Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		2.5
Overall		3.5

The Hitcher Blu-ray Movie Review

Thumbs up.

Reviewed by Randy Miller III October 20, 2024

Released only a few weeks after the UK boutique label Second Sight's long-awaited Limited Edition 4K/Blu-ray combo pack (which was also split into standard 4K and Region-free Blu-ray editions), Warner Bros. has surprised fans of Robert Harmon's 1986 thriller The Hitcher with their own domestic 4K and Blu-ray releases. In a somewhat unlikely stroke of good luck, these separate US releases appear to utilize the exact same source elements as Second Sight's discs, which includes a striking new 4K restoration overseen by Harmon and a pair of lossless audio options. Even a few of Second Sight's newly-created retrospective bonus features are on board. That's great news for anyone who doesn't want to pay import prices or isn't interested in extra extras, but either way this recent restoration marks a huge leap beyond the film's last domestic home video edition: an early anamorphic DVD released all the way back in 1999.

For a synopsis and appreciation of The Hitcher (which was released to very mixed reviews in 1986, including a rare double-zero judgement from Siskel and Ebert), please see Svet Atanasov's recent review of Second Sight's Limited Edition combo pack linked above. I agree that this cult classic has a lot of appeal even beyond its sinister atmosphere and the menacing performance from Rutger Hauer, as the film's staunch reluctance to fill in the blanks of either of its main characters unquestionably works in its favor. Surreal and almost supernatural, The Hitcher is a well-made and largely misunderstood thriller that still carries a lot of power almost 40 years after its theatrical release.

The Hitcher Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

I'll keep this section about the same length as my unexpectedly brief but still worthwhile take on Warner Bros.' 4K edition, which as mentioned above does indeed feature identical A/V assets to the above-linked Second Sight release. (I've even received confirmation in recent days that this extends to the encoding as well, which is of course a good thing.) The same can be said about WB's Blu-ray, whose Second Sight counterpart was similarly rated a bit too low in my opinion. However, I can admit that this 1080p/SDR treatment doesn't hold up quite as well to either UHD version, and partially for reasons mentioned in Svet Atanasov's review of the SS 4K and Blu-ray; namely, color representation. Simply put, it's not quite as satisfyingly dead-on as the HDR version, whose darker and even more refined appearance handles specific values better in direct comparison. My only other nitpick is that the encoding, while capably upholding Second Sight's sterling track record, could have been even beefier this time around and possibly even exceeded that import version; it's limited to ~30Mbps territory most of the way and still holds up pretty damn well, but there's extra unused real estate because Second Sight's disc also contained another 3+ hours of extras not included here.

Either way, these are both fairly minor grievances for what's probably closer to a 4.25/5 and also a huge leap beyond that old 1999 DVD. In all other respects, this is a perfectly capable downscale with comparatively terrific levels of fine detail, texture, film grain, depth, and of course an overall clean appearance that stands in stark contrast with its grimy antagonist. The black levels aren't handled quite as precisely but, like the color handling, that's almost to be expected with this format. While I'll clearly recommend the 4K version -- either the Second Sight or WB discs, because again they're the exact same thing -- over the Blu-ray, this still a solid runner-up if you're not equipped for UHD yet.

The Hitcher Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Similarly, this release includes the same pair of audio options as Second Sight's disc; namely; a Dolby Atmos remix and the original DTS-HD 2.0 presentation as heard in theaters. See the linked Second Sight review for more details.

The Hitcher Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

This one-disc release ships in a standard keepcase with poster-themed artwork; a rarity indeed for WB releases, but I'll gladly take it. As mentioned earlier, three bonus features from Second Sight's Limited Edition 4K/Blu-ray combo pack have surprisingly been ported over, which are listed on the packaging but not the press release. Of course, you'll be missing out on a lot of other great extras... but for those who just want the basics, these get the job done.

• Audio Commentary - Featuring director Robert Harmon and screenwriter Eric Red.

• Bullseye (41:29) - A very candid and enjoyable retrospective interview with Harmon.

• Theatrical Trailer (1:28)

The Hitcher Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Robert Harmon's The Hitcher remains a compelling thriller almost 40 years after its theatrical release, where it was greeted with mixed reviews including a rare "double-zero" from two of that era's most prominent critics. To say it's misunderstood would be an understatement, but either way this well-acted and thoughtfully constructed debut film is well worth seeking out and there are more ways than ever to do that. Those who want the absolute best of everything should import Second Sight's Limited Edition 4K/Blu-ray combo pack for its copious bonus features, while their cheaper standard 4K edition and Region-free Blu-ray have the same on-disc content with no packaging goodies. If you want to save a few bucks or don't need all those extras, either domestic option from Warner Bros. should fit the bill.