10 Horror Movie Characters Who Died Off-Screen In The Sequel
3. Captain Esteridge - The Hitcher II: I've Been Waiting
The original version of The Hitcher features a memorable supporting turn from Jeffrey DeMunn as Captain Esteridge - basically the One Good Cop in the movie who actually tries to help Jim Halsey (C. Thomas Howell) take down murderous hitchhiker John Ryder (Rutger Hauer).
Esteridge survives the events of the film, enough to make a brief appearance in 2003's belated direct-to-video sequel The Hitcher II: I've Been Waiting.
However, despite C. Thomas Howell reprising his role of original hero Jim, Jeffrey DeMunn didn't return to play Esteridge, with the part instead played by Stephen Hair.
It's probably just as well, as Esteridge pretty much only returns to die, being killed off by the new killer hitchhiker, Jack (Jake Busey).
We don't see Esteridge's death, just the gory aftermath of him sliced up by his own circular saw, in what's nothing if not a depressing end for a well-liked character. And because that's not grim enough, Jim himself also dies later in the film, though at least he gets to die a heroic death - and an on-screen one at that.