The Hitcher

Introduction:

Grace Andrews (Sophia Bush) and Jim Halsey (Zachary Knighton) are tormented by a mysterious hitchhiker named John Ryder, a.k.a. The Hitcher (Sean Bean).

The young couple hit the road on route to spring break. Ryder dangerously stands on the road, near his car, which apparently has broken down. After passing they worry that they might have hit him. When they see that he is unharmed, Grace insists that they do not give him a ride as he could be dangerous.

Later they arrive at a gas station. After Grace decides to go to the bathroom, Jim fills up his car and sees Ryder climb out of a tractor-trailer cab. After going inside, Ryder comes back out and begins using the phone. Ryder introduces himself and asks for a ride. Reluctantly Jim agrees. Once the three of them are driving down the road, Ryder becomes violent and talks of killing Grace and Jim. Jim manages to kick Ryder out of the car and drive away.

Later Jim and Grace drive down the road and see a station wagon with a couple of kids playing in the back seat. We then see Ryder appear in the back of the car, apparently hitchhiking. Grace and Jim try to warn the family of Ryder, but they get run off the road by an oncoming tractor-trailer. In the crash, Jim’s car is totalled and the couple continue on foot. As they are walking, they find the station wagon on the side of the road and Jim goes to inspect. Jim then sees that both the children and the mother are dead, and the father is dying.