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 / husband
Corinne Cléry	...	Eve / wife (as Corinne Clery)
David Hess	...	Adam / criminal
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 / Lucy's husband
Ann Ferguson	...	Lucy / Harry's wife
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 pleasure trip becomes a journey into hell.

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

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Certificate:

Unrated

Did You Know?

Trivia

Franco Nero had a broken hand throughout the film because he actually broke his hand while punching a misbehaving horse on the set of Keoma (1976). Because of the injury the script was rewritten to have Walter drunkenly fall and break his hand early in the film. It was also rewritten so that Eve would be driving the car throughout the film. Originally it was supposed to be Walter driving.

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Goofs

Reflection of lights visible in Highway Patrol officer's helmet.

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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

Remade as Hitch-Hike (2013)

User Reviews

Fantastic thriller

Hitch Hike is an incredible thriller. From the moment it starts, it grabs your attention and doesn't let it go until the film ends; moody, dark, exciting and brilliant; Hitch Hike is a rare gem that should not be missed by anyone lucky enough to get the chance to see it.

In the familiar style of the more well known hitchhiker films such The Hitcher, Hitch Hike follows the fortunes of an Italian couple; a reporter and his wife that are traveling across America. On the way the couple, on the wife's advice, stop to pick up a hitchhiker. And obviously, that turns out to be a bad decision....

Hitch Hike features three outstanding performances from it's three main leads; Franco Nero, who was made famous for Django, Corinne Clery, the beautiful young lady that would go on to play James Bond's love interest in Moonraker, and of course, David Hess; a man that horror fans will recognize from the shock horror classic; The Last House on the Left. All three of the leads portray their characters excellently, especially Franco Nero, at certain points in the movie, such as the part in which his wife is brutally raped, he really draws you into his character and you can feel his anger flowing from the TV screen. David Hess was typecast as the maniac of the piece, but nevertheless he plays the part well and he is every bit the unstable, insecure maniac that the couple are unfortunate enough to pick up. And finally; Corinne Clery, undoubtedly the least outstanding of the three in terms of character strength, gets to flex her acting muscles somewhat too as the victim of most of the film's brutality.

What makes Hitch Hike so thrilling is mainly its free flowing and meandering plot structure. Through the events that transpire in the movie, which are largely unpleasant and brutal, we are repeatedly given the impression that anything can happen. This is brought about by the excellent way that the movie plays out as long as it can with its current events, and then throws a twist in when the last one has stagnated. This is done multiple times in the film and it really keeps the audience on their toes.

Aside from being a thrilling exploitation flick, Hitch Hike is also an interesting character study. At several points in the movie, the characters interact and play off each other differently. For example, from the start of the movie, Franco Nero's character is portrayed as a selfish, arrogant, amoral man that most audience members will find hard to empathize with. However, once David Hess' character is introduced; a character which is much meaner and easier to dislike that Nero's, we are able to feel more for Nero's character and he undergoes a transformation from the villain of the piece to an antihero. This is a great thing for this movie, as you never really know where you are with the characters and they can always surprise you; the shocking and ironic ending epitomizes this best. The interaction between the characters, especially the early scenes between the couple and the hitchhiker are as fascinating as they are uncomfortable. The movie has a great way of drawing the viewer in with it's attention-grabbing banter, and yet at the same time making them wish they were somewhere else due to the tenseness and foreboding feel of danger about it.

Hitch Hike also features a fantastic soundtrack from a man that is probably the best composer there ever was; Ennio Morricone. This movie features what is most definitely one of his best non-Leone scores. His music adds texture and vibrancy to the picture and really succeeds in making the powerful images on screen that much more powerful.

Hitch Hike is a tense, exciting and efficient thriller and overall I find it hard to pick any faults with it, and the only real fault I can muster is that the dubbing isn't always great. If you're a fan of film, I recommend this film. But if you're a fan of thrillers, particularly in the exploitation style; I don't recommend, I insist.

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