Review of The Hitcher (1986) by Cj S — 14 Sep 2007

*ORIGINAL 1986 VERSION* I have so much respect and love for this film that I am sometimes tempted to list it as my number one favorite. With a title like this, one would be surprised to know that there is hardly any violence and almost no gore at all. The director Robert Harmon, and the two leads Rutger Hauer and C. Thomas Howell have a rare and powerful synergy with each other and manages to deliver an electrifying tale of suspense through bone chilling atmosphere, the bleakest of soundscapes and sparse but very well scripted dialogue of which every line is skilfully delivered and crucial to the storyline.

This movie has an otherworldliness that is hard to explain. It has a kind of twisted warrior spirituality to it. John Ryder is a lone "hunter" who has gone beyond the mundane trivialities of life and returns to our animal predatorial roots. He lives solely for the hunt and for the enjoyment of tormenting his victims to the stage where they too, are able to see the world in his terms, that life or death, predator or prey, strength or weakness and resoluteness or indecision are things that sometimes one cannot choose, but can only "become" through trials and tribulations. Jim Halsey eventually comes to understand this "game" and respect this mentality in John Ryder.

In this game, nothing else besides the "hunt" matters. It is only "you" and "me" now. When you become the hunted, you can allow yourself to be another victim, or you can become a hunter yourself, knowing resolutely that there is nothing to lose, for you are already dead.