Watch Hitchhike to Hell

Hitchhike to Hell is a 1977 horror-thriller film directed by Irvin Berwick, featuring Robert Gribbin, Russell Johnson, and John Harmon in prominent roles. The movie follows the story of Howard (Gribbin), a disturbed and lonely man who travels across the country, preying on the unsuspecting hitchhikers who happen to come his way. Along the way, he has a chance encounter with a kind person who changes his life.

The film begins with a chilling scene where Howard is shown stalking a teenage girl hitchhiker. He picks her up, becomes friendly with her, and then brutally murders her. As the story unfolds, we see Howard continuing his spree of picking hitchhikers, befriending them, and then killing them. He justifies his actions to himself by blaming his victims, whom he deems deserving of death due to their naivety and vulnerability.

Howard's madness is compounded by his unhealthy relationship with his mother, who he still lives with. His mother, who is emotionally enmeshed with him, controls every aspect of his life and frequently burdens him with guilt. Her overbearing nature is a significant trigger to his violent tendencies, and he often takes his anger at her out on others.

Things take a dramatic turn when Howard comes across a young woman named Doris (played by Sharon Joy Miller) who, unlike his other victims, genuinely wants to help him. Doris, who is fleeing an abusive husband, sees through Howard's facade and sees the hurt, vulnerable person inside. Her kindness makes Howard question the morality of his actions, and he begins to change his ways.

However, this does not mark the end of Howard's predicament. As he starts to understand the world outside of his limited perspective, he realizes that his past deeds have consequences, and his victims' families are seeking vengeance. The film builds a lot of tension with this realization, and the final showdown in the last act of the movie is nothing short of suspenseful.

What sets Hitchhike to Hell apart from other films of its time, in the horror-thriller genre, is its sense of depth and its focus on character development. While many films of this era tended to feature one-dimensional characters, the characters in Hitchhike to Hell are all shaded with complicated pasts and motivations. Howard, in many ways, is a victim himself, serving as an example of the harsh results of emotional and physical abuse.

The acting in the film is also quite good, with Robert Gribbin delivering a convincing portrayal of a disturbed individual caught up in his desires. Sharon Joy Miller, in her debut role, turns in a remarkably nuanced performance, as she brings out the complexities of her troubled character.

In terms of technical aspects of the film, the cinematography is functional, and the editing is tight, with no wasted scenes. The score is competent, without overbearing the movie's mood or tone, and the makeup effects are quite good for a film of this budget.

Overall, Hitchhike to Hell is an engrossing horror-thriller movie that would hold up well even for modern audiences. It grips the viewer from the beginning and keeps them invested in the story of its complex characters. While there are some moments of violence and gore, fans of the genre will not be disappointed. Anyone who wants to see a well-crafted film that explores the dark side of mental health and psychology would find this movie deeply satisfying.

Hitchhike to Hell is a 1977 crime movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 27 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 4.9.