The Hitch-Hiker (1953) | Rotten Tomatoes (2024)

Audience Reviews

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 Audience Member Ida Lupino gets about everything she could out of directing this straightforward noir. Rated 3/5 Stars • Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/15/23 Full Review andrey k That a woman directed this film shouldn't be the first thing mentioned when speaking about this movie, it has merits of cinematic character. This film is simple but effective, well acted, with some good and some cynic characters as it should be in film noirs. But ultimately it's a minor effort worth watching though. Rated 3.5/5 Stars • Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review dave s Ida Lupino's The Hitch-Hiker is a surprisingly taut little thriller. The premise couldn't be more simple: two men on their way to a fishing trip pick up a hitch-hiker, who happens to be a gun-wielding homicidal maniac. William Talman is fantastic as the killer, filled with a barely suppressed rage and a hair-trigger temper. Despite dragging for a bit in the middle section, which seems odd for a 70-minute film, the tension builds steadily throughout and climaxes with a nice payoff. As a cautionary tale about blind trust, it's worth checking out. Rated 3.5/5 Stars • Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Audience Member William Talman's portrayal of the sinister Emmett Myers is rarely talked about, but it should be considered as one of the best performances of its kind. Ida Lupino is considered to be the first woman to direct a Hollywood noir. The Hitch-Hiker was one of two 1950 films that featured Americans in Mexico tormented by an American psychopath. The other was John Sturges' Jeopardy. Rated 3.5/5 Stars • Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/13/23 Full Review Read all reviews

The Hitch-Hiker

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