Review of The Hitch-Hiker (1953) by Hugo S — 20 Dec 2008

THE HITCH-HIKER (1953).

Directed by Ida Lupino.

Starring Frank Lovejoy, Edmond O'Brien, William TalmanThe Hitch-Hiker begins with a warning message, stating this story could happen to any of us. Im guessing it was a cautionary tale against hitcher, and about thirty years later, watching C. Thomas Howell picking up Rutger Hauer as he hitch a ride, I can only come to the conclusion he hasnt seen this film.Two men on a fishing trip, taking some time-off from their family pick up a man who's hitching a ride. That man takes out a gun and we quickly understand he is a mass killer. Our two men are found in a bad situation. They have to drive to Mexico cause now, the killer is wanted by everyone in the states. Cause of an early incident in the film, we know that when they'll get to destination the killer will want to eliminate them but our two men, knowing that as well, take a freaking long time before deciding they should do anything if they want to get out of it alive. Even when they are convinced they might die in the next minute they just stand there and obey.The acting is in the right tone. Ed O'Brien from D.O.A. plays a bit too desperate, Frank Lovejoy from House of Wax is a bit too robotic and William Talman from the Perry Mason show overacts a bit as the bad guy, but we cant blame them, thats the way acting was done in the 50's.The film is directed by Ida Lupino, known as a pioneer for women filmmaker, even though she acted a lot, used sometimes, some interesting camera movement for the time. Weirdly enough the cast of the film is almost exclusively male, even for small roles. But the problem with the film is neither her or the actors, its the script. There is no time spent to let us know who any of those men are. We known who the victims are, without knowing them and its the same with the killer. Which, in the end, keeps us from caring for the characters and whatever happens do them.In the other hand The Hitch-Hiker as an interesting film noir mood even if its not one, too much elements are missing to make it a film noir. Its kind of entertaining for a while and its short, so not too much time is wasted.