The Hitcher

The Hitcher (1986)

Timing: 1:38 (98 min)

7/10
864

7.548/10
24313

0/10
0

All about film

Video 12

Photo 43

Actors and characters

Release date

1986-01-17

Country

United States

Production

Feldman/Meeker Productions

Genre

Horror, Action, Thriller

Budget

$6 000 000

Revenue

$5 844 868

Website

Director

Robert Harmon

Actors

Rutger Hauer, C. Thomas Howell, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Jeffrey DeMunn, Billy Green Bush, John M. Jackson, Henry Darrow, Jon Van Ness, Jack Thibeau, Armin Shimerman
All actors and roles (10)

Scenario

Producer

David Bombyk, Kip Ohman, Edward S. Feldman, Charles R. Meeker

Operator

John Seale

Composer

Mark Isham

Artist

Audition

Penny Perry

Editing

Frank J. Urioste
All team (46)

• According to Eric Red (the film's screenwriter), the song "Riders on the Storm" by The Doors served as inspiration for writing the film's screenplay.
• According to C. Thomas Howell, he was genuinely afraid of Rutger Hauer both on and off the set. He believed that Hauer had become too immersed in the role.
• The rough (initial) cut of the film lasted three hours.
• Sam Elliott and Terrence Stamp were considered for the role of John Ryder.
• The truck at the end of the film is a "Dodge Ramcharger".
• A film novelization based on the original film also exists. The author is Arch Stanton.
• The film's screenwriter, Eric Red, plays a deputy sheriff in the film who is transporting Ryder to jail.
• Rutger Hauer performed many of the stunts himself in the film, which amazed the film crew and even professional stuntmen.
• On "Late Night with David Letterman," Rutger Hauer stated that the film was originally intended to end differently: Jim Halsey shoots John Ryder while he is lying on the road. However, to avoid an 'X' rating, the filmmakers slightly adjusted the ending. The revised version was included in the final cut of the film.
• According to the film’s screenwriter, Eric Red, the song 'Riders on the Storm' by The Doors served as inspiration for writing the screenplay.
• According to Syd Thomas Howell, he was genuinely afraid of Rutger Hauer both on and off set. In his opinion, Hauer had become too immersed in the role.
• Rutger Hauer performed many of the stunts in the film himself, which amazed the crew and even professional stuntmen.
• While performing one of the stunts, Rutger Hauer was holding a shotgun and accidentally knocked out one of his own teeth.
• Screenwriter Eric Red originally wrote the script with Keith Richards in the role of John Ryder (a role that eventually went to Rutger Hauer). In the script, this character was described as incredibly thin, a cancer survivor, and wearing a voice modulator on his belt, with an unnatural voice.
• According to the film's screenwriter, Eric Red, the song “Riders on the Storm” by The Doors served as inspiration for writing the screenplay.
• According to Si Thomas Howell, he was genuinely afraid of Rutger Hauer both on and off the set. In his opinion, Hauer had become too immersed in the role.