The Hitcher - #154 (B+)

Wow, the police in this movie had some really bad aim.  I guess they weren't trying to kill C. Thomas Howell.  And if that was the case, then okay I'm down and can live with that - but they couldn't even hit the tires?  There was actually an entire scene probably lasting about 10 minutes, which was like a scene right out of good ol' Dukes of Hazzard (c), including crazy car chase scenes, cop cars crashing and exploding, shooting out of windows, and lots of dirt flying.

For the villain, I don't know who's a meaner?  Hesher, Meatloaf, that relentless guy from Duel who drove the truck, or Rutger Hauer?  I guess Hesher isn't a villain so that isn't fair.  And he also doesn't fit in the category with the other three mentioned either, as they all were "car" villains if you will.

Man oh man though, Rutger was an a-hole to the extreme.  That dude never gave up.  Even in the end he was smiling with blood smattered within his teeth, just asking for more.  I went into this movie thinking it was going to be about a guy getting picked up one rainy night, then the rest of the film would be about their struggles in the car once the driver realizes the hitch hiker was actually a bad dude.  Well, this was kinda like that for maybe a minute.  The rest was a hell of a ride and very much enjoyed as well as very much unexpected.  There was more than the car, as Rutger actually made it his mission to pester C. Thomas Howell throughout the movie, specifically letting him go and then showing up again and again.  He must have done that for 3 states worth of driving.  He was evil.  That one scene with Jennifer Jason Leigh was wicked.  Too bad 80's movies can't show the action.  Booooo.

I wonder, could Sean Bean do better?