The Drifter
Screenwriter
- Joined
- Jan 29, 2019
- Messages
- 1,159
- Real Name
- Jim
Not having access to cable TV back in the day, I wasn't even aware of The Hitchhiker adult mystery/thriller/horror anthology TV series when it was originally broadcast in the '80's - early '90's. However, I've been going back & revisiting some shows that I completely missed the first time around - and recently finished watching the first Region 1 DVD set (featuring 10 episodes from the show).
Great series! It's definitely more of a mystery/suspense/thriller series, but it does have some horror (and at times supernatural) elements. The show also has a strong neo-noir aspect that I find both interesting & compelling. I like how each episode is narrated by the nameless "Hitchhiker", who comments on the characters & situations (at the beginning & end of each episode), but has 0 interaction with them - he just observes from the side-lines.
I like that each episode is stand-alone, which helps a lot when watching this on these DVD sets - since these episodes are not shown in the order that they were originally released.
There were 85 episodes in all, but from doing some research I only found three Region 1 DVD sets (with ten episodes each) were released. Additional episodes were released in other Region DVD sets, but there has never been a set that has been released with all of the episodes. I wonder if rights issues have something to do with this, given that the show was broadcast on HBO initially, and later on USA Network?! In any case, I would definitely be onboard for a comprehensive DVD/Blu set with all of the episodes. I'd even settle for a DVD-only release, since the PQ on the DVD set(s) that I've seen (so far) have been decent.
Here's the eerie opening theme (from 1984 - ?!); not sure how long they used this specific theme since I've only seen a handful of episodes so far:
And, more info. about the show:
en.wikipedia.org
Great series! It's definitely more of a mystery/suspense/thriller series, but it does have some horror (and at times supernatural) elements. The show also has a strong neo-noir aspect that I find both interesting & compelling. I like how each episode is narrated by the nameless "Hitchhiker", who comments on the characters & situations (at the beginning & end of each episode), but has 0 interaction with them - he just observes from the side-lines.
I like that each episode is stand-alone, which helps a lot when watching this on these DVD sets - since these episodes are not shown in the order that they were originally released.
There were 85 episodes in all, but from doing some research I only found three Region 1 DVD sets (with ten episodes each) were released. Additional episodes were released in other Region DVD sets, but there has never been a set that has been released with all of the episodes. I wonder if rights issues have something to do with this, given that the show was broadcast on HBO initially, and later on USA Network?! In any case, I would definitely be onboard for a comprehensive DVD/Blu set with all of the episodes. I'd even settle for a DVD-only release, since the PQ on the DVD set(s) that I've seen (so far) have been decent.
Here's the eerie opening theme (from 1984 - ?!); not sure how long they used this specific theme since I've only seen a handful of episodes so far:
And, more info. about the show:
The Hitchhiker (TV series) - Wikipedia
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