All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

Not sure how, but this is easily one of the best movies all summer. Multiple levels of funny, never takes itself seriously, super colorful, and creative.

Blistering performances.

Mainly notable as the HBO Network's first foray into making its own TV series, this nifty little show tended to adhere to the following strict formula: Bad people do something bad and something bad happens to them in kind, thereby confirming that cruel and evil actions often result in wickedly dire consequences. What gave this program an extra potent and startling impact was that practically every episode ended on a brutal downbeat note in which the frequently rotten main character wound up on the receiving end of a usually bleak, yet still fitting comeuppance of some kind or another. It's this show's unsparingly bitter and pessimistic take on the worst aspects of human nature like lust, greed, deceit, and plain old selfishness that made it so distinctive and effective. Sure, there was the occasional upbeat conclusion to an episode, but by and large this series kept things remarkably grim and negative. In addition, a majority of the episodes fall into the gritty thriller category, with only the sporadic foray into more fantastic horror or sci-fi territory. Of course, the other big draw back in the 80's was the fact that the show when it first aired on pay cable television certainly didn't skimp on the tasty gratuitous nudity, sizzling soft-core sex, and grisly violence. Alas, the show lost its uniquely harsh identity when it was picked up for commercial television by the USA Network, but the first four strong pay cable TV seasons are well worth checking out for fans of decidedly dark and edgy adult omnibus fare.

Anthology series from HBO. Each episode started with a hitchhiker (a young hunky man) talking to the camera and introducing characters and tales. There were all horror stories which didn't shy away from nudity or explicit gore and violence.The first season was wretched. The stories were painfully obvious, the acting was terrible, there was non-existent production values and every episode had pointless female nudity--it seemed like a Playboy version of "The Twilight Zone". Only the hitcher himself made it OK. He was handsome and young. Things changed the second season. They got a new hitcher and went out of their way to show what a nice butt he had:) The female nudity was toned down. The stories got better, they got some top-rank film directors (Paul Verhoeven directed one) and even the acting improved. It ended up being a pretty good series. It's not for everybody and the first season was a wash-out. But if you're into horror stories this is for you. Recommended.

"The Hitchhiker" was (still is) one hell of a TV series; much better than the junk currently being released in movie theaters. I missed this show when it first aired in the 80's. Luckily, one can find reruns of it on HBO Zone. It's worth seeking out.For starters, the opening theme is pulsating and gets under your skin. As good is the ending-credits music found only in the 1987 season.This show was bold, thrilling, imaginative and sexy while at the same time more intelligent and relevant than most TV shows/movies released. Some episodes had nudity and (strong) violence, but it was all at the service of the enormously talented writers and directors. In general, episodes created mood and atmosphere without gore or anything shocking on-screen at all.Almost any episode of this show is great:"Killer" and "Homebodies" had story structures similar to M. Night Shyamalan's movies. "Killer" opened with a long, unbroken tracking shot much later popularized in some movies from the mid-90's on up ("Boogie Nights," for example). "Why Are You Here?" was shot entirely by the actors -- a precursor to the style of film-making found in the movie "The Blair Witch Project," however made 12 years before.Also great were religious-themed episodes like "W.G.O.D.", about a born-again preacher with a terrible secret, and "True Believer," where a detective confronts his own demons while trying to solve a murder case involving an "infested" convent.I can't say enough how wonderful this show is. It's sometimes tough to watch, but there are many rewards to be found at the end. Some episodes improved with repeated viewings. Catch this show on HBO Zone while you still can.

The Hitchhiker was a television series that was truly imaginative with every episode. Each episode was unique in that you as the viewer did not know what to expect. One episode you could be scared as hell and next could leave you in a state of bewilderment. This series also launched many successful acting careers such as Helen Hunt, Gary Busey and others. "The Hitchhiker" was a series that was ahead of its time. It is certainly one of the most underrated shows that I know of....not to mention the most frightening opening songs which helped set the tone for the viewer and the "hitchhiker's" journey in each episode.