RottenTomatoes.com
Log In | Register | What is RT?
Found a Bug? Squash It! Report Bugs Here
  • Home
  • Movies
  • DVD
  • Celebrities
  • News
  • Critics
  • Trailers & Pictures
  • CommunityBeta
  • Box Office
  • | Best Of
  • | Certified Fresh
  • | Showtimes
RT Search Powered by Google
help icon Enhanced RT
searches on Google
Click here to turn on enhanced search results from RT on your Google searches.
 
Movies / On DVD / The Hitcher
The Hitcher

Rate this Movie Help Icon

  • Write a Review
  • Read Reviews
  • Add to List
  • Buy Poster External Icon
Bookmark and Share

The Hitcher (1985)

  • T-Meter Critics
  • Top Critics
  • RT Community
  • My Critics
  • My Friends
  • DVD
63 %
Tomatometer
Template ImageTemplate Image

How does the Tomatometer work Help Icon

Reviews Counted:30

Fresh:19

Rotten:11

Average Rating:5.8/10

Runtime: 1 hr 38 mins

Genre: Horror/Suspense

Synopsis: When a young man, driving to California by himself, naively picks up a hitchhiker, he gets more than he bargained for: the hitcher is a serial killer who mercilessly slashes anyone he meets,... When a young man, driving to California by himself, naively picks up a hitchhiker, he gets more than he bargained for: the hitcher is a serial killer who mercilessly slashes anyone he meets, ranging from truckstop waitresses to happy families in station wagons. Because of a lucky fluke, the driver manages to escape the charismatic murderer. Enraged that one of his intended victims has gone free, the hitcher cleverly frames the young man for the killings. Now the driver realizes he is the only one who can stop the hitchhiker -- and his freedom depends on his success. [More]

Starring: Rutger Hauer, C. Thomas Howell, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Jeffrey DeMunn

Starring: Rutger Hauer, C. Thomas Howell, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Jeffrey DeMunn

Director: Robert Harmon

Director: Robert Harmon

[See More Credits]

  • Trailers
  • Pictures
  • Trailer
    >
    "Strangers Think I'm Trustworthy"
    >
    DAVE MEYERS
    >
    ZACH KNIGHTON
    >
  • SOPHIA BUSH
    >
    SEAN BEAN
    >
1 - 4 of 6

See More Movie Trailers & Pictures

Reviews for The Hitcher

  • T-Meter Critics
  • Top Critics
  • RT Community
  • My Critics
  • My Friends
  • DVD
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 >> >|
Arrange By:Fresh | Rotten | Comments | Name | Source | Date
 
 

It's a highly competent sick-fright version of the evergreen chase formula.

Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
02/09/06
Time Out
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Feature debuts don't come much better than director Robert Harmon and screenwriter Eric Red's sleek, dream-like thriller about a naïve college boy who crosses paths with devil in the flesh after taking a wrong turn on some lost highway.

Full Review Source: TV Guide's Movie Guide | comment Comment
08/30/09
TV Guide's Movie Guide
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

A highly unimaginative slasher that keeps the tension going with a massacre about every 15 minutes.

Full Review Source: Variety | comment Comment
03/26/09
Variety Staff
Variety Staff
Variety
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Urban Cinefile | comment Comment
10/18/08
Urban Cinefile Critics
Urban Cinefile Critics
Urban Cinefile

No review available.

comment Comment
10/21/07
Cole Smithey
Cole Smithey
ColeSmithey.com

Without the original film's subtext of male bonding gone awry, nothing here has a shred of psychological resonance.

Full Review Source: Bryant Frazer's Deep Focus | comment 1 Comment
02/22/07
Bryant Frazer
Bryant Frazer
Bryant Frazer's Deep Focus

A partir de um conceito simples, o diretor cria tensão e transforma seu vilão (muito bem vivido por Hauer) em uma figura quase alegórica.

comment Comment
04/29/06
Pablo Villaca
Pablo Villaca
Cinema em Cena

Rutger Hauer is so menacing as the title fiend that you'll never pick up a hitchhiker. An absolutely relentless horror-thriller.

comment Comment
10/10/05
Chuck O'Leary
Chuck O'Leary
FulvueDrive-in.com

...essentially entertaining throughout...

