Twilight Zone - "The Hitchhiker"

As I write these poorly written, and spoiler laden Twilight Zone reviews, I'm also watching the episodes themselves.

So I'm probably going to miss a fair amount of dialogue and plot devices, but I'm sure I'll get the gist of it. He broke his glasses, and somehow that's terrible I think... or something, can't remember.

The Hitchhiker is a cool little episode. In it this lady who was hot for her time is driving cross country and she keeps seeing this creepy guy trying to hitchhike.... and I say creepy because he is. fn'. creepy. A couple of shots she drives away and he steps into frame with his creepy thumb and his creepy ha-smile, and looks directly at us as if to say, "hey, I'm pretty creepy."

He's almost as creepy as Rutger Hauer in that one movie about him hitchhiking. Thankfully there's no semi-truck murdering of Jennifer Jason Leigh (SPOILER!?!?!).

So she keeps seeing him everywhere, and understandably she starts to freak out a little bit and begins to believe that the hitchhiker wants to murder her (I would be too... actually, I'd be wondering why he needs to hitchhike if he can beat me everywhere... just like that damned Tortoise in those Bugs Bunny cartoons). runs out of gas and tries to get help from a local vendor, after shunning her, a sailor on leave helps her get some more gas. As thanks, she gives him a ride. Then she starts to worry about this dude that she picked up... because he probably wants to rape her. Though, this being the 50's, he probably wanted to marry her and force her into servitude (same thing?).

After some conversation, she sees the creepy hitchhiker in the middle of the road and swerves. The sailor then realizes that she's the crazy one, because he doesn't see anybody!? (GASP!). He makes the right decision, and ditches that chick.

So to try to bring herself back to reality, she decides to call her mother... when some strange lady answers the phone and says that Mrs. Crazy Lady is in the hospital because of a nervous breakdown, realization sweeps over the land...

The hitchhiker didn't want to hurt her (or beat her in a race), he was some personification of death waiting for her to realize that she was already dead.

The best part about this episode is the title character played by Leonard Strong. If it were the 50's and I was alive... and I saw this dude after watching this episode, I'd probably shit myself before saying, "I've been dead all along!" Then I'd do something really stupid and kill myself for real. His presence heightens the sense of fear that the main chick feels and in turn the audience. Add in the sense of claustrophobia and exhaustion that anyone who's been on a road trip has felt, and it makes all the difference.

Also, it's nice to see a member of our Armed Forces not fall for a crazy chick. it's a nice change of pace (though not realistic... except for me, cause Chelsea is SANE! WHOOOO!!!)

Overall, I give this episode 3 and a half Hauers up