Hitch-Hike (1977) [Uk Region]

This movie is a gritty bastard! David Hess is bringin' his real dark side to this creation that has a bit of ev'rything; a handful of scenes that are disturbing to the point that they make a hardcore [ horror / thriller / exploitation flick] fan squirm on his seat, a touch of gore [nothing too heavy] and plot twists and turns on a seemingly straight-forward road - movie. The Italians did a great job, Getting Franco Nero in the picture as well as Ennino Morricone; latter made sure the soundtrack is keeping it "strictly western" but this time fitting to automobiles and trucks instead of horses and coaches. Not for the faint hearted and definitely ain't for the snowflakes.

Husband and wife, Walter and Eve [Franco Nero & Corinne Clery] are travelling across the USA [in reality, A'quila, Italy] bickering all the way. He's a drunken journalist with a chip on his shoulder - his wife's family have money - while she stoically puts up with him while seething in resentment. I'm sure she regrets ever getting married to him. They have sex to make-up and end up loathing each other even more. You can practically smell the shame and disgust. He embarrasses her, she barely tolerates him and so it goes on. To break up the monotony of the constant arguing, Eve picks up a hitchhiker named Konitz [David Hess] after his car breaks down. Now, if there's one thing I know having watched Last House on the Left, it's that you should never pick up David Hess or anyone who looks like David Hess but I digress. Konitz turns out to be even more sleazy than her husband which is some feat. Walter and Konitz have a fight and it turns out Konitz is a robber wanted by the police. What did I tell you, about Hess?Taking them hostage, Konitz demand they, or rather, she takes him to the Mexican border because Walter can't after drunkenly falling over and injuring his hand. Konitz suggests that burned-out Walter write his life-story [which you suspect is all bull anyway] and Walter strings him along, thinking of ways to get out of the mess he's in. Just when you think it can't get any more seamy it does, as Konitz r apes Eve while Walter looks on. Sheesh, could things get any worse? Well, this being Italian exploitation, it sure can, as two gay lovers [Joshua Sinclair & Carlo Puri] and accomplices of Konitz turn up to get their share of the money. By now, I'm sure you're thinking this holiday couldn't get any more terrible for Walter and Eve but as day follows night ... OK, that's it, I'm getting a bit queasy thinking about it. It's a difficult watch because, aside from Clery, none of the characters are remotely likable.Released in 1977, it was directed by Pasquale Festa Campanile who in his early career, was known as a screenwriter. Nero was on board because he knew Campanile and had promised to work with him while Hess knew Nero from his time in Germany and had wanted to work in Italy. Clery was flavour of the month after 'The Story Of O'. I think all three leads are decent enough and Clery proves herself a better actress than I gave her credit for. Ultimately though, you'll only remember it for Clery's nuddy scenes. The 88 Films image is acceptable enough, a bit grainy in parts. The colour is more satisfying and brings out the beauty of the Italian locations. The only 'extra' is an 88 Films trailer reel which is, admittedly, quite entertaining. English subtitles but they bear no relation to the words being said on screen.

The italian film industry in the 70's and 80's churned out many an exploitation movie, horrors,sci fi,crime, you name it they did it! Mostly they were copies or riffs on popular american film at the time but once in a while they had their own great idea and "Hitch hike" is one of those films!Now some have said that the 1986 american film "The Hitcher" starring Rutger Hauer is a remake of this movie, i can assure you it isn't!! Apart from the basic premise of a hitcher being picked up that causes mayhem it shares very little in common with this movie. Both are excellent movies but for my money this one is better.An italian journalist (Franco Nero) who is travelling across america with his wife (Corrine Clery) decide to pick up Konis (David Hess) a seemingly pleasant chap although in reality an armored robber who has broken down at the side of the road, of course we all know what they apparently don't in that you never pick up a hitcher! (especially David "last house on the left" Hess!) and mayhem quickly ensues!What's interesting about this movie is that both the villain and hero are morally ambiguous characters and the director does a good job of making the interplay between Nero,Hess and Corrine Clery an extremely engaging and interesting character study between definitions of good/bad. Without giving too much away things may not pan out the way you might expect!Although made in 1978 and is a low budget italian production it holds up extremely well,even by today's standards. There's an occasional bit of clunky dialogue as in a lot of cheap italian movies) but it's then quickly back on track with a fine performance from Nero especially.This region 1 dvd from Blue underground boasts an excellently remastered widescreen transfer along with a featurette inc interviews with all the major players which runs for about 20 mins.

This is among my favourite movies and at the time of writing possibly my favourite non-horror movie. The story revolves round Franco Nero who plays a drunk jerk and a horrible husband, him and his wife are driving across America (these scenes were filmed in Italy but you wouldn't really know if I hadn't told you) when they pick up a hitch-hiker, David Hess. One person you should always avoid is Hess but obviously having not seen Last House they wouldn't know that, it turns out Hess has pulled off a huge robbery and got away with the money but by the time our hero (sort of) realises this Hess has them at gunpoint and is making strong advances at the wife, thus begins a struggle for Nero to regain control of the situation. I don't want to tell more as I'll ruin the experience but the film never has a dull moment and has really interesting characters and situations, an absolute masterpiece.

did not enjoy this film

Quand le réalisateur italien Festa-Campanile fait dans le thriller américain, c'est original, sexy et finalement saignant. On a pas le temps de s'ennuyer.

Fantastic study of a marriage living way past its awful death. Throw in an escaped lunatic and 'Hitch-Hike' becomes a nihilistic journey to an uncertain and disturbing climax.

L'edizione della 88 non ha extra del film ma è l'unica in italiano ad un prezzo economico, la qualità video è davvero stupenda, l'audio italiano un po' meno ma 5 stelle se le merita tutte perchè il film è assolutamente un capolavoro e finalmente ce l'ho in collezione! Straconsigliato.

Just when I thought I have seen all the best Italian films from the 70's...along comes the Hitch-Hike (1977) with Franco Nero, Corrine Clery, and David Hess. I found this film while researching Nero's filmography. I have seen a lot of his earlier films, but not that many after 1975.The film follows a young couple getting back from their camping trip, who on their way to Los Angeles stop to pick up a hitchhiker. The hitchhiker turns out to be an escapee from a mental institution/prison. It is crucial to know that the couple is going through some bad-times in their marriage. The characters and the movie plays out beautifully, and the ending is really surprising to say the least. I would qualify this film into a strong psychological-thriller-drama. This film is nowhere comparable to the American "The Hitcher" franchise. The only similar movie to Hitch-Hike would be Kidnapped (aka Rabid Dogs) from 1974 directed by the famous Mario Bava, both of which are of Italian production.Some interesting facts about the Hitch-Hike production:1. Hitch-Hike was filmed completely in Italy's region of Abruzzo (province of L'Aquila) which geographically resembles the terrain of Northern California. Highway signs were posted in English to further resemble California, and even a special American version of a gas station was built, not to mention highway However, it does not take a genius to realize that the road(s) the actors are driving on look very much European as compared to the wide and vast highways of California.2. Franco Nero who was playing the main male character Walter Mancini (an alcoholic news reporter married to a wife with wealthy parents) had a broken hand during the filming. He originally broke his hand while on the set of Sahara Cross (1977).3. Supposedly, Nero got the role of Adam Konitz (the psychotic hitchhiker) for David Hess because the two actors knew each other from shooting a movie together a year earlier.

Dieser Film ist einfach nur cool und heiß wegen Corinne Clery in einem ! Wird zeit das er auf Deutsch erscheint !