Hitch-Hike
Italy
1976. Director:
Pasqualle Festa Campanile
Cast: Franco Nero, Corinne Clery, David Hess, Monica Zanchi
Aka: Autostop Rosso Sangue
Franco Nero ís Walter Mancini, an Italian
journalist (really) on vacation in America with his beautiful wife Eve
(Corinne Clery). Walter is a sexist pig with only one thought in his
little head. He shouts, drinks, fights and even rapes his wife occasionally.
On their way home through the desert they take up a hitcher named Adam
Konitz (David Hess). A bad bad decision. At first Konitz (gotta love
that name) is just a pain in the already infected butt. But when it's
clear that he is also a bankrobber on the run things start to get serious.
With a bag full of money Konitz kidnaps the couple and even forces Walter
to write his biography. Before the journey is over, Konitz has killed
several people, including two cops and his two gay robbing-partners
to the accompaniment of loud Ennio Morricone music.
As expected David Hess is of course bad as hell as the hitcher, but it's really Franco Nero who steals this show as the disastrous Walter. There are places where you wonder just who's the real bad guy. The killer and bankrobber or the ill-tempered asshole Walter? And sometimes you even feel sorry for Konitz. Couldn't he have chosen another car? Any other car would have been easier. There must have been at least a dozen of cars around and he just have to choose a car with a self-destructive maniac and his ice-cold wife. Anyway, the interplay between the two is admirable and it's a pleasure to watch it. And when these two great (not to mention loud) actors are rewarded with such a well written and awfully clever script like this, you can only surrender. The production values may be a little rough, but the film is so funny, smart and hugely entertaining that you frankly don't give a damn. In other words, this is one of the very best and most entertaining thrillers to come out of Italy ever. Highest of recommendations.
© The Inzomniac's Movie Madness Review.