MovieChat Forums > The Hitcher (1986) Discussion > Hitchhiker's Hourglass

Hitchhiker's Hourglass

posted 7 years ago by abishai_gangulee
1 reply | jump to latest

This movie is an eerie presentation of the subtle subconscious paranoia associated with general criminality surrounding hitchhiking.

When hitchhikers are picked up, they may be left defenseless by the driver, and vice-versa, they may render the driver defenseless (if they themselves are the killer!).

Americans love traveling (i.e., cross-country), so hitchhiking is something of an 'American pastime,' though there have been news stories of hitchhiking-related murders (e.g., 1972-1973 Santa Rosa murders).

That's why I like thinking about who Rutger Hauer's character in The Hitcher can be likened to from other symbolic American horror films (e.g., Michael Myers and Leatherface).

This movie offers the right combination of eeriness and savagery.

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MICHAEL MYERS: Why waste time killing hitchhikers?
LEATHERFACE: People are vagrants!
MICHAEL MYERS: Hitchhikers are bound by grace!
LEATHERFACE: You're a hypocrite.
MICHAEL MYERS: I only kill people on Halloween Eve.
LEATHERFACE: No difference!
MICHAEL MYERS: Hitchhikers are too 'isolated.'
LEATHERFACE: Flesh and bone!
MICHAEL MYERS: Think like a monkey.
LEATHERFACE: Bloodsport!

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😷

Santa Rosa Hitchhiker Murders:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Rosa_hitchhiker_murders

[–] indiediavolo 7 years ago

He could be likened to the killer hitchhiker Nubbins Sawyer from Texas Chain Saw Massacre, I guess. The villain from Dust Devil and Billy from the original Black Christmas remind me of him too.