Full Review Source: Reel Film Reviews | comment Comment
10/02/05
David Nusair
David Nusair
Reel Film Reviews

No review available.

comment Comment
07/04/05
Emanuel Levy
Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com

This film is the reason Rutger Hauer is still a name that movie fans know.

comment Comment
06/28/05
John Venable
John Venable
Supercala.com

Hauer's lunatic performance is the only thing that keeps The Hitcher from completely running off the road.

Full Review Source: Lessons of Darkness | comment Comment
05/04/05
Nick Schager
Nick Schager
Lessons of Darkness

No review available.

comment Comment
01/29/05
Philip Martin
Philip Martin
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

No review available.

comment Comment
11/22/04
John Esther
John Esther
Pasadena Weekly

No review available.

comment Comment
11/04/04
Jake Euker
Jake Euker
F5 (Wichita, KS)

Pretty nifty little thriller that falters at the end.

comment Comment
09/13/04
Ken Hanke
Ken Hanke
Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

No review available.

comment Comment
09/01/03
Ryan Cracknell
Ryan Cracknell
Movie Views

Effective '80s horror movie. A relentless villain and some horrific scenes.

comment Comment
07/14/03
Fred Topel
Fred Topel
About.com

Mr. Hauer, who has reportedly vowed not to play any more villains or crackpots, is probably making the right decision, if this is any measure of the sort of role that comes his way.

Full Review Source: New York Times | comment Comment
05/20/03
Janet Maslin
Janet Maslin
New York Times
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

It's like a sadistic version of Duel, instead of a semi you get Hauer in all his creepy manic splendor.

comment Comment
03/19/03
Widgett Walls
Widgett Walls
Needcoffee.com
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 >> >|
all

Latest News for The Hitcher

November 24, 2006: Trailer Bulletin: "The Hitcher"
Complain all you want (and I've been doing it a lot), but early next year there WILL be a remake of "The Hitcher." And now there's a trailer to prove it. More...

October 06, 2006: Like Horror Remakes? Get Ready for a Bunch More.
Professional remake house Platinum Dunes and Universal's genre arm (Rogue Pictures) have signed a deal -- and the result will be (at least) four more horror remakes. On deck are... More...

June 01, 2006: Sean Bean to Become the New "Hitcher"
At first I was mostly skeptical regarding this remake of "The Hitcher" that's being set up at Michael Bay's Platinum Dunes outfit. But after reading a few interviews... More...

May 26, 2006: New Horror Stories for Your "Amusement"
"Amusement," a new project from Jake Wade Wall, writer of the "When a Stranger Calls" remake, will soon be setting up at New Line. It seems to be a horror... More...

See All

More DVDs

Top Rentals
Tomatometer Percentage Movie
44% 44% Night at the Museum: B…
32% 32% Terminator Salvation
36% 36% Angels & Demons
95% 95% Star Trek
25% 25% Four Christmases

More Rentals…

New On DVD This Week
Tomatometer Percentage Movie
83% 83% Harry Potter and the H…
67% 67% Public Enemies
75% 75% Julie & Julia
95% 95% The Cove
85% 85% World's Greatest Dad

More New Releases…

What’s Hot On RT

Twilight Saga: Eclipse

Twilight Saga: Eclipse

5 facts straight from the cast.

Disney Animation

Disney Animation

We chart the studio's classics.

Avatar

Avatar

An exclusive look at the human hardware.

Eric Bana

Eric Bana

The Star Trek star talks cars with RT.

