The Hitcher on France 3: Rutger Hauer as a murderous hitchhiker for Halloween

A driver picks up a stranger and discovers he has let a killer into his car: The Hitcher joins France 3’s Cinéma de minuit for Halloween. Robert Harmon’s 1986 film centers on the showdown between Jim Halsey, played by C. Thomas Howell, and John Ryder, portrayed by Rutger Hauer.

After escaping from his passenger, Jim is still pursued by him and ends up accused of his crimes. Jennifer Jason Leigh plays Nash, a waitress who crosses his path. Eric Red’s screenplay thus turns a young driver’s journey into a double escape—from the murderer and from the police searching for him.

Robert Harmon’s debut feature won the Grand Jury Prize at the Cognac Crime Film Festival in 1986. It has since been given a 4K restoration supervised by the director for distributor Second Sight Films. The restoration’s trailer offers a chance to rediscover the original film.

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For more to explore, check out our selection of movies, series and shows to watch on TV this week, our guide to new releases across all platforms, and today’s selection: What to watch on streaming today.

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