Plot: What’s it about?
The Hitchhiker had a good run between HBO and The USA Network, the latter of which took over production after a few seasons. You can tell the difference without much trouble, as the HBO episodes happen to have loads of sex and violence. USA was a standard cable channel, so they couldn’t use those elements and reruns of HBO episodes were even altered. The show was and is still marketed as a horror anthology, but that isn’t the case, as this is more of a crime drama with some twists. At just over twenty minutes, the episodes don’t have enough time to offer much depth, but at the same time, they’re never dull. Even the bad episodes don’t seem that bad, since the time is so limited. The ten episodes presented here are a solid assortment, with some good stories and some impressive guest stars. This is the third volume of The Hitchhiker, but it isn’t the third season, just a collection of ten episodes from various years. I am not a fan of this style, as I much prefer complete seasons, but at least its ten episodes, instead of a handful. While The Hitchhiker wasn’t a great anthology series, it did have some good episodes, so give this third volume a rental if you’re interested. Below is a brief synopsis for each episode found in this release.
1. Man at the Window- We’ve all heard the expression that real life is stranger than fiction. But when a writer decides to put elements from someone else’s real life into his work, he is soon the target of an abusive man who is looking to unleash his rage…
2. Dead Man’s Curve- A high school reunion should be a breeze for a famous author, with fame, fortune, and more success than anyone ever dreamed of. But for this writer, a fragile romantic situation quickly arises and she finds herself in serious danger…
3. Made for Each Other- A friendship can be difficult to maintain at times, even for the best of friends. But when the friendship is between two psychopaths, that bond is even more delicate. So when a prostitute comes between two lunatics, the scene could turn lethal…
4. Joker- A good prank can be hilarious and even the most stoic of people can be made to laugh, if the joke is pulled off to perfection. But some pranksters take things too far, to the point of alienating themselves. In the case of one such jokester, the final prank could be on him…
5. Videodate- A salesman has been able to take advantage of numerous women, with disguises, lies, and whatever else he could use to manipulate the ladies. But what goes around, comes around and he soon finds himself in the company of someone who knows how to pull his strings…
6. Best Shot- The rush of the courtroom isn’t enough for this lawyer, so he seeks out other ways to live on the edge and boost his adrenaline. The path he walks is dangerous, but he has managed to remain in control. But when he runs over a pedestrian, his fleeting rush might have a permanent consequence…
7. My Enemy- One of the more prominent urban legends is that everyone has a twin, someone who looks just like them, somewhere in the world. This seems unlikely, but when two such twins manage to find each other, it leads to a fatal outcome…
8. Tough Guys Don’t Whine- A director has made his reputation with gangster movies, the more realistic and believable, the better. Now he seeks to add even more realism, by casting actual mobsters in the roles. But when the gangsters arrive, the director realizes that the performances could cost him dearly…
9. Riding the Nightmare- A woman with the good life, all the things someone could want. A good job, a nice house, and a loving family, the American dream, right? But this woman has lethal powers and her good life came at a cost, and not just to her…
10. The Cruelest Cut- You can’t always help who you fall for, or who you fall into bed with. A young man meets a woman who catches his eye and the two hit it off. But as time passes, he starts to see signs of trouble and before long, he realizes he might be involved with a killer…
Video: How does it look?
The episodes are presented in full frame, as intended. I didn’t expect the world from these episodes, but I did expect better presentations than this. Some of the episodes look downright bad, but even the good ones are not that impressive. The image is never sharp or refined, so there is a constant softness that looms and gives us a blurry visual presence. As I said, some of the episodes look passable, but none look good and even the decent ones have a lot of problems. I suppose in the end these episodes are still watchable, but I doubt fans will be satisfied with these transfers.
Audio: How does it sound?
The audio here is basic, thanks to the included stereo soundtracks, but all the bases seem to be covered. The nature of the series is one of a natural, subtle audio presence too, so its not like the material screams for dynamic presence. A few scenes could have been boosted a shade, but even then, the experience wouldn’t have been enhanced that much. Even so, perhaps the tension and atmosphere could have better, so maybe a remix could have helped out. This release also includes subtitles in English, Spanish, and French, should you need to enable any of those options.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This release includes no bonus materials.
