Overview
A fishing trip turns into a deadly game of cat and mouse when a psychopathic hitchhiker joins the ride.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Moderate
- bleak
- foreboding
- oppressive
- classic noir night
- crime thriller marathon
What critics said
Later critics consistently praise Ida Lupino's brisk direction, stark locations, performances, and unrelenting noir tension, while noting the plot's relative superficiality and predictability.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The hostage journey moves through arid Mexican landscapes and lonely highways that visually isolate Roy and Gilbert from help.
Emmett Myers taunts the two fishermen, controls their movement, and repeatedly threatens their eventual deaths.
Roy and Gilbert's decision to help a stranded motorist places them under the control of an escaped murderer.
Much of the early hostage ordeal unfolds inside the car, with Myers's gun and presence dominating the two captives.
Films like The Hitch-Hiker, and why
Detour
shared film noir fatalism, fugitive menace, and sustained psychological tension
The Desperate Hours
shared hostage thriller structure, claustrophobic confinement, and sadistic criminal antagonist
The Night of the Hunter
shared stark landscapes, crime suspense, and ordinary people trapped by lethal violence
Duel
shared minimalist thriller construction, existential peril, and relentless pursuit
Movie Details
- Director
- Ida Lupino
- Release Date
- 1953-03-30
- Runtime
- 71 min
- Rating
- 6.8 / 10 (213)
Cast
- Edmond O'Brien
- Frank Lovejoy
- William Talman
- José Torvay
- Sam Hayes
- Wendell Niles
- Jean Del Val
- Clark Howat
- Natividad Vacío
- Larry Hudson
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Amazon Prime Video, Brew, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Troma NOW, Bloodstream, Artiflix
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Hitch-Hiker about?
- Two vacationing fishermen become unwilling chauffeurs for a murderous fugitive in a lean, sun-scorched film noir about terror on the open road.
- What is The Hitch-Hiker like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Hitch-Hiker as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is The Hitch-Hiker violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in The Hitch-Hiker as moderate.
- What did critics think of The Hitch-Hiker?
- Later critics consistently praise Ida Lupino's brisk direction, stark locations, performances, and unrelenting noir tension, while noting the plot's relative superficiality and predictability.
- Which films are like The Hitch-Hiker?
- Films with a similar feel include Detour, The Desperate Hours, The Night of the Hunter, and Duel.
- How long is The Hitch-Hiker?
- The Hitch-Hiker runs 71 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Hitch-Hiker?
- In United States, The Hitch-Hiker streams on Amazon Prime Video, Brew, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Troma NOW, Bloodstream, Artiflix.
