The Hitcher is a 1986 American horror thriller film directed by Robert Harmon and written by Eric Red. It stars the late Rutger Hauer, C. Thomas Howell, Jeffrey DeMunn and Jennifer Jason Leigh. It was followed by The Hitcher II: I've Been Waiting in 2003 and a remake in 2007.
While transporting a car from Chicago to San Diego, Jim Halsey (C. Thomas Howell) picks up a hitchhiker named John Ryder (Rutger Hauer), who claims to be a serial killer. After a daring escape, Jim hopes to never see Ryder again. But when he witnesses the hitchhiker murdering an entire family, Jim pursues Ryder with the help of truck-stop waitress Nash (Jennifer Jason Leigh), pitting the rivals against each other in a deadly series of car chases and brutal murders.
Victims[]
- Unnamed Person - Stabbed in the eye by John Ryder off-screen, mentioned.
- Unnamed Person - Throat slit by John Ryder off-screen, mentioned.
- Unnamed Man - Hacked apart by John Ryder off-screen, mentioned.
- Unnamed Father - Hacked apart by John Ryder off-screen, blood seen.
- Unnamed Mother - Hacked apart by John Ryder off-screen, blood seen.
- Unnamed Little Girl - Hacked apart by John Ryder off-screen, blood seen.
- Unnamed Little Boy - Hacked apart by John Ryder off-screen, blood seen.
- Deputy Jack Donner - Throat slit by John Ryder off-screen, body seen.
- Deputy Lyle Hancock - Throat slit by John Ryder off-screen, body seen.
- Deputy Dodge - Throat slit by John Ryder off-screen, body seen.
- Sheriff Starr - Throat slit by John Ryder off-screen, body seen.
- Trooper Conners - Shot to death by John Ryder.
- Trooper Prestone - Shot to death by John Ryder.
- Three Unnamed Male Police Officers - Blown up after John Ryder shot at their helicopter causing it to crash.
- Two Unnamed Male Police Officers - Blown up after crashing into the burning helicopter that John Ryder shot down.
- "Nash" - Ripped in half after John Ryder tied her to a truck and drove.
- Three Unnamed Male Prison Guards - Shot by John Ryder off-camera.
- John Ryder - Shot to death by Jim Halsey.
Deaths[]
- Total - 23
- 18 Men
- 3 Women
- 2 Victims of Unknown Genders
Kill Counts[]
- John Ryder - 22 (Deceased)
- Jim Halsey - 1 (Alive)