The Hitch-Hiker is a 1953 film noir directed by Ida Lupino. The film tells the story of two friends, Ray and Gilbert, who are on a fishing trip when they pick up a hitchhiker named Emmett Myers. They soon learn that Myers is a convicted killer who has escaped from prison and is on the run. Myers forces the two men to drive him across the Mexican border, threatening to kill them if they try to escape or turn him in to the police.
As the journey continues, the tension grows between the three men. Myers becomes increasingly sadistic and violent, torturing and psychologically manipulating Ray and Gilbert. The two friends desperately try to come up with a plan to escape, but Myers's constant surveillance and threats make it almost impossible.
One of the most striking elements of the film is Myers's physical affliction, an eye that never closes even when he sleeps. This makes it impossible for Ray and Gilbert to tell when it's safe to make a break for it, as Myers always seems to be watching them.
The Hitch-Hiker is notable for being one of the few film noirs directed by a woman and for its gritty and realistic portrayal of violence and psychological manipulation. The film was based on the real-life case of the "Lonely Hearts Killers" and is considered a classic of the genre.