The Hitcher (1986) – Filmsack Show Notes

INTRO

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Oh hi,

This week on Filmsack we totally ignore our mom’s advice and pick up THE HITCHER of the storm on the side of the hot streaming highway of HBO Max Max…. because we were just trying to stay the hell awake…. while driving through the Texas Panhandle of smoker’s addiction. Hey man… can I get a cigarette… cause this Video Cassette Tape from 1986 that you had laying around and decided to put up on your modern streaming service just ain’t cutting the jones’ing I am having for an expertly shot coming of age Action-Horror film starring C. Thomas Howell…. and boy does he ever Howell after finding that French fried appendage on his roadside dinner plate? Hey, I didn’t order finger food! Gross! That’s not ketchup!

Anywho, Here are some other things “My mother told me never to do…” Never, pull a gun on a cop… too late.. Never, smoke 6 packs a day… especially when you are covered in gas. Never, rent a hotel room with the girl you just met that day while on the run from an om·nip·o·tent being bent on getting you to stop his killing ways which may or may not include pulling said girl apart like gas station bbq with the slip of the foot off a semi truck clutch. A real 2 for 1 deal.

Randy, Maybe you didn’t let it ring long enough? Why are you doing this to me?

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BRIEF

While transporting a car from Chicago to San Diego, Jim Halsey (C. Thomas Howell) picks up a hitchhiker named John Ryder (Rutger Hauer), who claims to be a serial killer. After a daring escape, Jim hopes to never see Ryder again. But when he witnesses the hitchhiker murdering an entire family, Jim pursues Ryder with the help of truck-stop waitress Nash (Jennifer Jason Leigh), pitting the rivals against each other in a deadly series of car chases and brutal murders.

Rated: R
1986 ‧ Horror/Action ‧ 1h 37m

LINKS

IMDB – https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0091209

WIKIPEDIA – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hitcher_(1986_film)

Rotten Tomatoes – https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_hitcher

TVTropes – https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Film/TheHitcher

WHERE TO WATCH

HBO Max Max – www.max.com/movies/hitcher/7364f63b-64a4-469c-82a7-a3026e777861

MORE WAYS TO WATCH – https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/the-hitcher

TRAILER/CLIPS

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Social Media Post

The Hitcher (1986) – My mother told me never to do this… suck it ma’ma … I do what I want… uh oh.. mommy. #GasAndFingerFood

