The Hitchhiker: Last Scene

release year: 1983
genre: suspense
viewing setting: home DVD, 8/7/05

synopsis: A first-time slasher-movie director is having trouble with his leading lady and her acting problems, so he decides to help her by scaring her in real life.

impressions: This is a 30-minute episode of a mid-1980s series on HBO. Each tale is bookended by the coming and going (with some narration to the viewer) of the hitchhiker, a mysterious drifter who knows it all. This episode had some creepy moments - all involving the killer, whether in the movie they're filming or "real life." His mask looks just like Michael Myers from Halloween so maybe some scary music would have helped. On the down side, the relationship between the director and the actress wasn't clear enough. Trivia: this one was directed by Paul Verhoeven.

things to watch for: There was a completely gratuitous and pointless nude scene at the beginning.

something this movie has that no other movie has: A slasher wearing a Michael Myers mask, but who's no Michael Myers.

acting: Peter Coyote was the director, and in the end, the joke was on him. Some blonde woman played the blonde actress, who has a trick of her own.

final word: This one was okay, not great and not bad. Hopefully some of the other episodes will be scarier, since that's really what I'm after when I relive my childhood TV-watching days with DVDs like this.

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