The Hitcher

The Hitcher is currently streaming in Australia on Foxtel Now, and in the US on YouTube TV and Cinemax Amazon Channel, and its case-by-case structure never gets in the way of the bigger story. A tight runtime that never overstays its welcome. With 1,066 viewer ratings on TMDB, this is not a title flying under the radar. Watch Rutger Hauer work — the performance is a masterclass in restraint. Put it on tonight on Foxtel Now and see for yourself.

The Hitcher is not trying to be everything to everyone, and that focus is exactly what makes it work. At its heart, The Hitcher understands what makes crime drama work — character first, plot second. On a stormy night, young Jim, who transports a luxury car from Chicago to California to deliver it to its owner, feeling tired and sleepy, picks up a mysterious hitchhiker, who has appeared out of nowhere, thinking that a good conversation will help him not to fall asleep. He will have enough time to deeply regret such an unmeditated decision. Rutger Hauer and C. Thomas Howell lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It was released in 1986. What makes The Hitcher hold up is that the resolution matters less than how the characters get there. It delivers reliably on what it promises, which is more than most of its competition manages.

For anyone who wants their crime drama to earn its twists, The Hitcher delivers. It rewards viewers regardless of what else is in their watch history. It is a manageable watch, easy to fit into a single evening. Rutger Hauer's performance is the kind that shows up on best-of lists years later. If you have been looking for something to fill the gap left by a recently finished story, this is a reliable answer.