SHOW NOTES

I wonder if this replicant needs a ride.
This movie is expertly shot… too bad about the HBO Max Max transfer.
A Feldman? Corey?
Night Smoking… der Highway Killer
Up for a little night driving in a storm…getting passed by a VW Bug… better hurry up.
Uh oh.. micro-nap at the wheel.
4:15 at a Saturday morning… Uncle Bruce Here…. Steers and stuff… EL Paso.. something something Slaughter Cows. and processed meat report… enough to make you fall asleep… Our main character fell asleep… potentially everything after this scene is a Dream.
“My mother told me never to do this…” – Famous first and last words.
Man in the rain.. My name is…
It is a Drive Away… the guy who own it… you are getting my car wet.
So… where you headed? Where can I drop you off? You gonna tell me where you are going?
What are you looking at me like that for? Just looking?
Grab my knee… make me go faster… What is in that VW Bug.
I think you better get out now. The ride is over… good bye.
I’m gonna sit her and your are gonna drive.
You ask enough questions and you may get some answers.
Gas Stations have cigarettes… I don’t need gas…
What do you want? What’s so funny? That is what the guy said..
Let’s have an uncomfortable laugh.
I cut off his legs and his arms and his head… I don’t think he made it far… and I am going to do the same to you. Well… that is more answers than I needed.
Illinois plates
You got a cigarette.. lot of jones’ing for cigs on the road.
Pull a knife.
I want you to stop me.. But you got the knife. Crying isn’t going to help.
Keep driving… I have one job…
Say 4 words… Say… I want to die. SAY WHAT?
This movie grabs you by the knee and forces you to keep the gas pedal forced.
Door Ajar.
Do you know what happens to an eye when it is punctured.
Fuck you buddy.
That road scene where you gets back up and we get a worms eye view after the rain. Sweet.
Highway Movie Logic.
Remember me…
The guy in your car is a nut!
Oh he is not getting his money for delivering that car.
Crash into a bus and run. Maybe you are the menace.
Check the back seat fool… not puke…
This road has all the weather conditions.
He was playing Highway Checkers and needed a challenge… so he got himself a witness to try and stop him.
I guess we can assume the guy in the pickup truck is dead.
So far we haven’t seen any dead bodies… just tension.
Worst gas stations ever.
Look at them Nike’s go!
Coming out of that gas station with his RideAway car on fire… yeah… he ain’t getting another job doing that.
Gas – Eat. You gotta Gas – Eat on the road. … no Fuel Food
We are closed…
If Jack saw me doing this he would kick my butt.
You smell of gasoline… were you in an accident?
Pay Phones
Jim Halsey… is now the number 1 suspect.
Just a young man trying to escape death and laughing about it.
He must be cute.. She let him in and made him food and now… pretty sure… she is dead.
If you think the cops are gonna get here quick.
Guy got shot in the corner… took 45 minutes for the police and ambulance to arrive.
Guess it is safe for me to smoke now huh… Gasoline … the only think stopping
Chicago.. headed to California… Hollywood? San Diego.
Nash has a cousin Jeremy who owns this place.
My brother Bill is from mars… we keep our spaceship out back… so what planet are you from?
C-Thomas Eat Them Fries Howell…
Oh shit…. There is a finger in that plate.
Here he goes puking again.
Cops finally arrive…
We are all related around here… I wonder if the cook is actually the Hitcher?
Another lesson in not running around telling people your real name.
My wallet is in my pocket… shut up… we know how to do it.
That escalated quickly.
Down at Jeremy’s Gas… Longhorn
I don’t have any credit cards.
What is a young kid like you do driving such a fancy car.
312-399-2090… I know the number so well… I was on their waiting list for a month.
Call my brother for god’s sake. He’ll be home… he ain’t home… son of a bitch.
Maybe you didn’t let it ring long enough?
That kid ain’t the killer… any fool can see that…
All that leather and denim foley work is amazing.
A dream within a dream unravels the dream theory.
Kyle is fine. Mort Aux Maton
Ummm… did he kill the whole durn precinct?
Hello… your cell door is open.. hello.
Nobody ever answers the phone in this movie…
Ok… maybe this is the dream? Hello doggo.
A killing spree with someone to pin it on.
So far we have only seen that switchblade knife… while impressive for stabbing… it ain’t gonna do much in the way of cutting off parts.
get back in the jail cell and lock yourself up.
FREEDOM! also, I got a gun!
Now where to Jim? Jimmy’s got a gun…
All the cops when you don’t need ’em.
You me? Me? Yes you!!
Ready… Steady .. go.
I said don’t tell them anything.
Captain.. this is Jim Halsey.
I got set up and framed by a guy I picked up.
This guy is satan… how is he everywhere?
Can I trust you to not kill my men.. maybe..
Nooooo…
I want to die.. going to pull the trigger… they ain’t ever going to believe me.
Roy’s Motel Cafe.
Eat Sleep Gas
What happened to you… nothing happened.
He finally stop giving out information freely.
Seems like if he would just turn around he would see him following him.
How do you like Shitsville.
I’ll blow your brain’s through your ass.
The gun is empty..
Alright… squeeze the trigger… cause you can sure as hell bet I am going to squeeze mine.
Why are you doing this to me?
You’re a smart kid… figure it out.
You just gonna lick some pennies and stick them on my eyes? Ok!
You gonna trust them bullets? I would have to load up and go check’em. real quick.
Busman… gonna calculate.
How do you operate this durn thing?
In the bus shitter from Roy’s Cafe to wherever this thing is going.
Take a seat at the back of the bus.
What is she doing here?
Do you believe me? Sure… yeah.. you got the gun.
What are you going to do? Give up. I have no choice.
I’m turning myself in.
You just wasted 2 of my friends.
You just spit on my wrist… wipe it off.
Don’t you know who he is… No Lyle… I can’t believe
When the truth comes down… I will be just fine.
Shoot back.. I dropped the gun… you dropped the gun?
Now he is in a cop DriveAway
They got Helicopters!
Now they don’t got Helicopters.
Why didn’t he kill us?
Why’d you pick him up… I wanted to help him… and I was tired and I thought he might help keep me awake… You awake yet?
Ummm… he is in the room!
I told you not to call… see what happens… now he is in the room!
I wonder if he is a time traveler… he is him from the future.
Hey… you ain’t him. You is the other him!
The Apostle Paul said… I’m Hollis Maxwell… Time to end the broadcast day.
I got myself a hotel towel bar… time to kick some Nash.
He has learned how to survive. On the road… I am afraid Nash ain’t gonna make it.
How many cop cars before you run…
You come along with us now… we are going to need your help.
Got her tied up between 2 trucks…
How the hell did he have time to kidnap the girl… tie her up between 2 trucks and negotiate with the cops in the time it took for him to walk across the parking lot? This has to be a dream… nightmare.
The gun is loaded… go for it… go ahead pick it up.
They will catch you… yeah… sure… so what.
Pick up the gun. Put it in my face.
You know what to do… now do it. Squeeze the trigger.
I’m going to make a killer out of you yet…
You useless waste…. vroom vroom.
You can have my girlfriend… but you can’t steal my innocence. We all know there is nothing you could do.
We ran his prints through the computers… I don’t even know his name.
How do you feel? Tired?
John Ryder… He heard me whisper.
Where you from? Disneyland…
Spit in that mans face…..mmm….. spittle.
We in Texas son. He gonna get the murder penalty.
Are you ok? You’ll never hold him.
Something strange going on between the 2 of you.
It doesn’t have anything to do with your anymore. ok.
Can I have one of your cigarettes?
He is real good at pointing guns… just no good at pulling the trigger.
You are going to get yourself killed… and if not… you are going to be in a whole lot of trouble.
Finally… Holy shit. he is in the car… lost the gun again… He is only good at one thing… getting him out of his car…
Don’t pump it… it is already flooded.
These police cars are taking a lot of gun shots.
Finally… sweet… relief… hit him again… again!!
I’m gonna make a killer out of you yet.
Finally, shot him ded.
Just gonna stand here by the road… as the sunset happens… and smoke it up…