The Hitcher

[wesslan]

Originally Posted by Marv Inc.

The German version comes from a theatrical print so it was never going to be super.

Not sure that is the only reason. I would say condition of the print, the scanner used and probably time and money for the afterwork. Seen other projects with 4k scans of theatrical reels that look amazing, star wars being the most known.

[Jay H.]

Originally Posted by wesslan

Yeah it looks better than dvd but that is no way a watermark for my blu-rays. Seeing what warner archive, arrow, shout and many others can do this is not the quality I want so I will keep hoping for a better version.

And in the meantime, you won't watch the movie? Cool. I'm not going to live forever, I love the movie, and watching the not great but still good Blu-ray is preferable to not watching the movie at all.

[BerryTheMusicMan]

I have no problem with the German copy along with their version of Trick Or Treat .
Are they perfect no , but it's a upgrade over the old DVD and I am over joyed to own both in HD .

[wesslan]

Originally Posted by Jay H.

And in the meantime, you won't watch the movie? Cool. I'm not going to live forever, I love the movie, and watching the not great but still good Blu-ray is preferable to not watching the movie at all.

All good here, my library is so big I can wait and hope for miracles in the future

[1234567?]

Originally Posted by Marv Inc.

The German version comes from a theatrical print so it was never going to be super.

A theatrical print can look great with a little restoration.
Did the German release come from a theatrical print?
I thought it was an upscale of an old hd file.

[Jay H.]

Originally Posted by wesslan

All good here, my library is so big I can wait and hope for miracles in the future

Neat. Just remember: we're only immortal for a limited time.

[1924]

Who owns this movie? Shouldn’t it be Warner since they own HBO?

[Marv Inc.]

Warner/ HBO in the states and in Europe I believe the rights reverted back to the producer who interestingly also produced Near Dark.

[seamus11]

Japan is getting a new release (along with two Amazon exclusive ones). According to (roughly translated) describtion, it's gonna be "2K restoration of the HD master provided by the rights source in Japan! The legendary masterpiece is revived by the world's most beautiful master!"

[wesslan]

Originally Posted by seamus11

Japan is getting a new release (along with two Amazon exclusive ones). According to (roughly translated) describtion, it's gonna be "2K restoration of the HD master provided by the rights source in Japan! The legendary masterpiece is revived by the world's most beautiful master!"

Holy crap it's happening. The pictures on amazon look amazing and MILES better than the german disc...

First I read DD5.1 but further down "English main story audio DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1" Only thing I don't see is english subs but that is usual with local JP companies.

How can we order it??

[Marv Inc.]

HMV Japan have it up too,

https://www.hmv.co.jp/en/artist_Movi...tcher_11734220

[AmishParadise]

And I must say, I'm digging the retro slip. See below.

CONTENT DESCRIPTION (...a rough translation.)

There's no escaping a terrifying, murderous hitchhiker.
If you let him in, it's the end, and the death drive begins...
The cult thriller that was released in a blockbuster revival in 2021 is now available on Blu-ray for the first time!

The film was inspired by J.J. Abrams when he made "10 Cloverfield Lane", and Christopher Nolan praised Rutger Hauer's monstrous performance in "The Hitcher" as "a psychological performance at its best." The legendary psycho-suspense action film "The Hitcher" is now available on Blu-ray for the first time in Japan in a new HD master.

The HD master provided by the rights holder has been further restored in 2K in Japan! The legendary masterpiece is revived by the world's most beautiful master!

This is the first time the Japanese dubbed audio from the TV broadcast version (first broadcast on October 29, 1987 on TV Tokyo's "Thursday Western Theater") has been included!

[C. Thomas Howell: Kazuhiko Inoue / Rutger Hauer: Tsutomu Hiura / Jennifer Jason Leigh: Masako Katsuo]

Includes approximately 108 minutes of bonus footage!

Revival roadshow release nationwide from January 2021! A record-breaking hit!

The film is an exceptional hit!
A masterpiece of psycho-thriller, this film depicts the fear and desperation of a young man who gives a ride to a murderous hitchhiker and is constantly targeted no matter how hard he tries to escape. Directed by Robert Harmon in his debut, script by Eric Redd of "Near Dark" (1987), cinematography by John Seale of "Mad Max: Death Road" (2003), and music by Mark Isham of "Blade" (1998). C. Thomas Howell, who made his film debut as one of a group of young cyclists in Steven Spielberg's "E.T." (1982), was chosen to play the lead role in Francis Ford Coppola's "The Outsider" (1983) the following year. John Ryder, the uncanny and unpredictable killer who pursues Jim in every possible way, is played by the famous actor Lutger Hauer, who played a replicant in "Blade Runner" (1982). The film also stars Jennifer Jason Leigh, who was nominated for a Best Supporting Actress Oscar® for her role as a convicted felon in Quentin Tarantino's "The Hateful Eight" (2003), as Nash, a waitress at a drive-in who is Jim's only companion.

