This is one of my favorite '80s horror movies. Rutger Hauer plays a violent psychopath so well. The scene with him in that family's car is chilling.

I wonder if this movie was actually a dream Halsy was having because a lot of it didn't make any sense. When Halsey first picks up Ryder supposedly Ryder was in a Volkswagen that passes Halsey on the highway. Later we learn that Ryder killed the driver of the car, but when Halsey picks up Ryder hitchhiking he is at least a mile from the Volkswagen when they pass it and Ryder tells him what he did to the driver. So what did Ryder do, start walking down the highway until Halsey came along and picked him up and they went back up the highway passed the wrecked Volkswagen? That didn't make any sense and a lot of the scenes didn't seem to make any sense.

This is definitely a favorite of mine! Rutger Hauer was an excellent psychopath! I like the barren desert atmosphere a lot also.

I think it's an underrated horror film. It also has a few black humored moments that really get me everytime I watch it. Phasmophobia mentioned RH in the family's car. When Ryder goes to inspect the car later, looks inside it, and pisses his pants due to what he sees, it is so hilarious!

I'd say it's an underrated movie. But maybe it's just me..

@Stand*Chickie said:

I wonder if this movie was actually a dream Halsy was having because a lot of it didn't make any sense. When Halsey first picks up Ryder supposedly Ryder was in a Volkswagen that passes Halsey on the highway. Later we learn that Ryder killed the driver of the car, but when Halsey picks up Ryder hitchhiking he is at least a mile from the Volkswagen when they pass it and Ryder tells him what he did to the driver. So what did Ryder do, start walking down the highway until Halsey came along and picked him up and they went back up the highway passed the wrecked Volkswagen? That didn't make any sense and a lot of the scenes didn't seem to make any sense.

You have to keep in mind that you have no idea how much time passed between C. Thomas Howell seeing the VW Bug pass him and him picking up John Ryder. Granted, it still happened that night, but it could have been an hour or two, as the movie could have started at midnight or a little bit past it. Strange things happen during the night when you can't tell when or where you are.

But the idea that it could have been a dream/nightmare could be right... I always felt that Ryder was something supernatural like Michael Myers... more of an entity than human. That everything was a test of Halsey's resolve and instinct for life. What good is life if you won't fight for it? It doesn't matter how Ryder is able to do the things he does... all that matters is that he can... and then... what are you gonna do about it?