Robert Harmon, director
The screenwriter Eric Crimson mentioned the thought for The Hitcher got here to him when he was driving within the rain and considered the Doorways’ tune Riders on the Storm. Particularly the road: “There’s a killer on the street.” John Ryder, the movie’s hitchhiking serial killer, was initially described by Eric as having a broken larynx, that means he spoke utilizing an digital voice field. In these early drafts, he was way more monstrous – only a pressure of evil.
I believed that method was too easy and needed to make him extra interesting, to counsel there was a coronary heart in there. Ryder is a intentionally ambiguous character – flesh and blood, however with room for a supernatural or mythic studying. Whereas we have been making the film, I’d ask: “If Jim Halsey hadn’t been driving down that exact freeway within the rain, would anybody have been standing there?”
Initially I used to be after Terence Stamp to play the hitcher. He turned the half down however years later I bumped into him at a celebration and he mentioned that, having seen the film, he wished he’d performed it. I feel Terence and Rutger Hauer have qualities in frequent. Their eyes are like jewels – they appear like they aren’t of this Earth. For Jim, I wanted somebody who appeared ill-equipped to take care of the scenario he discovered himself in, however whose countenance is totally totally different by the tip of the film. C Thomas Howell was good: he’s at all times appeared youthful than his actual age.
Rutger got here to me with an thought for the scene the place Ryder lies on the mattress at the hours of darkness subsequent to Jennifer Jason Leigh as Nash and she or he assumes he’s Jim. He mentioned: “I’d wish to learn poetry to her.” I believed: “How can that presumably work? She’ll realize it’s the unsuitable voice.” However I used to be a really inexperienced director and remembered Rutger’s lovely “tears in rain” scene from Blade Runner. Once we rehearsed the scene, Rutger recited his personal godawful poetry and I believed: “That is the tip of my profession. I’m lifeless.” He completed, came to visit and mentioned: “It doesn’t actually work, does it?” “You recognize what?” I mentioned. “I type of suppose you’re proper.” I felt just like the luckiest man within the universe.
I’ve usually seen The Hitcher described as a horror film, however that’s not a style I’m fascinated by. The unique script was way more violent and had moments I believed went too far. For instance, when Jim finds a severed finger in his burger and fries, the script initially known as for an eyeball and a notice from Ryder saying: “I’ve acquired my eye on you.” Nonetheless, regardless of the struggle put up by HBO right through filming and even into submit, there was by no means any query we weren’t going to kill the lady.
C Thomas Howell, performed Jim Halsey
So many individuals have mentioned to me: “Oh my god, I had nightmares over that scene the place Jennifer was ripped in half. I can’t imagine you shot that!” Nicely, we didn’t. You see her tied between two vans and Ryder stepping on the fuel and the tyres spinning – however then the scene fades out. The film inspired audiences to make use of their creativeness.
It was my second image with Jennifer and I marvelled at how she dedicated to the character of Nash. Nash’s relationship with Jim is fantastically harmless, and I’m glad it’s not romantically pushed – there might have been a intercourse scene in an earlier model of the script, however The Hitcher is healthier for not falling into that cliche.
Rutger appeared to terrify everybody on the manufacturing and was just about left alone. I feel he loved the facility he had over individuals. About three weeks in, he mentioned: “I feel we should always have lunch collectively.” I went to his trailer and we sat in lifeless silence as he chain-smoked filterless Camel cigarettes. After an eternity, I mustered up some braveness and in my squeaky teenage voice mentioned: “Rutger, what’s your secret to enjoying unhealthy guys?” He took an extended drag of his cigarette, leaned into my face, slowly exhaled and whispered: “I don’t play unhealthy guys.” I simply gathered up my issues, thanked him for lunch and backed out of the trailer.
That phrase rattled round in my head for years, till I had sufficient life expertise to grasp the significance of injecting humanity into villainous roles. There are moments in The Hitcher the place Ryder seems to be at Jim with utter empathy. He expresses worry, too, the complete physique of feelings. I didn’t query any of Rutger’s improvisations – whether or not he was scooping a tear off my cheek with a knife, including a bit quartz rock to the handkerchief filled with bullets he pushes throughout the desk, or placing pennies in my eyes. The moments he added that weren’t within the script have been sudden items.
The scene the place Jim forces two cops to take him into custody was an vital one for me. After Ryder seems and shoots the cops, the script had Jim operating away from the crashed patrol automotive and falling to the bottom, however proper earlier than the take I nonetheless wasn’t positive how I used to be going to play it. I scooped up some grime and rubbed it on my face, and as I seemed up into the sky the clouds occurred to half and the solar hit me. Most administrators would have mentioned: “We had a change of sunshine. Let’s shoot it once more.” However Robert saved rolling. John Seale, the cinematographer, is a real artist who understands how one can make a second higher. He acquired a separate shot of the solar popping out from behind a cloud and minimize it in, so we acquired this sensible second in the course of the film the place Jim stands up within the daylight as if he’s been reborn.
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