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    • BLU-RAY REVIEW

    Hitcher, The

    Featured In Issue 122, July/August 2007

    Picture3.5
    SoundNR
    WSR Score2
    Basic Information on new release titles is posted as soon as titles are announced. Once reviewed, additional data is added to the database.
    (Studio/Distributor):
    Universal Studios Home Entertainment
    (Catalog Number):
    62100066
    (MPAA Rating):
    R
    (Rating Reason):
    For strong bloody violence and terror
    (Retail Price):
    $39.98
    (Disc Type):
    Dual Side/Dual Layer (HD DVD30/DVD9)
    (Widescreen Edition):
    Yes
    (Full Screen Edition):
    No
    (Running Time In Minutes):
    84
    (Color Type):
    Color
    (Chaptered/Scene Access):
    Yes
    (Closed Captioned):
    Yes
    (Regional Coding):
    1
    (Theatrical Year):
    2006
    (Theatrical Release):
    Yes
    (Direct-To-Video Release):
    No
    (Disc Release Date):
    05/01/07
    (THX® Digitally Mastered):
    No
    (Director):
    Dave Meyers
    (Screenplay/Written By):
    (Story):
    (Music):
    (Director Of Photography):
    (Production Designer):
    (Visual Effects):
    (Costume Designer):
    (Editor):
    (Supervising Sound Editors):
    (Re-Recording Mixers):
    (Executive Producers):
    (Co-Producers):
    (Producers):
    (Academy Awards):
    (Principal Photography):
    (Theatrical Aspect Ratio):
    (Measured Disc Aspect Ratio):
    (Disc Soundtrack):
    Dolby Digital+ 5.1
    (Theatrical Sound):
    (Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
    (DTS Bit Rate):
    (Dolby Digital Bit Rate):
    (Additional Languages):
    (French Language):
    (Spanish Language):
    (Chinese Language):
    (Subtitles):
    (Cantonese Language):
    (Mandarin Language):
    (Japanese Language):
    (Italian Language):
    (German Language):
    (Portuguese Language):

    Had they only listened to their mothers, Jim (Knighton) and Grace (Bush) would be having a lot more pleasant road trip. But, no, they had to take pity upon—well, after almost hitting him—a poor rain-drenched "Hitcher," and offer him a ride. Of course, they soon realize this knife-wielding passenger (Bean) is not—gasp!—a nice guy, and toss him from their speeding car. Don't worry, though, they will see him again... Based on the film written by Eric Red. (Jack Kelley)

    Special features on Side A are the same as those found on the DVD (eight deleted scenes, and four featurettes: "Dead End" (13 minutes), "Road Kill: The Ultimate Car Crash" (10 minutes), "Fuel Your Fear: The Making Of The Hitcher" (11 mintues), and "Chronicles Of A Killer" (5 minutes) with the addition of the U-Control and My Scenes features. Side B is home to the same features as the DVD (as mentioned above), with up-front previews thrown in the mix.

    The anamorphically enhanced 2.40:1 DVD's brown and gold color scheme matches the story and setting well, but really limits the naturalness of fleshtones. Colors are muted, but contrast is generally well balanced. The picture is adequately well resolved. Black levels are slightly murky, and shadow delineation is also limited. Edge enhancement is not overly obtrusive, and the source element is very clean. The VC-1-encoded HD DVD shows more vibrant colors overall, but the color scheme still can make some hues—especially greens—look unnatural. Whites are vibrant and contrast is balanced well, and resolution is good. (Danny Richelieu)

    The HD DVD's Dolby Digital Plus 5.1-channel encoding provides a smooth, natural fidelity, especially noticeable in the dialogue. Deep bass is tight and controlled well. (Danny Richelieu)

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