The Hitcher (1986)

The Hitcher (1986), an American thriller directed by Robert Harmon and written by Eric Red, follows Jim Halsey on his delivery journey from Chicago to San Diego. Along the way, he picks up a hitchhiker in the West Texas desert who goes by John Ryder. However, things take a dark turn when Ryder reveals his violent tendencies and forces Jim to speed past a stranded car. Terrified for his life, Jim musters up the courage to ask what Ryder wants, to which he responds with a chilling demand to be stopped. In a moment of adrenaline-fueled panic, Jim manages to push Ryder out of the moving car and continues on his way. But his relief is short-lived as he later spots Ryder in another vehicle and attempts to warn its unsuspecting occupants, resulting in a minor accident.

Upon discovering the family’s blood-soaked car, Jim vomits. Soon after, Ryder confronts him and tosses the keys from his car before departing with a trucker. As he narrowly avoids being run down by the truck, Jim witnesses it crash into a gas station, causing an explosion. In his attempt to escape, he meets Nash at a roadside diner where she serves him lunch while he contacts the police. However, upon finding a severed finger in his fries, it becomes evident that Ryder is still close by. Despite their initial doubts about Jim’s involvement, the police follow protocol and lock him up overnight. When he wakes up to find the cell door unlocked and the officers dead, Jim panics and flees with a revolver. To make matters worse, he then takes two officers hostage at a gas station and forces one of them to drive while he speaks with Captain Esteridge on the radio – the officer in charge of the manhunt.