Walter Mancini is a egostical newspaper editor whom is driving across California with his spiteful wife, Eve, on a weekend getaway to save their troubled marriage. But things take a turn when they pick up a straded motorist, named Adam, whom takes them hostage revealing himself to be a fugitive running from both the police and his two acomplices after robbing a bank and making off with all the loot. But things are not always as they seem as Walter and Eve try to find a way to not only get rid of their unwanted car guest, but find a way to deal with each other when both see the tempting offer of the stolen $2 million in cash Adam always has on him.

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Plot Keywords:

rape turns to consensual sex | orgasm from rape | female full rear nudity | neglected wife | large breasts | 

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Taglines:

A film as "hard" as its characters!

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

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Certificate:

Unrated

Did You Know?

Trivia

The film was intended to be set in northern California, but the budget wouldn't allow the film to be shot outside of Italy. The filming locations of L'Aquila, Italy were chosen because the terrain looked like the American west and the road signs and gas stations were made to look 'Americanized'. This sometimes confused American tourists whenever they came across the shooting locations and found everything written in English.

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Goofs

In the canyon, the caravan door goes from shut to open without human intervention.

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Alternate Versions

The French Canadian video release on the MPA label contains an additional gore shot when David Hess' character shoots a police officer in the head. This French version was also re-edited for an attempt at a happy ending. Basically, the scene in which Franco Nero and Corrine Clery meet the bikers at the roadstop diner is towards the beginning of the film and their subsequent wipe out on the oil slick has been completely omitted. The film ends with Nero and Clery laughing and driving away with all the money after killing Hess.

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Connections

Referenced in I Spit on Your Grave (1978)

User Reviews

Little known, but terrific road thriller

Intense, off-beat Italian thriller is an underexposed classic.

Fueding married couple, traveling across the country, make the mistake of picking up a hitch hiker who turns out to be a violent bank robber. But that's only the beginning of the story.

Skillfully well done thriller is gripping in it's wildly turning plot. The cinematography is stylishly good, with some beautiful country side filming locations. The music, though seemingly out of place at times, is great too. In addition there is a decent amount of violence and some nudity.

The real highlights of this film though are it's three stars, who seem to be in a show-stealing competition all through out the film. Franco Nero does a convincingly good performance as the alcoholic reporter, who has grown tired of his wife. Corinne Clery is fetching and talented as Nero's equally weary wife. The terrific David Hess makes for another great villain, also having played a crazed criminal in both Craven's Last House on the Left (1972) and another Italian exploitation film House on the Edge of the Park (1979).

For those who are seeking an unconventional thriller or just a fan of Hess, this film will be a well rewarding watch.

*** 1/2 out of ****

Details

Country:

Italy

Language:

Italian English

Release Date:

21 July 1978 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Naked Prey

Filming Locations:

Campo Imperatore, L'Aquila, Abruzzo, Italy

Company Credits

Production Co:

Explorer Film '58, Medusa Distribuzione

Technical Specs

Runtime:

104 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1