The Hitcher (1986)
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The story
Jim Halsey, a young man delivering a car from Chicago to San Diego, spots a man hitchhiking in the West Texas desert and gives him a ride. The hitchhiker, who calls himself John Ryder, reveals he is a murderer and intends to kill Jim. Terrified, Jim manages to shove Ryder out of the moving car. However, the nightmare continues as Jim realizes Ryder is still stalking him across the highways. After a series of violent encounters and a desperate attempt to hide from the predator, Jim finds himself framed for Ryder's crimes, leading to a high-stakes game of survival against a relentless and sadistic pursuer.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Jim Halsey is delivering a car from Chicago to San Diego when he picks up a hitchhiker named John Ryder in the West Texas desert. Ryder quickly reveals his murderous nature, threatening Jim with a switchblade. Jim manages to shove Ryder out of the car, but Ryder continues to stalk him, causing accidents and explosions. Jim meets a waitress named Nash, but Ryder soon finds him again, framing him for a series of murders. After escaping from a police cell where officers were killed, Jim takes hostages and eventually surrenders to the police. However, Ryder intervenes, killing the officers and causing a massive accident. Jim and Nash eventually flee together, but Ryder abducts Nash and ties her to a truck. Jim is forced to negotiate with Ryder, who demands Jim shoot him; Jim fails to do so, and Ryder kills Nash. Jim then chases Ryder's prison bus, eventually crashing it and shooting Ryder repeatedly with a shotgun to kill him.
- First release year
- 1986
- Runtime (minutes)
- 97
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Robert Harmon
- Writers
- Eric Red · writer
- Cast and characters
- Rutger Hauer · John Ryder; C. Thomas Howell · Jim Halsey; Jeffrey DeMunn · supporting role; Jennifer Jason Leigh · Nash
- Genres
- action; horror; crime; thriller; psychological
- Themes
- Good vs. Evil; Survival; Sadism
- Tone and mood
- Tense; Violent; Hitchcockian
- Premise and plot tags
- Road Movie; Slasher; Psychopath; Chase Film
- Franchise connections
- The Hitcher
- Reception
- The film was initially a commercial and critical failure but has since been reappraised as a cult classic.
- Production trivia
- The original script was much more graphic, including a scene where a woman was torn in half.; Christopher Nolan cited it as one of his favorite films.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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