Ida Lupino‘s 1953 true crime noir, The Hitch-Hiker, sees Collins (Edmond OBrien) and Gilbert (Frank Lovejoy) accidentally pick up Emmet Myers (William Talman), a violent murderer and escaped convict. The film centers around whether or not the pair will be able to escape Myers before he kills them. The Hitch-Hiker is a great watch for anyone wishing to study character writing and how to maximize every aspect of storytelling. Not many films could be made with a small budget and essentially just three characters and hold such a tense and engaging narrative. Lupino’s influence on this film is felt throughout the narrative and filmmaking, in her selection of characters and how she utilizes them. Not only is the directing and cinematography a triumph, but all three actors, O’Brien, Lovejoy, and Talman, give fantastic performances, ensuring The Hitch-Hiker is well deserving of its 94% on Rotten Tomatoes.