Le voyageur de la peur

Before putting in Hitcher in the Dark, I expected the usual lost in translation quality that haunts so many films made in America by European directors, but the script is stronger than expected with some interesting psychological things going on and the acting isn't terrible either. The interplay between rich boy psycho and kidnapped victim is interesting and it's nice to see a victim try to make the right choices to escape every now and then.

I love 70s movies and it shocks me that this was released in '89 as if looks and feels like a mid 70's movie. Its not a "horror" but more of a thriller about a young man who preys on woman hitchhikers in his dad's camper. Its cheesy and there's nothing new here but its entertaining if you go in not expecting much.

There's also a small amount of T&A sprinkled in if you're into that.

This film has to be viewed with this in mind first: it is ridiculous and not meant to be scary.

I like "Hitcher in the Dark" a lot. It's no award winner, but what do you want? It's a low budget, late-80's slasher/thriller with a good dose of comedy and sleaze thrown in for good measure. I doubt Lenzi was even trying to make it scary. The 'killer' is a preppy looking RV driver cruising the Virginia Beach coast on his daddy's dime. He picks up a girl and makes her life hell for a few days, and ends up paying for it in the end. Thrown in between is a cheesy plot, an angry boyfriend, lots of 80's beach people getting drunk and listening to horrible music, and some pretty nice looking chicks.

For the time it came out, it was a little ahead of it's time, too. Pretty much all the new thrillers are 'real life' terror rides like "Hitcher in the Dark." For what it is, "Hitcher in the Dark" is a lot cooler than any teen horror movie of today. And it's funny as hell!!!

5 out of 10, kids.

Deranged mama's boy Joe Balogh prowls the Virginia Beach area in his Winnebago,picking up women whom he thinks might take the place of his dead mother,then killing them when they come up short.He kidnaps a slim blonde(Josie Bissette),because of her resemblance to his dead mother."Hitcher in the Dark" is a cheesy and predictable Umberto Lenzi's thriller that manages to be slightly entertaining.There are some total lapses in logic and there is absolutely no suspense.The climax is incredibly awful and the script is weak.The movie is poorly done in typical Lenzi fashion with lots of false suspense and a total lack of believability in both the performances.However if you are a rabid fan of Italian horror films you can give it a look.4 out of 10.

Tedious tale of a serial killer who picks up hitch-hikers, Daniela (Josie Bisset) is his current pray and Kevin (Jason Saucer) is her boyfriend trying to rescue her.It is written by Umberto Lenzi. The guy who made Cannibal Ferox & Eaten Alive should just stick to people who eat people movie, as this film plays out like a poor man's Toolbox Murders. Heh what am i saying?? Toolbox Murders was a poor man's Toolbox Murders. But I digress, the point is you'd probably do better just waiting for the upcoming remake of The Toolbox Murders by Tobe Hooper.

My Grade: D

Dvd Extras: Umberto Lenzi interview; theatrical trailer; trailers for Black Demons, and My Dear Killer

Eye Candy: Daniela (Josie Bisset) goes nude & a completely random wet T-shirt contest