Now a cult favourite this horror/thriller stars C. Thomas Howell as a college-aged kid who's driving a car to California and picks-up hitchhiker Rutger Hauer along the way.

Soon Hauer is playing all sorts of mindgames with Howell as first he threatens to kill him, then he seems to be following him around everywhere leaving a trail of bodies behind (which all get blamed on Howell) and eventually has a showdown with him (since they apparently have some sort of weird "link" - which the script mentions once and throws away).

With some stark mood and Hauer turning in a steely and evil performance this passable flick could've worked if the script by Eric Red wasn't so implausible and lacking explanation. Firstly, why is Hauer doing what he is and how come he always seems to be at the right place at the right time (which just helps add to the films ridiculous nature) and how come all the major events in the film rely so heavily on "coincidence"?

Sure there's a grisly "truck stop" moment and Hauer is engrossing - but the movie just flounders with too much "yeah right" moments (especially during the crash-filled police chase moment) and an unengaging "hero" in Howell (who at one point kidnaps some cops but doesn't take their guns - real smart!).

Followed over fifteen years later by a sequel.

Directed By: Robert Harmon.
Written By: Eric Red.

Starring: Rutger Hauer, C. Thomas Howell, Jeffrey DeMunn, Billy Greenbush.