lack of violence and that Nash's death should have been shown: "There's other gore in the movie, other killings, but this is the main one. It's the motivation for the hero. You can't show all the killings we showed and then not show the main one. It's cheating the audience". Hauer said critics misunderstood the film. According to him, it is an allegory in which Ryder represents evil. However, Ebert wrote that "I could see that the film was meant as an allegory, not a documentary. But on its own terms, this movie is diseased and corrupt. I would have admired it more if it had found the courage to acknowledge the real relationship it was portraying between Howell and Rutger, but no: It prefers to disguise itself as a violent thriller, and on that level it is reprehensible". Home video The Hitcher has been released on VHS, laserdisc and DVD. Its first DVD release had just the trailer as a special feature, then in 2003, Europe received a two-disc special edition DVD set, which was digitally remastered from the original negative. It also contained a bonus disc with special features that are not found anywhere else and a booklet, containing photos and a mini-essay on the film itself. The first high-definition release occurred in Germany, 2019, when a Blu-ray and DVD Mediabook set was released by Alive Fernsehjuwelen GmbH. Although appearing in 1080p high definition for the first time, this release is transferred and remastered from 35mm film and therefore this edition suffers from texture loss, warm tint filters and regular white-outs. British label Second Sight Films are scheduled to release The Hitcher on remastered 4K Blu-ray in 2023 as the original camera negative film elements had been found. Legacy The film spawned a sequel, The Hitcher II: I've Been Waiting, in 2003, with Howell reprising his role as Jim Halsey. A remake using the original title, produced by Michael Bay and directed by Dave Meyers, was released on January 19, 2007, starring Sean Bean as John Ryder, Zachary Knighton as Jim Halsey, and Neal McDonough as Esteridge. The remake added a female protagonist named Grace Andrews, who was portrayed by Sophia Bush. References External links The Hitcher at the TCM Movie Database 1986 films 1980s chase films 1980s crime thriller films 1980s psychological thriller films 1980s road movies 1980s horror thriller films 1986 horror films American crime thriller