On a stormy night, young Jim, who transports a luxury car from Chicago to California to deliver it to its owner, feeling tired and sleepy, picks up a mysterious hitchhiker, who has appeared out of nowhere, thinking that a good conversation will help him not to fall asleep. He will have enough time to deeply regret such an unmeditated decision.
Acting
Hauer's Ryder: terrifying charisma, zero backstory.
Direction
Harmon's wide shots make nowhere feel everywhere.
Cinematography
Desert highways as existential void.
Director
Robert Harmon
Rutger Hauer
John Ryder
C. Thomas Howell
Jim Halsey
Jeffrey DeMunn
Captain Esteridge
Billy Green Bush
Trooper Donner
John M. Jackson
Sergeant Starr
Henry Darrow
Trooper Hancock
Jon Van Ness
Trooper Hapscomb
Jennifer Jason Leigh
Nash
Jack Thibeau
Trooper Prestone
Armin Shimerman
Interrogation Sergeant
Gene Davis
Trooper Dodge
Tony Epper
Trooper Conners
Tom Spratley
Proprietor
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Hauer improvised much of his dialogue, including the iconic finger-gun gesture. The studio wanted backstory; he refused.
The film tanked commercially but became a cult staple, directly influencing 2001's Joy Ride and the 'unstoppable killer' archetype.
US
