"The Hitchhiker's Journey: A Roadside Enigma, Unraveling the Unknown"
Channel: Sci-Fi World
Date: 2023-07-30

"The Hitchhiker" is a short story written by Roald Dahl, a British writer known for his darkly humorous and twisted tales. This story was first published in 1977 and has since become a popular choice for anthologies and readings due to its suspenseful and unexpected ending.

The plot of "The Hitchhiker" revolves around a man who sets out on a long drive from London to the south of England. As he drives, he notices a hitchhiker on the side of the road, holding out his thumb in an attempt to get a ride. Feeling sympathetic, the driver decides to pick up the hitchhiker and offers him a lift.

The hitchhiker is described as a well-dressed, middle-aged man who appears to be quite normal at first. As they continue driving, the hitchhiker engages the driver in polite conversation. However, the driver begins to notice something strange – no matter how fast or slow he drives, the hitchhiker always seems to be just ahead, waiting for him by the roadside.

The driver starts to feel uneasy and decides to test his suspicions. He stops the car suddenly to see if the hitchhiker will overshoot, but to his astonishment, the hitchhiker is standing right in front of him again. The driver becomes increasingly scared and starts to drive recklessly, attempting to lose the mysterious hitchhiker.

As the story unfolds, the driver realizes that the hitchhiker is not an ordinary human being. His fear intensifies, and he becomes desperate to escape this strange, unexplainable situation. I won't spoil the ending here, as it is an essential part of the story's appeal and impact.

Roald Dahl's "The Hitchhiker" is a classic example of his talent for creating suspense and building an eerie atmosphere. It plays with the reader's imagination and keeps them hooked until the final revelation. If you haven't read it yet, I highly recommend giving it a try!
Title

The Hitch-Hiker
Other Title

Alternate Title: The persuader
Alternate Title: The hitchhiker
Alternate Title: The difference
Alternate Title: Ida Lupino's the hitch-hiker
Names

RKO Radio Pictures
Young, Collier
Lupino, Ida
Lovejoy, Frank
O'Brien, Edmund
Talman, William
Created / Published

1953
Headings

-  Fiction films
-  Feature films
-  Film noir
-  Road films
-  Thrillers (Motion pictures)
Genre

Fiction films
Feature films
Film noir
Road films
Thrillers (Motion pictures)
Notes

-  Summary: While vacationing in Mexico, two men offer a ride to a hitchhiker who, after revealing himself as a homicidal maniac, forces the men to help him elude the police.
-  Credits: Cast: Edmond O'Brien, Frank Lovejoy, William Talman, Jose Torvay, Sam Hayes.
Medium

Film, Video
Call Number/Physical Location

Mavis identifier: 47382
Source Collection

Copyright Collection (Library Of Congress)
Repository

Motion Picture, Broadcasting And Recorded Sound Division
Online Format

image
video