WARNING: Spoilers are unmarked.
There's a really good reason to never pick up hitchhickers in the middle of nowhere with no civilization from miles away. Especially if you're picking up a seral-killing individual with a sadistic streak who kills any and all drivers he's hitchhiked with.
- John Ryder. He's a perfect example of living hell on Earth, hitching rides with anyone he can and killing them in the most grisly fashion possible. And when his attempts at killing Jim Halsey are thwarted, he goes out his way to relentlessly stalk him to not only try and kill him, but also break his mind by any means necessary. Worse, no matter where you go, no matter where you'll hide, he will always find you. And he's also more than happy to do his dirty work around children and families alike.
- When he's first picked up by Jim Halsey out in the middle of nowhere, John deliberately avoids Jim's questions, not even telling him where he needs to go. Instead, he presses his foot against Jim's to speed up the car, either for cheap thrills or as a tip of the hand - either way, viewers can tell that John is NOT your normal hitchiker.
- Even moreso, when John deliberately refuses to leave Jim's car, his expression is unsettling and ominous all at the same time. It's a clear indication that he's a murderous monster despite being obviously human (or so we are led to believe).
John Ryder: I'm gonna sit there... and you're gonna drive.- John Ryder isn't even his real name. He has no past, no backstory, no birthplace, and as far as can be discerned, he has no actual name either. He merely exists to satisfy his sadism and bloodlust using anyone he crosses paths with, and since apprehending him does no good, he'll stop at nothing until someone can kill him. Even when John Ryder is about to be killed by Jim Halsey, he gives off a sadistic grin, knowing full well that he's succeeded in turning Jim into a killer, and he's proud of it.
- The truck pull scene. It makes you look away from the screen before a cut to black.
