After what seems like an eternal wait, Robert Harmon’s 1986 cult classic ‘The Hitcher’ has finally been given a Blu-ray release. And not just any old Blu-ray release, but a spectacular 4K UHD from Second Sight Films, loaded with brand new extras, a book of insightful essays, and a paperback of the original screenplay. Given what we know is still to come this year, I won't say this is the best home entertainment release of 2024 just yet, but I can confidently say it's the best of the year thus far.
“My mother told me to never do this.” Your mother was right, Jim. If only you’d listened. The plot is pure simplicity, telling the story of Jim Halsey (C. Thomas Howell), a young man driving cross-country, who makes the fateful decision to pick up a hitchhiker. That hitchhiker is John Ryder, a psychotic drifter played by Rutger Hauer. From the minute he pulls over to let this man into his car, Jim’s world cascades into a blood-soaked existential nightmare.
The film is essentially a cat-and-mouse chase across the highways of the American desert. A genre-blending thriller, effortlessly veering lanes into nerve-shredding horror, and eventually a balls out action movie. Harmon’s taut direction and John Seale’s exquisite cinematography make excellent use of the West Texas landscape. The wide open spaces, contrasted with the boxed in interiors of the car, ramp up the sense of isolation and suffocating tension both Jim and the audience are experiencing.
At the dark heart of it all is Rutger Hauer. Like some giant, mythical monster, immortal and terrifying (look at how he is shot and framed in certain scenes) his portrayal of John Ryder is the film’s defining feature. His unnerving calmness makes him truly terrifying. He carries an aura of menace, as well an unshakeable sense of impending doom, not just for his victims, but for himself too. Alongside him in the drivers seat, C. Thomas Howell does an incredible job as the unsuspecting Jim, holding his own against a career best Rutger Hauer, and brilliantly conveying the fear, confusion, and horror the character is facing.
‘The Hitcher’ is a film that stays with you long after the credits have rolled. Not just as a high-octane thriller but as a haunting exploration of fear, loneliness, and the randomness of violence. Its relentless tension, stark desert visuals, and Rutger Hauer’s chilling performance elevate it beyond the standard road movie, into something primal and deeply unsettling. All wrapped up in a lean, mean 97-minutes, it’s a classic example of doing more with less.
Unlike our good friends at Second Sight however, who do more with more, bringing a maximalist approach to their releases. If shelf space permits, the limited edition release of ‘The Hitcher’ is not to be missed. It comes with a rigid slipcase with new artwork by Adam Stothard, a 200-page hardback book with an exclusive interview with Robert Harmon, and a selection of brand new essays. There are 6 collectors art cards, and another book with Eric Red’s origin screenplay.
Restored from the original camera negative and approved by the director, the image upgrade here is incredible. There’s a real depth and clarity to the picture, and the colours are bold and vivid. The 4K brings new details to the image that have probably never been seen before, and most importantly there is none of that digital sheen that has been seen on some other high profile releases this year. This one was done with real care and attention and it shows in the end result.
The disc then comes loaded with special features, including multiple audio commentaries, brand new interviews with Robert Harmon, Eric Red, C Thomas Howell, cinematographer John Seale, composer Mark Isham, and a podcast interview featuring Harmon and Rutger Hauer. There are also visual essays, short films from Robert Harmon and Eric Red, and a selection of trailers. It is an outstanding release, and very much worth the wait.
Cast: C. Thomas Howell, Rutger Hauer, Jennifer Jason Leigh Director: Robert Harmon Writer: Eric Red Released By: Second Sight Films Certificate: 15 Duration: 97 mins Release Date: 30 September 2024
