The Hitcher

Watch The Hitcher

"The terror starts the moment he stops."
  • R
  • 1986
  • 1 hr 37 min
  • 7.2  (51,369)
  • 32

The Hitcher is a classic 1986 thriller movie that stars Rutger Hauer, C. Thomas Howell, and Jennifer Jason Leigh. The movie is set in the American Southwest and follows the story of a young man, Jim Halsey (played by Howell), who is on a cross-country road trip. Jim is driving through the desert when he picks up a hitchhiker named John Ryder (played by Hauer), who turns out to be a psychopathic killer.

The movie begins with Jim driving through the desert in the middle of the night. He is tired and nodding off at the wheel when he sees a man on the side of the road asking for a ride. Against his better judgment, Jim picks up John Ryder and soon realizes that he has made a terrible mistake. Within minutes, John is threatening Jim's life and telling him that he is going to kill him.

Jim manages to escape from John's clutches and finds himself in a small town, where he meets a waitress named Nash (played by Leigh). Jim tells Nash about his encounter with the hitchhiker, but she doesn't believe him. Nash thinks that Jim is hallucinating and tries to convince him that John Ryder isn't real. However, as the movie progresses, Nash starts to believe Jim's story and becomes his ally in his fight against John.

Throughout the movie, John continues to terrorize Jim and Nash, leaving a trail of death and destruction in his wake. He is a sadistic, cunning killer who seems to be everywhere at once, always one step ahead of his victims. Jim and Nash are forced to go on the run, trying to stay one step ahead of John and their own fears.

The Hitcher is a tense, suspenseful movie that keeps you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. The performances of the three leads are outstanding, with Rutger Hauer delivering an especially chilling portrayal of the killer. The movie is well-directed, with tight pacing and plenty of action to keep the audience engaged.

One of the most striking things about The Hitcher is its atmosphere. The movie is set almost entirely at night, with much of the action taking place on deserted highways and in remote towns. This gives the movie a sense of isolation and dread that is palpable throughout.

Overall, The Hitcher is a classic thriller that has stood the test of time. It is a movie that will keep you guessing until the very end, with plenty of twists and turns to keep you on your toes. If you are a fan of suspenseful movies, then The Hitcher is definitely worth checking out.

The Hitcher is a 1986 action movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 37 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.2 and a MetaScore of 32.

The Hitcher
Description
Where to Watch The Hitcher
The Hitcher is available to watch, stream, download and on demand at Hulu, Amazon Prime, Max and The Roku Channel. Some platforms allow you to rent The Hitcher for a limited time or purchase the movie and download it to your device.
  • Release Date
    1986
  • MPAA Rating
    R
  • Runtime
    1 hr 37 min
  • Language
    English
  • IMDB Rating
    7.2  (51,369)
  • Metascore
    32