B-Movie Gazette: WILLIAM FORSYTHE IS RUNNING FOR HIS LIFE FROM JAMES LeGROS WHO IS THE "HIGHWAY HITCHER" (1998) IN THIS WELL-ACTED BUT PALTRY THRILLER

B-MOVIE OF THE MONTH - THE DEATH OF RITCHIE (TV 1977)

Looks like a lot of fun to me, I don't know. Seriously and for those that don't know, The Death Of Ritchie is one of the most iconic TV movies of the entire '70's decade. I was roughly 15 when it aired and i can tell you that both Robby Benson and teens taking drugs were very hot topics at the time. The film is based on a true story where a father who couldn't control his teen's behavior from drug abuse was forced to take the law into his own hands. The father here is good ole Ben Gazzara and he is at his Gazzara best with a ferocious intensity, his scenes with Benson as father and son a perfect chemistry. At the time more emphasis was on Benson as a model but his performance here is really amazing. Streams free on Tubi, Freevee, Roku and Plex, if this was being rated on the standard scale I would give it five stars, 'nuff said. 2.75 stars/2.75

Sunday, November 13, 2022

WILLIAM FORSYTHE IS RUNNING FOR HIS LIFE FROM JAMES LeGROS WHO IS THE "HIGHWAY HITCHER" (1998) IN THIS WELL-ACTED BUT PALTRY THRILLER

Also known as The Pass, Highway Hitcher is a fairly obscure if not unnecessary nineties thriller that contains all the classic hallmark cliches associated with the genre especially the multiple "is the bad guy really dead" twist endings. Unfortunately, with such a great cast, it offers absolutely nothing newly artistic to that canvas. Had it been edited down to a half-hour entry for some sort of anthology series, I'm not so sure much would be different.

Forsythe plays a man down on his luck and recently left by his wife he hits the road for Reno to clear his head and start a new life. Along the way as luck would have it he crosses paths with the psychotic LeGros who pretends to be a stranded motorist. Any of this sound familiar?

Highway Hitcher is currently streaming free on Tubi and most the other free outlets but don't rush to put this on your list. I would give it my famous "worth one watch for cinephiles" stamp.

1.75 stars/2.75

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