Hitch Hike

Hitch-Hike (1978), directed by Pasquale Festa Campanile, is an offbeat Italian thriller starring Franco Nero, Corinne Clery, and David Hess.

Nero and Clery play a married couple who pack up their trailer and venture west to save their struggling marriage.  Along the way, they run into Hess who is hitch-hiking along the road.  Hess explains that he is a college student heading to San Diego to pick up some extra classes for the summer.  It doesn't take long for Nero and Clery to discover that Hess’ story isn't all it seems.  He is actually a violent bank robber looking for a quick getaway.  He quickly turns on the couple, making them his hostages.

Don’t get fooled into thinking this is just another action movie, especially when David Hess is around.

Hess excels in his role as a scumbag.  Just like in Wes Craven’s Last House on the Left (1972) and Ruggero Deodato’s Last House on the Edge of the Park (1980), Hess brings a stead mix of sex and violence.  In fact, I can’t remember very many scenes in the movie where Clery isn't either being beaten or raped or both.  Nero, famous as the title character from Django (1966), even takes a back seat to Hess’ brutality.

The movie suffers from a couple slow moments and unbelievable plot twists, as well as a somewhat predictable ending.  However, in the end, Hitch-Hike is a film I recommend for anyone who is looking for something outside the mainstream.

-Mr. South

Hitch Hike Trailer

Autostop rosso sangue (1977)

Director:
Pasquale Festa Campanile

Writers:
Peter Kane (novel)
Aldo Crudo (screen treatment)

Release Date: July 1978 (USA)

Genre: Adventure | Drama | Horror | Thriller

Also Known As:
Death Drive (UK) (video title)
Hitch Hike
Hitchhike: Last House on the Left (USA) (video title)
The Naked Prey (USA)