BLU-RAY SPECIFICATIONS
1986 USA / Color / 97 min (feature film) + 108 min (bonus features) / Dual-Layer / COLOR / MPEG4 AVC / 16:9 [1080p Hi-Def] 2.35:1 CinemaScope (feature film only) / Region A / For Japanese market

AUDIO
1. DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (English)
2. Japanese dubbed audio ("Thursday Western Movie Theater" version) Dolby Digital 2.0
3. English Audio Commentary (Director & Screenplay) Dolby Digital 2.0
Japanese subtitles (for dubbed audio) Japanese subtitles (for dubbed audio) Japanese subtitles (for audio commentary)

BONUS FEATURES
• Japanese subtitles (for dubbed audio)
• Audio commentary by director Robert Harmon and screenwriter Eric Red
• Retrospective documentary "The Hitcher – How do these Movies get made?"
• Scene by Scene Commentary
• English Script Sample (still images)
• Photo Gallery (movie format)
• Trailers (Original Special Report #1, Original Special Report #2, Original Trailer, Japan 2021 Revival Trailer)

(Please note that the contents and specifications are subject to change without notice.)

CAST
C. Thomas Howell [Jim Halsey] (Kazuhiko Inoue)
Rutger Hauer [John Ryder] (Tsutomu Hiura)
Jennifer Jason Leigh [Nash] (Masako Katsuo)
Jeffrey Demant [Captain Estridge] (Kiyoshi Kobayashi)
Billy Greenbush [Officer Donner] (Yosuke Nakayama)
Eugene Davis [Officer Dodge] (Yosuke Akimoto)
John Jackson [Sgt. Stahl] (Shunsuke Shima)

CREW
Director : Robert Harmon
Production : David Bombic, Kip Ohman
Executive Producers: Edward S. Feldman, Charles R. Meeker
Screenplay : Eric Redd
Photography: John Seal
Editing: Frank J. Urioste
Music: Mark Isham

[Japanese subtitles: Toshikazu Ochiai]
[Japanese dubbing version Director: Satoru Koyama Translation: Sachiko Iwasa].
Dubbed by: Fieldworks Inc.

OVERVIEW
In the desert from Chicago to San Diego, Jim Halsey, who works as a vehicle transporter, lets a hitchhiker into his car one stormy night. But the man, who calls himself John Ryder, puts a knife to Jim's throat and threatens to stop him. John is a terrifying killer. In a split second, Jim managed to push John out of the car, but that was only the beginning of the horror. John Ryder is a terrifying killer who attacks again and again, relentlessly. The situation worsens, involving the police and Nash, the waitress who is the only one who can help him.

Theatrical Release: May 3, 1986 (G)

Distributed by: Koreku/TC Entertainment
Distributed by: TC Entertainment
©Filmverlag Fernsehjuwelen. All rights reserved.

[drush9999]

Will wait and see if it betters the German release i.e. PQ and having the original titles.

[Marv Inc.]

Given the "©Filmverlag Fernsehjuwelen. All rights reserved." copyright at the bottom there who put out the German release. Looks like it will be the same transfer.

[jess1581]

Where do I get this JP release at, or at the very least when does it come out? Sorry, I'm psyched and scatterbrained at the same time.

[Marv Inc.]

9th June.

[Aki89]

Originally Posted by drush9999

Will wait and see if it betters the German release i.e. PQ and having the original titles.

The 2021 theatrical re-release version in Japan has the original English title card, which is newly created by fixing the German HD transfer.
The same transfer will be used in this Blu-ray.

[Marv Inc.]

Looks like a Legitimate release with the film makers involvement might finally be on the way. Here's to hoping we get a 4K scan.

https://twitter.com/ericred/status/1388225898135003137

[AmishParadise]

The below "Featured News" item was posted earlier today for those who might not have noticed. The part in bold certainly got my attention.

The Hitcher 4K Blu-ray
Posted January 4, 2022 05:58 PM by



British label Second Sight announced today that it will bring to 4K Blu-ray Robert Harmon's cult thriller The Hitcher (1986), starring Rutger Hauer, C. Thomas Howell, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Jeffrey DeMunn, and John M. Jackson. The release is expected to arrive on the market later this year.

According to a social media post, the folks running the label have been able to track down the original camera negative (OCN) of The Hitcher with the invaluable assistance of Warner Bros' archive team.

Previously, the label had planned to do only a Blu-ray release of The Hitcher because of lack of proper high-quality elements.

Synopsis: While transporting a car from Chicago to San Diego, Jim Halsey (C. Thomas Howell) picks up a hitchhiker named John Ryder (Rutger Hauer), who claims to be a serial killer. After a daring escape, Jim hopes to never see Ryder again. But when he witnesses the hitchhiker murdering an entire family, Jim pursues Ryder with the help of truck-stop waitress Nash (Jennifer Jason Leigh), pitting the rivals against each other in a deadly series of car chases and brutal murders.

[gotBlu]

The Hitcher blu ray umbrella Feb 2024

Classic poster outer rigid slipcase
Custom art slipcase
48 pages of behind-the-scenes, experiences and art
A3 reversible poster
Limited Edition Numbered release