The Hitch-Hiker

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Viviana A The Hitch-Hiker was a really interesting and suspense-filled film that, in my opinion, stands out for its strong direction and eerie cinematography. I think the film does a great job of keeping the audience on the edge of their seats with its minimal and tight pacing. The cinematography by Nicholas Musuraca I believe was important in creating the film’s chilling atmosphere. He used shadows and sharp contrasts to build a sense of danger, a classic film noir feel. There were open road shots that made the characters look small against a big range, really highlighting their vulnerability. But when the action moves inside the car, the close-up shots make everything really feel close and claustrophobic, trapping the characters and the audience, in a small space with the hitchhiker. In my view, Ida Lupino’s direction is a huge strength of the film. It shows she knows how to build that suspense without over explaining which lets the tension rise through the characters’ reactions and the risky situation they’re stuck in. Additionally, Lupino brings out great performances from her actors. Edmond O’Brien, as Roy was really good at capturing the panic and desperation of someone pushed to their limits. Frank Lovejoy who played Gilbert, adds a more grounding presence which together makes everything feel authentic and intense. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 11/12/24 Full Review Isaac C The Hitch-Hiker is a simple, yet very effective story that will have you invested from start to finish. There is nothing necessarily complex about this film whatsoever. The story, characters, and even plot are all relatively straightforward. However, it proved to be extremely interesting and always had me wondering what would happen next. The plot can be summarised as two runaway men being kidnapped by a criminal hitchhiker and their journey through Mexico together. I was always invested in seeing how the two men might escape or how they even planned to do so. The chemistry between all three of our main characters was also fantastic. William Talman, playing Myers was especially talented in his role. He was fantastic, and you end up rooting for him to lose by the end of the movie. Speaking of the ending, the conclusion of this film was very quick but satisfying. Many films from the 20th century seem to have the same ending of a major climactic event occurring with no falling action or proper conclusion to follow. This movie also suffers from the same issue with no knowledge given after the concluding climax. I personally would have loved to see more context on what occurred after, however, this may be entirely personal preference. Overall, The Hitch-Hiker is a very good movie that I would recommend to everyone, especially considering its shorter run-time. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 11/11/24 Full Review acsdoug D It's a good noir, but my enthusiasm for the film is tempered by a nagging question: why did the killer take these guys hostage? If he had killed so many people before why didn't he just kill these guys and take their car? Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 11/04/24 Full Review A M One of the best films noir. Arguably THE best. Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 09/10/24 Full Review William L Pioneering female director Ida Lupino takes on the noir, in many ways often considered among the most masculine of film genres with its love of dark themes, individuality, and grit. The Hitch-Hiker is a very stripped-down take on a very straightforward premise - two men held at gunpoint on a road trip - and doesn't carry much in the way of moral qualms or emotional complexity. Talman's Myers makes it clear not only that he is willing to kill his captives but that he considers it an inevitability, and it's his venomous tongue that gives the film most of its appeal but kills any of the manipulative mind games that you would think a character of his style might go in for. With that in mind, it feels almost more akin to a survival narrative than it does to a noir, apart from some of the classic framing and shadow-drenched shots (including a great one of a possibly-deadly dock that one of our protagonists is forced to walk down). There are a few pieces of the script that fall a bit flat or feel unnecessary, particularly the scattered scenes of pursuing law enforcement that seem to poke a hole in the oppressive atmosphere that the premise almost guarantees. Additionally, the final resolution to the film is pretty bland, especially considering that one of our long-suffering protagonists gets the better of his captor only to awkwardly let him up and run away to be captured by someone else. In the context of the noir genre, decisions like those stand out. Still, it's not like The Hitch-Hiker is bad viewing, particularly given the short length and Talman's performance (as well as the significance of Lupino's involvement); it's just not an all-time great. (2.5/5) Rated 2.5/5 Stars •  Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 06/18/22 Full Review Audience Member I don't know why the rating on this one isn't higher. The Hitch-Hiker is really entertaining, holds its suspense all the way through, and doesn't drag on. While hitchhikers are really a thing of the past, the story of picking up a deranged one feels oddly possible, and that adds to the thrill of the story. Great way to spend 70 minutes. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/16/23 Full Review Read all reviews

The Hitch-Hiker

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