Review: The Hitcher Ltd Ed 4K UHD

The Hitcher arrives courtesy of Second Sight films on 4K UHD and remastered 4K Blu-ray.

One of the most long awaited releases that I can think of.

 

This 1986 film is the definition of a cult classic, a favourite of mine from the VHS days and now available in glorious 4K with a new scan overseen by the director (Robert Harmon)

 

The Hitcher was written by the brilliant Eric Red (Near Dark) and is a dreamlike, horror/thriller/road movie with a masterfully, chilling central performance from the late Rutger Hauer as a psychopath, stalking the meek teenager ‘Jim’ (C Thomas Howell) 

There’s killing, dread, ambiguity and one helluva good film here.

 

What you want to know is how does it look? ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL. Second Sight are quickly becoming the benchmark of quality in the physical media world. This release will be one of their flagship titles. The restoration is perfectly filmic and retains plenty of grain, darker scenes show it up a fair bit but daytime scenes are nothing short of eye popping. The cinematography gets the treatment it deserves. 

 

The gorgeous synth score soared from my speakers sounding absolutely perfect. Finally The Hitcher looks and sounds better than ever. 

This edition is also rammed with exclusive new special features with commentary tracks, interviews and even a short film! 

 

The collectors edition will be the big draw here, hard box, new book, screenplay…everything you could want. 

 

This is easily the definitive release of this masterpiece of minimalist horror.

AN ESSENTIAL PURCHASE.

 

• Dual format edition including both UHD and Blu-ray with main feature and bonus features on both discs
• A new 4k restoration by Second Sight Films from the original camera negative supervised and approved by Director Robert Harmon
• UHD presented in HDR with Dolby Vision
• Features Dolby Atmos and original stereo audio mixes
• New audio commentary by Alexandra Heller-Nicholas
• Audio commentary with Robert Harmon and Writer Eric Red
• Scene specific audio commentary with Robert Harmon, Eric Red, Executive Producer Edward S Feldman, Composer Mark Isham, Director of Photography John Seale and Actors Rutger Hauer and C Thomas Howell
• The Projection Booth Podcast: featuring
  Robert Harmon and Rutger Hauer
• Bullseye: a new interview with Robert Harmon (41 Minutes)
• Penning the Ripper: a new interview with Eric Red (41 Minutes)
• Doomed to Live: a new interview with C Thomas Howell (28 Minutes)
• The Man from Oz: a new interview with John Seale (10 Minutes)
• A Very Formative Score: a new interview with Mark Isham (15 Minutes)
• Duel Runner: Leigh Singer on the evolution of The Hitcher and Rutger Hauer (20 Minutes)
• China Lake: a short film by Robert Harmon newly restored (35 Minutes)
• The Calling Card: Robert Harmon on China Lake (15 Minutes)
• Telephone: a short film by Eric Red (26 Minutes)
• The Hitcher: How do these movies get made? (38 Minutes)
• Trailers (5 Minutes)

Limited Edition Contents

• Rigid slipcase with new artwork by Adam Stothard
• 200-page hardback book with exclusive Robert Harmon interview by Lou Thomas, exclusive Eric Red interview by Matthew Thrift, new essays by Heather Drain, David Kittredge, Craig Ian Mann, Rebecca McCallum, Meagan Navarro and Jon Towlson, archival Fangoria article and Behind the Scenes photo gallery
• Eric Red’s original screenplay book
• 6 collectors’ art cards 

Released 30th September and available to pre-order.

Review by Ramrod from discs kindly supplied by Second Sight Films via Aim Publicity.