THE HITCHER

 

The Hitcher--the original, NOT the remake--is one of the more underrated horror films of the eighties and stars one of the more underrated actors of all-time Rutger Hauer and C. Thomas Howell who's, well, an actor of all-time (and let's just leave it at THAT, okay?). The plot is simple enough: Driver (played by Howell) picks up hitcher (played to chilling effect by Hauer) who turns out to be a raging murdering psychopath. What I like most about this particular horror flick is that, unlike other horror films of that time (e.g. the Friday the 13th and A Nightmare on Elm Street franchises), it doesn't involve supernatural beings/killers as Rutger Hauer's character is all-too-human (and, needless to say, all-too-evil). And who can, of course, forget that by-now-classic scene where actress Jennifer Jason Leigh--who plays Howell's obligatory lady-interest in the film (and is also one of the FEW flicks she's starred in where she keeps her clothes ON!)--is strapped between two semi-trucks and ripped asunder by Hauer. What was most interesting about this particular scene is that we don't actually see Jennifer ripped asunder the way one no doubt would if this film were made today (and, again, I'm NOT talking about the remake that came out a few years ago). However, despite its obvious lack of extreme gore (like, again, one would see in a horror film today), it still remains one of the most chilling scenes in horror movie history. A sidenote: As for the obligatory sequel that also came out a few years back, that one stars C. Thomas Howell and co-stars B-movie hottie Kari Wuhrer (who also manages to keep her clothes ON in spite of her rampant nudie film history like Jennifer!) and noted nut-job Gary Busey's son Jake who stars in the Rutger Hauer role (but who, of course, lacks the acting chops of Rutger). I will say one pleasant surprise of The Hitcher sequel is that it has one of the most creatively surprising movie beginnings I've ever seen in a horror film or any other type of film, for that matter (and we're talking Saw territory here). And you'll, of course, just have to watch the film to see what I'm talking about, all right? (I mean, do I have to do EVERYTHING for you people?!)