The Hitch-Hiker

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The Hitch-Hiker

1953

1h 11m

Mystery & Thriller

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

94%

Tomatometer

47 Reviews

63%

Popcornmeter

1,000+ Ratings

Ray (Edmond O'Brien) and Gilbert's (Frank Lovejoy) fishing trip takes a terrifying turn when the hitchhiker (William Talman) they pick up turns out to be a sociopath on the run from the law. He's killed before, and he lets the two know that as soon as they're no longer useful, he'll kill again. The two friends plot an escape, but the hitchhiker's peculiar physical affliction, an eye that never closes even when he sleeps, make it impossible for them to tell when they can make a break for it.

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Critics Consensus

Simply and sturdily constructed, The Hitch-Hiker consistently derives genuine terror from a chillingly plausible scenario.

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TIME Staff

TIME Magazine

02/24/2021

The drama itself is confined to one basic situation: captives at the gunpoint mercy of a trigger-happy killer. But, playing this conflict for all it is worth, the movie works up a good deal of sweaty suspense without using false theatrics.

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Marjory Adams

Boston Globe

02/24/2021

Don't take any children to see The Hitch-Hiker. And if anyone who sees the film ever picks up hitch-hikers again, he'll deserve what may happen.

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Mildred Martin

Philadelphia Inquirer

02/24/2021

With nothing more than three able actors, a car, a lot of rugged scenery, and their own impressive talents as producers, authors and director, Collier Young and Ida Lupino have brewed a grim little chiller called The Hitch-Hiker.

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Brian Susbielles

InSession Film

03/08/2023

Ida Lupino, one of the very few female directors of the time, made this stirring film noir influenced by Billy Cook...

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Tom Meek

Cambridge Day

03/21/2022

In this taut depiction, the plot’s based on the true-life 1950 murder spree by Billy Cook.

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Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

02/12/2022

4/4

If The Hitch-Hiker can be called feminist, then this label flows from a recurring theme in Lupino's work - her critique of society's need to maintain traditional gender roles and institutional normalcy, even if it means the loss of individuality.

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mark g

@Mark_Alan_G. Jan 13

Frustrating movie. Seriously, the all bad villain left himself vulnerable to being overtaken a hundred times but the two kidnap victims are such incredible cowards. I don't know, it's suspenseful enough, but the writing and character development are really shallow.

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Marta B

Dec 15

The film is definetly suspensful and is a great thriller for such a short amount of time! The experimental nature of the camera angles is also something to make it a worth-while watch.

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Pedro S

@Salazar26ty Dec 5

I like the concept but it becomes repetative at times and there are several ways for the chracaters to escape so it isbn't believable

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tucker s

@tucker83014 Aug 31

The title of this movie should have been: "Suddenly.......................NOTHING HAPPENED". What a complete waste of time,

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Spyrel S

12/24/2024

Really poor film. Dialogue, acting, overall story. Just amateurish. Avoid.

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Brennan W

12/21/2024

This film really stood out to me because of how modern its storytelling was. The fact that this was directed by a woman in times where that didn't happen very often is truly inspiring. Darker films were not as welcoming in decades prior so having the noir murder thriller is very refreshing to see. This movie was really well crafted and stood out to me and pulled me in from the beginning. I really enjoyed this film as I had been watching a variety of older films, but this one stuck out in particular. I really love a film that has smart and interesting storytelling and this one has it. For a film that is rarely spoken about, i'm surprised it hasn't found its spotlight yet. Overall I enjoyed the film and would recommend it to anyone that loves noir and thrill movies. Older ones like this are often forgotten when they can offer so much insight.

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Ida Lupino

Director

Edmond O'Brien

Roy Collins

Frank Lovejoy

Gilbert Bowen

William Talman

Emmett Myers

José Torvay

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Synopsis

Ray (Edmond O'Brien) and Gilbert's (Frank Lovejoy) fishing trip takes a terrifying turn when the hitchhiker (William Talman) they pick up turns out to be a sociopath on the run from the law. He's killed before, and he lets the two know that as soon as they're no longer useful, he'll kill again. The two friends plot an escape, but the hitchhiker's peculiar physical affliction, an eye that never closes even when he sleeps, make it impossible for them to tell when they can make a break for it.

Director: Ida Lupino
Producer: Collier Young
Distributor: RKO Radio Pictures
Production Co: RKO Radio Pictures Inc.
Genre: Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 30, 1953, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 7, 2015
Runtime: 1h 11m

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