Hitch-HikeDirected by: Pasquale Fesa CampanileWhat the hell is up with this David Hess guy? He's still alive, and he's apparently not in jail, but the guy plays a REALLY convincing anti-social, psychotic rapist/killer in EVERY SINGLE MOVIE. It starts to creep me out after a while. The girl he rapes in this movie in
particular actually says he was a very gentle, sweet person in real life, according to the DVD extras. Howver, he also self-describes as being a "violent person" who actually became less violent as a result of an accidental injury during this movie. Perhaps it's a matter of odd perceptions from odd people. Apparently, during the rape scene, the leading lady told Hess to "do whatever he wanted." Hess said he was really creeped out by the request...but kind of insinuated that they actually "did it," although he doesn't say that point blank. Clery says that she was attracted to him and got along well with him...so yah. Weird People. Hess has to be the single creepiest dude alive, even if he's the nicest guy since Mr. Rogers in real life. That said, this is probably the best of his murder/rapist "trilogy" (along with Last House on the Left and House on the Edge of the Park). This movie has a bit more of a plot, better scenery, and a little less disturbing/disgusting for its own sake stuff. Even if it didn't have David Hess's insanity to be the backbone of the film, it would still be a decent grindhouse flick. It's about a selfish, washed up reporter and his mistreated wife who are travelling to San Diego by way of Nevada, who pick up a Hitch-hiker who's car has broken down. Turns out he just finished a big heist, ditched his partners and is running away with a cool $2 million. This leads to most of the things you would expect, personality conflicts, the hostages trying to signal people without getting caught, the tense moments where they have to stop for gas or food, what they do when they take a break at night, etc. It also leads to some things you wouldn't expect. I'm not too sure what I thought of the ending, but let's just say it ends differently then I would have expected it. It's got a lot of great scenes of Nevada (I think it's actually inland Calfornia) and mountains and rivers and stuch. It captures the small places, the gas stations, the valleys and other such things. It's a lot of fun in that sense. It combines the horror of a rape/murder/revenge exploitation film with the fun of a road chase exploitation film. Anyhow, if grindhouse is your thing, this is well above average. Hess is creepy, the scenery is great, and it is really a good guilty pleasure all around. 8.0
March 21, 2008