Other News

  • Top Stories
  • Popular
  • Interviews
 
 

Comments

 
 
Top Stories
Headlines Comments
  
  • Natalie Portman Will Battle Pride and Prejudice and Zombies Source: Variety
20
  • Marvel Begins Iron Man 2 Viral Campaign Source: Superhero Hype
8
  • Bryce Dallas Howard Talks Spider-Man 4, Terminator, and Twilight Source: ComingSoon.net
24
  • David Lynch Says He Turned Down Return of the Jedi Source: CinemaBlend.com
34
  • Thomas Dolby Starts a Star Wars Rumor Source: Ain't It Cool News
31
  • Robert Downey Jr. talks Sherlock Holmes & Iron Man 2 - RT Interview
57
  • The Twilight Saga: Eclipse Headed for IMAX Source: Collider.com
48
  • James Cameron Developing Sci-Fi Film for Fox Source: ComingSoon.net
10
  • Peter Jackson Reveals Which LotR Characters Will Return for The Hobbit Source: MTV
26
  • Josh Brolin Rumored for Men in Black 3 Source: Los Angeles Times
26
Popular
Headlines Comments
  
  • Total Recall: Keith David's Best Movies
69
  • Five Favorite Films With Avatar's Sam Worthington
51
  • Sundance 2010: RT's 10 Most Anticipated Movies
41
  • Tomatometer Watch: Will Avatar Live Up To The Hype?
39
  • Weekly Ketchup: Tron Team to Remake The Black Hole
37
  • The Gimmicks That Changed Cinema: Part 1
34
  • Box Office Guru Wrapup: The Blind Side Takes the Lead
29
  • Friday Harvest: Iron Man 2, Harry Potter, and more!
24
  • Help Us Choose the Community Golden Tomato Award
22
  • Robert Downey Jr. talks Sherlock Holmes & Iron Man 2 - RT Interview
19
Interviews
Headlines Comments
  
  • Robert Downey Jr. talks Sherlock Holmes & Iron Man 2 - RT Interview
19
  • Five Favorite Films With Avatar's Sam Worthington
51
  • Director Ruben Fleischer Talks Zombieland
2
  • "I Don't Hate Women": Lars von Trier on Antichrist
17
  • Eric Bana talks Love the Beast - RT Interview
12
  • Fight Club Sound Designer Reflects on Film's 10th Anniversary
23
  • James Schamus talks Taking Woodstock - RT Interview
8
  • John Hurt Talks Harry Potter, Quentin Crisp and Alien - The RT Interview
15
  • Terry Gilliam Talks Doctor Parnassus
23
  • Wes Anderson Talks Fantastic Mr. Fox - RT Interview
9
 
 

Sponsored Links

Around The Network

  • The Hitcher at Rotten Tomatoes
  • The Hitcher at IGN

Fresh Links

Featured
RT on YouTube
RT on YouTube External Link

Subscribe to RT's YouTube channel and don't miss a second of our cracking video content.

RT on Twitter
RT on Twitter External Link

Follow Rotten Tomatoes and join us as we tweet about the week's releases.

 
 
About| Site Map| Help| RT To Go| Contact Us| Critics Submission| Linking to RT| Licensing| Movie List| Celebs List| Newsletter
IGN Logo

IGN.com | GameSpy | Comrade | Arena | FilePlanet | GameSpy Technology
TeamXbox | Planets | Vaults | VE3D | CheatsCodesGuides | GameStats | GamerMetrics
AskMen.com | Rotten Tomatoes | Direct2Drive | Green Pixels


By continuing past this page, and by the continued use of this site, you agree to be bound by and abide by the User Agreement.
Copyright 1998-2009, IGN Entertainment, Inc. About IGN | Support | Advertise | Privacy Policy | User Agreement | Subscribe to RT's XML feed! IGN RSS Feeds
IGN's enterprise databases running Oracle, SQL and MySQL are professionally monitored and managed by Pythian Remote DBA
Certain product data ©1995-present Muze, Inc. For personal use only. All rights reserved.