9. The Hitcher - The Pick-Up
Forget the godawful remake. Before Sean Bean there was Rutger Hauer in Robert Harmons original 1986 terror that did for hitchhiking what Jaws did for swimming. Within seconds of picking up the tall, blonde John Ryder in the pouring rain, Jim Halsey knows hes made a terrible mistake. First Ryder refuses to make conversation, then he stops Jim from stopping to help a car by the side of the road, and then comes this exchange. Jim:
What do you want? Ryder:
Thats what he said. Jim:
Whos he? Ryder:
He is the guy that was driving that car back there. Hes the one who picked me up before you did. Jim:
Where is he? Ryder:
Im sure hes still back there. He couldnt have walked very far. Jim:
Why not? Ryder:
Because I cut off his legs. And his arms. And then his head. And Im going to do the same to you. The scene is nail-biting tension right to its climax: Jim:
Please, I'll do anything you want. Ryder:
Anything? Jim:
Anything. Ryder:
Say four words. Jim:
Okay. Ryder:
Say 'I want to die'. Nah, I don't think I'm ever going to pick up a hitchhiker.